Bobby Cruickshank

Robert Allan Cruickshank (16 November 1894 – 27 August 1975) was a prominent professional golfer from Scotland. He competed the PGA of America circuit from the early 1920s to the mid-1930s, the forerunner of today's PGA Tour.

Born in Grantown-on-Spey in rural northern Scotland, Cruickshank served in the British Army in World War I. Captured in action by the Germans, he was a prisoner of war and later successfully escaped. He moved to Edinburgh where he became a member of Turnhouse Golf Club on the west of the city.

Cruickshank turned professional in 1921 and moved to the United States, as suggested by his mentor and friend, Tommy Armour. He rose to prominence in the US after reaching the semi-finals of the PGA Championship in 1922 and 1923, but lost both times to eventual champion Gene Sarazen. Cruickshank was also the runner-up in the U.S. Open in 1923 and 1932, won by Bobby Jones and Sarazen, respectively.

Cruickshank won 17 tour events in his career and his greatest year was 1927, when he won the Los Angeles and Texas Opens and finished as the leading money winner for the year. His last victory on tour was in 1936 and he had 16 top-ten finishes in major championships.

Cruickshank was a club pro in Richmond, Virginia, in 1930s and 1940s, and later in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was also a winter pro in Florida. Cruickshank died after a brief illness at age 80 in Delray Beach, Florida. His wife Nellie (1895–1965) had died ten years earlier in Pittsburgh.

PGA Tour wins (17)

• 1921 (2) St. Joseph Open (as an amateur), New York State Open
• 1924 (1) Colorado Open
• 1926 (2) North and South Open, Mid-South Pro-Am Bestball
• 1927 (5) Los Angeles Open, Texas Open, South Central Open, North and South Open, Westchester Open
• 1928 (1) Maryland Open
• 1929 (1) Westchester Open
• 1934 (3) National Capital Open, British Colonial Open Nassau, Pinehurst Fall Pro-Pro (with Tommy Armour)
• 1935 (1) Orlando Open
• 1936 (1) Virginia Open

Other wins (12)

this list may be incomplete

• 1925 Miami International Four-Ball (with Johnny Farrell)
• 1927 Miami International Four-Ball (with Tommy Armour)
• 1933 Virginia Open
• 1934 Virginia Open
• 1935 Virginia Open
• 1937 Virginia Open
• 1938 Mid South Pro/Pro (with Tommy Armour; tie with Henry Picard and Jack Grout)
• 1939 Virginia Open
• 1943 North and South Open
• 1945 Middle Atlantic PGA Championship
• 1949 Tri-State PGA Championship
• 1950 Tri-State PGA Championship

NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

Source: British Amateur