Arnaud Massy

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Arnaud Massy (born July 6, 1877 in Biarritz , Pyrénées-Atlantiques , † April 16, 1950 in Étretat , Seine-Maritime , France ) was France's most famous professional golfer and the only major winner in his country.

Career

The son of a sheep farmer worked as a sardine catcher and increased his income as a caddy on the new golf course in Biarritz . During the cold season on the island, many of Britain's best professional golfers took advantage of the mild climate of the south of France to practice. The natural benefited from this and traveled to North Berwick , Scotland, in 1898 to train as a professional golfer .

In 1906 Massy won the first Open de France and defended that title the following year against strong British players, including the legendary Harry Vardon . In the same year he was the first non-British driver to win the Open Championship in Hoylake (Royal Liverpool), thereby helping the game of golf to gain a greater reputation in his home country. During the tournament, his wife gave birth to a daughter, whom he named "Hoylake". He was described by the press as a “Frenchman with the soul of a Scotsman”, also because of the bon mot that he handed down after the triumph in Hoylake: “Me Scotch. Me married a Scotch wife. Me very pleased me won. No Englishman won. "

With shows competitions in various European cities, Massy contributed to the popularity of this sport on the continent.

In 1910 he won the first Belgium Open and in 1911 he finished second in the Open Championship behind Harry Vardon . In that year Massy completed his book on golf, which was first published in France and later translated into English, and was also published on the British market. In 1912 he won the first ever Spanish Open .

The First World War interrupted his career. Massy served in the French army and was wounded in the Battle of Verdun , but was able to continue his career after the war.

In 1925, at the age of 48, Massy won the Open de France for the fourth time . In 1927 and 1928 he won the Spanish Open in a row .

After finishing his tournament appearances, Massy worked as a club professional in England, France and Morocco. With his English wife he spent the time of the Second World War in Edinburgh, Scotland . When he retired, he moved to Étretat in Normandy , where he died in 1950.

Arnaud Massy is still the only French golfer to win a major championship and was also the only continental European until Severiano Ballesteros won the 1979 Open Championship .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Walter Stephen: Willie Park Junior - The Man who took Golf to the World. Luath Press Limited, 2005. ISBN 1-905222-21-1

The most important tournament victories

See also

personal data
SURNAME Massy, ​​Arnaud
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French golfer
DATE OF BIRTH July 6, 1877
PLACE OF BIRTH Biarritz , Pyrénées-Atlantiques department , France
DATE OF DEATH April 16, 1950
Place of death Étretat , Seine-Maritime department , France