Ted Ray (golfer)

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Ted Ray
Personnel
Full name Edward RG Ray
Date of birth March 28, 1877
place of birth Grouville , Jersey
nationality jerseyjersey jersey
Nickname Ted
size 1.88 m
Weight 98 kg
Died August 26, 1943
Place of death London , England
PGA Major Wins (2)
The Open Championship 1912, Muirfield
US Open 1920, Inverness Club

Edward RG "Ted" Ray (born March 28, 1877 in Jersey , † August 26, 1943 in London ) was a British professional golfer who was born on the Channel Island of Jersey. He is considered the first true hitters of the golf .

Sporting successes

Ted Ray at the US Open 1920

Ted Ray made his debut at the British Open in Sandwich, England in 1899 , where he promptly took 16th place. Ted Ray gained fame especially through his participation in the play-off at the US Open 1913, which he played with his good friend Harry Vardon and the eventual winner Francis Ouimet . Ted Ray was able to celebrate numerous successes as a professional, in particular the major victories at the British Open in Muirfield in 1912 and in 1920 at the US Open in Inverness . In tournaments he was usually among the top 10. His show competition tours through the United States of America together with Harry Vardon in 1913 and 1920 caused a sensation. In this context, there was talk of the duel "broad sword" (Ray) against "rapier" ( Vardon ), as Ted Ray very much dynamically hit the balls, while Harry Vardon, in contrast, played particularly elegant and controlled. Ted Ray is regarded as "the best player not in the World Golf Hall of Fame of golf was taken" and went first Ryder Cup -Captain for the UK one in 1927 in the history of golf.

Appearance and style of play

Ted Ray was a tall, sturdy man and was known for appearing on the golf course with a hat and a pipe. Despite his unorthodox swing style, Ted Ray was able to hit a golf ball significantly further than most of his contemporaries. Often he missed the fairway , but could then rely on his rescue strokes with the Niblick . On the greens, Ted Ray demonstrated a soulful and precise handling of the putter .

Activity as a golf instructor

His first appearance at the British Open earned him his first engagement as a Club Pro at Churston GC in Devon, England. In 1903 Ted Ray accepted an offer from Vardons to be his successor at Ganton GC, Yorkshire. From 1912 until his health-related retirement from golf in 1941, he was Head Pro at Oxhey GC near Watford , Hertfordshire . Ted Ray was anything but a good teacher, also because of his unorthodox swing. A typical tip from Ray was: “Hit the ball hard as I do!” (“Just hit the ball as hard as I do”). In his textbook Driving, Approaching, Putting , published in 1922, however, he deals in detail with all aspects of the game.

Ted Ray as a film character

The real events and characters of the participants in the US Open of 1913 formed the basis of the Disney film, " The greatest game of his life ", which was released in German cinemas in 2006. Ted Ray was portrayed in it by the English actor Stephen Marcus .

Participation in the major championships

Victories

year championship Score head Start Second
1912 The Open Championship (71-73-76-75 = 295) 4 strokes jerseyjersey Harry Vardon
1920 US Open +7 (74-73-73-75 = 295) 1 hit United StatesUnited States Jack Burke, Sr. , Leo Diegel , Jock Hutchison , Harry VardonUnited StatesUnited States
United StatesUnited States jerseyjersey

Results (chronological)

Of the four existing majors , Ted Ray only played The Open Championship and the US Open .

Tournament 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
US Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship T16 13 T12 9 23 T12 T11 T8 T5 3 6th
Tournament 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
US Open DNP DNP DNP 3 DNP DNP DNP NT NT DNP
The Open Championship T5 T5 1 2 T10 NT NT NT NT NT
Tournament 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
US Open 1 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T27 DNP DNP
The Open Championship 3 T19 T46 T12 T32 T2 T30 T30 T33 T39
Tournament 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937
US Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship T24 CUT T56 DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT

NT = No tournament / tournament canceled
DNP = Did not play / did not start
CUT = failed at the cut
"T" = tie / split placement
Green background = victory. Yellow background = Top10 placement

literature

personal data
SURNAME Ray, Ted
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ray, Edward RG
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British professional golfer
DATE OF BIRTH March 28, 1877
PLACE OF BIRTH jersey
DATE OF DEATH August 26, 1943
Place of death London