John Henry Taylor

John Henry "JH" Taylor (born March 19, 1871 in Northam ( Devon ); † February 10, 1963 there ) was an English professional golfer and one of the pioneers of the modern game of golf. He also worked as a golf architect .

JH Taylor, 1913.

Taylor grew up similar to his later competitors Harry Vardon and James Braid in modest circumstances. When he was a young child, his father died. Early on, at the age of eleven, he worked at the neighboring Royal North Devon Golf Club, also known as Westward Ho! Golf club. At first he polished shoes, later he became a caddy. At the age of 19 he became a golf pro and worked for a few local clubs. Ultimately, he stayed with the Royal Mid Surrey Club. Taylor originally wanted to pursue a career in the Royal Navy. However, due to his nearsightedness and flat feet, his career in the Navy came to nothing.

Unlike Braid, Taylor enjoyed great success at an early age. In 1894, at the age of 23, he became the first Englishman to win the British Open in Royal St. George , the first venue in England. In 1895, 1900, 1909 and 1913 four more titles were to follow. Even in old age, he remained competitive. Already over 50 years old, he placed in the top ten in 1922 (6th place), 1924 (5th), 1925 (shared 6th).

Even after his time as an active player, Taylor remained connected to golf. He was active as a club maker (manufacturer of golf clubs). Together with James Braid he drove the founding of the British Professional Golfers Association (1901). At the same time he became its first president. In 1933 he was the captain of the British Ryder Cup team. He also wrote books, having left school early and educated by reading Dickens and Boswell. Without a ghostwriter, he wrote the book Golf, My Life's Work .

In 1963, shortly before his 92nd birthday, the last great golfer of the 19th century died.

Results in the major tournaments

Tournament	1893	1894	1895	1896	1897	1898	1899
US Open	NYF	NYF	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
The Open Championship	T10	1	1	2	T10	4th	4th

Tournament	1900	1901	1902	1903	1904	1905	1906	1907	1908	1909
US Open	2	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
The Open Championship	1	3	T6	T9	T2	T2	2	2	T7	1

Tournament	1910	1911	1912	1913	1914	1915	1916	1917	1918	1919
US Open	DNP	DNP	DNP	T30	DNP	DNP	DNP	NT	NT	DNP
The Open Championship	T14	T5	T11	1	2	NT	NT	NT	NT	NT

Tournament	1920	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929
US Open	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
The Open Championship	12	T26	6th	T44	5	T6	T11	49	DNP	CUT

Note: The Masters was not founded until 1934. Taylor never played the PGA Championship (first held in 1916).

NYF = not yet played
DNP = not started
WD = withdrawn
CUT = failed at the cut
"T" = split rank

swell

1. ↑ John Henry Taylor ( 1871-1963 ) at golfeurope.com
2. ^ John Henry Taylor: The Magician ( Memento from November 23, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) at golftime.de
3. ↑ JH Taylor in worldgolfhalloffame.org