Johnny Bulla

{{short description|American professional golfer}}

{{use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Johnny Bulla

| image = Johnny Bulla 1950.jpg

| imagesize = 160px

| caption = Bulla, circa 1950

| fullname = John Guthrie Bulla

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1914|6|2}}

| birth_place = Newell, West Virginia, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|12|7|1914|6|2}}

| death_place = Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.

| height =

| weight =

| nationality = {{USA}}

| spouse =

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| children =

| college =

| status = Professional

| yearpro =

| extour = PGA Tour

| prowins = 8

| pgawins = 1

| otherwins = 7

| majorwins =

| masters = T2: 1949

| usopen = T3: 1941

| open = 2nd/T2: 1939, 1946

| pga = T5: 1948, 1951

| wghofid =

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}}

John Guthrie Bulla (June 2, 1914 – December 7, 2003) was an American professional golfer.

Born in Newell, West Virginia, Bulla played on the PGA Tour, winning the 1941 Los Angeles Open, and finished runner-up three times in the majors, including twice to Sam Snead; at the British Open in 1946 and the Masters in 1949. Bulla's greatest moment might have been the British Open in 1939 at St Andrews. In miserable conditions, he drove flawlessly and never missed a fairway. The driver is on display in the Royal & Ancient Golf Club Museum, but his name is missing from the Claret Jug. Bulla finished early that day and was the leader in the clubhouse, which he held until Dick Burton, in the final group, caught him and won with a birdie on the last hole. Although Bulla never won a major, he finished in the top-10 12 times; twice each in the Masters and PGA Championship and four times each at the British Open and U.S. Open.

In January 2000, the Carolinas Golf Reporters Association inducted Bulla into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame. He co-founded Arizona Airways,[https://members.tripod.com/~Denfl/Johnny_Bulla.html Johnny Bulla] which became Frontier Airlines in 1950.

Bulla was a private pilot and before World War II, he flew himself to various tournaments.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uR4hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lWQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3667,533761 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |title=Bulla to seek second win in Oakland event |date=January 8, 1941 |page=6 }} He was later a commercial pilot with Eastern Airlines,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EDsVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HQgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2770,165888 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |title=Golf pros plan tourney air travel in own airplane |date=October 17, 1945 |page=7 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t3gbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3479,1438894|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |last=Drum |first=Bob |title=Bulla's here to stay for a while |date= March 19, 1949 |page=6 }} and shortly after the war, Bulla and several other touring pros bought a C-47 cargo plane from the U.S. Army Air Forces to fly themselves and their wives to golf tournaments, with Bulla at the controls.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h04aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5CQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6636,5456674 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |title=Bulla has solved travel problems for golfing pros |date=December 12, 1945 |page=2-final }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ingolfwetrust.com/golf-central/2007/12/11/On+This+Day+In+History+Johnny+Bulla+Takes+Flight+With+His+Pals.aspx |publisher=In Golf We Trust |title=On this day in history - Johnny Bulla takes flight with his pals |date=December 11, 2007 |accessdate=July 16, 2013}}

Bulla was the first to endorse merchandise sold outside the golf pro shop. He won the L.A. Open in 1941 with a discount golf ball, which sold for a quarter at Walgreens.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-30-sp-62430-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times |last=Murray |first=Jim |title=Athletes today owe Bulla a lot |date=November 30, 1993 |access-date=July 16, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/article_7f64248c-99c0-5ee0-8a41-4e167d78e9d5.html|newspaper=East Valley Tribune |location=Tempe, AZ |last=Huffman |first=Bill |title=Golf legend Bulla lived rich life |date=December 16, 2003 |accessdate=July 16, 2013}}