Fred Daly (golfer)

Fred Daly (11 October 1911 – 18 November 1990) 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. 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.

Tournament wins

"this list is incomplete"
*1936 Irish International
*1937 Irish International
*1938 Irish International
*1946 Irish Open
*1947 Open Championship, News of the World Match Play
*1948 Penfold Tournament, News of the World Match Play
*1952 Daks Tournament, News of the World Match Play

*Ulster Professional Championship - 8 times. He first won this championship on his first attempt in 1936.
*Irish Professional Championship - 3 times, first in 1940 when he came from behind to beat Harry Bradshaw in Cork.

Results in major championships

Of the four majors, 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

External links

* [http://www.balmoralgolf.com/club/fred_daly Brief biography at Balmoral Golf Club site]
* [http://www.ulsterbiography.co.uk/biogsD.htm Brief biography]
* [http://www.daly-golf.com Fred Daly's son's website]