Fred Daly (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Frederick Daly was a Northern Irish professional golfer
who was best known for winning The Open Championship
of 1947 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake
.
Daly was born in Portrush
, County Antrim
. He was the only Irishman from either side of the border to have won The Open until Pádraig Harrington
won it in 2007 and the only Northern Irish major winner until Graeme McDowell
won the 2010 U.S. Open. He won the Open in 1947 while professional to the Balmoral Club in Belfast. He won with a score of 293 by a single stroke from Frank Stranahan
(an amateur) and R W Horne.
During his acceptance speech at Royal Liverpool, Daly said he was very honoured to receive the Claret Jug and take it back to Northern Ireland. He went on to say that the trophy had never been to Ireland and that he was hoping that the change of air would help it. There was much applause and laughter at his humorous comments.
In addition he added the News of the World Match Play tournament which was the main British Match Play Championship, becoming the first golfer since James Braid
(1905) to win both the Open and the Match Play title in the same year.
Daly played in the Ryder Cup
in 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1953.
Daly died in Belfast
of a heart attack, aged 79.
, Daly only played The Open Championship
.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who was best known for winning The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
of 1947 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake
Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake
The Royal Liverpool Golf Club is a leading golf club in Merseyside in North West England. It was founded in 1869 on what was then the racecourse of the Liverpool Hunt Club, and received the "Royal" designation in 1871 due to the patronage of the Duke of Connaught of the day, who was one of Queen...
.
Daly was born in Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. He was the only Irishman from either side of the border to have won The Open until Pádraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington
Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:...
won it in 2007 and the only Northern Irish major winner until Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell MBE is a Northern Irish professional golfer.McDowell has won seven events on the European Tour, including the 2010 U.S. Open which was also his first win on the PGA Tour...
won the 2010 U.S. Open. He won the Open in 1947 while professional to the Balmoral Club in Belfast. He won with a score of 293 by a single stroke from Frank Stranahan
Frank Stranahan
Frank Richard Stranahan was a successful amateur golf champion. Stranahan was also the number one power lifter in his weight class from 1945 to 1954 and he became known on the golf course and off as the "Toledo strongman" long before the modern game of golf and fitness...
(an amateur) and R W Horne.
During his acceptance speech at Royal Liverpool, Daly said he was very honoured to receive the Claret Jug and take it back to Northern Ireland. He went on to say that the trophy had never been to Ireland and that he was hoping that the change of air would help it. There was much applause and laughter at his humorous comments.
In addition he added the News of the World Match Play tournament which was the main British Match Play Championship, becoming the first golfer since James Braid
James Braid (golfer)
James Braid was a Scottish professional golfer and a member of the Great Triumvirate of the sport alongside Harry Vardon and John Henry Taylor. He won The Open Championship five times...
(1905) to win both the Open and the Match Play title in the same year.
Daly played in the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
in 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1953.
Daly died in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
of a heart attack, aged 79.
Daly Golf
Daly Golf is a UK-based golf club manufacturer founded and run by Robin Daly (Fred Daly's son) who was himself a professional.Tournament wins (21)
this list is incomplete- 1936 Irish International
- 1937 Irish International
- 1938 Irish International
- 1940 Irish PGA ChampionshipIrish PGA ChampionshipThe Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the Emerald Isles, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's...
- 1946 Irish OpenIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
, Irish PGA ChampionshipIrish PGA ChampionshipThe Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the Emerald Isles, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's... - 1947 Open Championship, News of the World Match Play
- 1948 Penfold TournamentPenfold TournamentThe Penfold Tournament was a golf tournament on the European circuit/European Tour. It was played from 1932 to 1974 at a variety of courses. The purse for the 1974 event was £11,388....
, News of the World Match Play - 1952 Daks TournamentDaks TournamentThe Daks Tournament was a golf tournament of the European circuit from 1950 to 1971. It was played at a number of different locations in England.-Tournament hosts:-Winners:*1971 Neil Coles and Brian Huggett *1970 Neil Coles*1969 Brian Huggett...
, News of the World Match Play, Irish PGA ChampionshipIrish PGA ChampionshipThe Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the Emerald Isles, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's... - Ulster Professional Championship – 8 times. He first won this championship on his first attempt in 1936.
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 1947 Open Championship The 1947 Open Championship was a golf competition held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. The competition was won by Fred Daly.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*... |
The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
Tied for lead | +5 (73–70–78–72=293) | 1 stroke |  Reg HorneReg Horne Reginald W. Horne was an English professional golfer whose most notable success came in winning the British PGA Matchplay Championship shortly after World War II had ended in 1945... ,  Frank StranahanFrank Stranahan Frank Richard Stranahan was a successful amateur golf champion. Stranahan was also the number one power lifter in his weight class from 1945 to 1954 and he became known on the golf course and off as the "Toledo strongman" long before the modern game of golf and fitness... |
Results timeline
Of the four majorsMen's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
, Daly only played The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
.
| 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|
| T8 | 1 | 2 | DNP |
| 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T3 | T4 | 3 | 11 | T35 | T12 | DNP | CUT | T20 | DNP |
| 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUT | DNP | CUT | CUT | CUT | DNP | CUT |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10