Bob Pringle (golfer)

Robert Pringle (1851 – 8 September 1902) was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the late 19th century. Pringle had four top-10 finishes in The Open Championship. His best performance was second place in the 1877 Open Championship.[1]

Bob Pringle
Scottish golfer Bob Pringle, shown holding his clubs c. 1875
Pringle holding his clubs, c. 1875
Personal information
Born1851
Dalkeith, Scotland
Died8 September 1902,
aged 51-52
Inveresk, Scotland
Nationality Scotland
Career
Turned professionalc. 1869
Professional wins1
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open Championship2nd: 1877

Early life

Pringle was born in Dalkeith, Scotland, in 1851. He was the son of David Pringle and his wife Mary Hilston.[2] He learned golf by starting out as a caddie. Pringle was described as having an admirable swing, one that was technically correct and aesthetically pleasing to see.[3] He was said to be a great stylist of the day, in the manner of Harry Vardon.[4]

In October 1874, Pringle stunned a strong field in a four-round tournament on the Musselburgh Links. His success in winning the tournament was described in a magazine article at the time as "the whole of the 'cracks' had been vanquished by a hitherto unknown caddie, named Pringle."[5]

Golf career

1877 Open Championship

Pringle's best result as a player came in the 1877 Open Championship held 6 April at Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. Pringle played solid golf but Jamie Anderson won the Championship by two strokes. Pringle finished in second place, carding rounds of 44-38-40-40=162, and won £6.[1]

Details of play

Davie Strath and Bob Ferguson played together but Strath had a disappointing 45 in the first round which left him well behind the leaders. Ferguson, too, began in disappointing fashion but managed to salvage a 40. William Brown led on 39 with Ferguson and Jamie Anderson on 40. After two rounds, three players were level on 80: Brown, Ferguson and William Cosgrove with Anderson and Pringle only two behind. Strath was five behind on 85.

Anderson carded a 37 in the third round while Ferguson could muster only a 40 and Davie Strath scored 38. Anderson now led on 119 with Ferguson on 120 and Strath on 123. In the final round Strath took a horrendous 9 at the second hole to drop out of contention. Ferguson also had a disappointing last round and Anderson's 41 was enough to give him the Championship.

Death

Pringle died on 8 September 1902.[2] A "nervous affliction" affected one of his hands, ending his playing career. He died in poverty at the Inveresk poorhouse.[2][3]

Tournament wins (1)

Note: This list may be incomplete.

  • 1874 Musselburgh Tournament[5]

Results in The Open Championship
Tournament 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
The Open Championship 20 T14 T7 DNP 2 22 DNP T4 DNP T23 4 DNP DNP T16 DNP DNP RET

Note: Pringle played only in The Open Championship.

DNP = Did not play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
RET = Retired
Yellow background for top-10

References
  1. Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
  2. "Robert Pringle". northberwick.org.uk. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  3. "Scotland's Veteran Caddies". Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes. Vol. 88. London: Vinton & Co. July 1907. p. 265. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  4. Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. Vinton & Co. (London). 1896. p. 78. Retrieved 28 May 2015 – via Internet Archive. golfer bob pringle.
  5. "Pastimes: Musselburgh Golf". 1874. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
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