Ernest Whitcombe

Ernest Robert Whitcombe (17 October 1890 – 14 July 1971) was an English professional golfer. Over the course of his career he had nine wins in professional tournaments and was runner-up in the 1924 Open Championship.

Ernest Whitcombe
Personal information
Full nameErnest Robert Whitcombe
Born(1890-10-17)17 October 1890
Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England
Died14 July 1971(1971-07-14) (aged 80)
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Nationality England
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins10
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenWD: 1931
The Open Championship2nd: 1924
Achievements and awards
Tooting Bec Cup1924

Early life

Whitcombe was born in Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. He was the eldest of the three Whitcombe brothers who were all successful English professional golfers in the 1920s and 1930s.

Golf career

He was runner-up in the 1924 Open Championship, carding rounds of 77-70-77-78=302, and finished just one shot behind Walter Hagen. The excellent 70 in round two was the best score in a single round by any competitor in the top 10. He won the Irish and Dutch Opens in 1928, the French Open in 1930 and the Irish Open again in 1935. He also won the 1924 News of the World Match Play.

Family

His two younger brothers Charles and Reg were also professional golfers. Ernest played with his brother Charles in the 1929 and 1931 Ryder Cups and all three played together in the 1935 Ryder Cup. His son, Eddie Whitcombe, was also a professional golfer.

World War I

During World War I he joined the Royal Field Artillery as a gunner attached to the 16th Division of Kitchener's Army. Whitcombe saw combat at Hulluch, Guillemont, Messines and Ypres and suffered slight wounds from a machine-gun burst. He was hit by a small piece of shrapnel which became lodged in his left eye—an injury which may have adversely affected his putting in later years. For his war service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.[1]

Death and legacy

Whitcombe died on 14 July 1971 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England.[2] He was one of the top English golfers in the period from 1924 through 1937.

Professional wins
Note: This list may be incomplete

Results in major championships
Tournament 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
U.S. Open NT NT
The Open Championship T33 T29 NT NT NT NT NT
Tournament 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
U.S. Open
The Open Championship T12 T38 2 T26 T4 CUT
Tournament 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
U.S. Open WD
The Open Championship T17 T23 CUT T12 T9 T18 WD 19 CUT

Note: Whitcombe only played in the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.

  Top 10
  Did not play

NT = No tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

References
  1. "History of Came Down Golf Club". camedowngolfclub.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  2. "Mr E. Whitcombe" The Times, 15 July 1971; pg. 18; Issue 58225.

Further reading
  • Fry, Peter (1994). The Whitcombes: A Golfing Legend. Droitwich, England: Grant & Hobbs. ISBN 978-0907186403.
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