Willie Ritchie (golfer)

William Leggat Ritchie (1884 – 12 February 1966) was a Scottish professional golfer. His most successful year was 1910 when he tied for 16th place in the Open Championship and won the Perrier Water Assistant Professionals' Tournament.

Willie Ritchie
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Leggat Ritchie
Born1884
Aberdeen, Scotland
Died12 February 1966 (aged 81)
Croydon, Surrey, England
Nationality Scotland
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins1
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipT16: 1910

Early life

Ritchie was born in 1884 in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Golf career

Ritchie's best season was 1910 while he was an assistant to James Braid at Walton Heath Golf Club. The opening day of the Open Championship was abandoned because of rain but, when play resumed the following day, Ritchie had rounds of 78 and 74 and was tied for 4th place at the end of the day.[1] Rounds of 82 and 79 on the final day left him tied for 16th place. Later in the year Ritchie won the first Perrier Water Assistant Professionals' Tournament at Bushey Hall Golf Club. The prizes for this tournament were "presented by the proprietors of Perrier Water", the winner receiving 20 guineas (£21) and a gold watch.[2] The event was organised like the News of the World Match Play with regional qualifying over 36 holes and a knock-out stage for the 16 qualifiers. Ritchie won the Southern section qualifying by a clear 7 strokes. Ritchie and Willie Watt, the Scottish qualifier, met in the final. Watt was 1 up after five holes but lost the next four holes. Ritchie also won the 11th and 13th and eventually won 5&4.[3]

Following his successful season he became the professional at Worplesdon Golf Club in 1911. In 1922 he moved to Addington Golf Club.[4] From 1935 he was at Selsdon Park Golf Club.

Death

Ritchie died in February 1966 aged 81. At the time he was living in Addiscombe near Croydon in south London.[5]

Tournament wins

Results in major championships
Tournament 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
The Open Championship T16 CUT WD 60 NT NT NT NT NT
Tournament 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
The Open Championship T29 72 70 37
Tournament 1930 1931 1932
The Open Championship CUT

Note: Ritchie only played in The Open Championship.

  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. "The Jubilee golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 24 June 1910. p. 9.
  2. "Golf – Assistant Professionals' Tournament". The Times. 19 October 1910. p. 21.
  3. "Assistant' tournament for 100 guineas". The Glasgow Herald. 21 October 1910. p. 15.
  4. "Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland: Clubmakers". www.antiquegolfscotland.com.
  5. "Find a will | GOV.UK". probatesearch.service.gov.uk.
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