Tommy Bolt

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Tommy Bolt

| image = Sport and Leisure during the Second World War CNA3615.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Tommy Bolt and Bobby Locke

| fullname = Thomas Henry Bolt

| nickname = Thunder, Terrible Tommy

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|3|31}}

| birth_place = Haworth, Oklahoma, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|8|30|1916|3|31}}

| death_place = Cherokee Village, Arkansas, U.S.

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}

| weight = {{convert|180|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{USA}}

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college =

| yearpro = 1946

| retired =

| extour = PGA Tour

| prowins = 20

| pgawins = 15

| otherwins = 5

| majorwins = 1

| masters = T3: 1952

| usopen = Won: 1958

| open = DNP

| pga = 3rd/T3: 1954, 1955, 1971

| wghofid = tommy-bolt

| wghofyear = 2002

| award1 =

| year1 =

| award2 =

| year2 =

| awardssection =

}}

Thomas Henry Bolt (March 31, 1916 – August 30, 2008) was an American professional golfer. He did not join the PGA Tour until he was in his thirties, but he went on to win 15 PGA Tour titles, including the 1958 U.S. Open. He played in the Ryder Cup in 1955 and 1957.

Early life

Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Professional career

Bolt was the fifth PGA Tour player to shoot a round of 60 when he did it in the second round of the 1954 Insurance City Open at the par-71 Wethersfield Country Club, outside Hartford, Connecticut.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uIE_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=FlUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1046%2C3176619 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Scores Record-Tying 60 In Insurance Open |date=June 26, 1954 |page=7}} Previously, Al Brosch, Wally Ulrich, Ted Kroll and Bill Nary had also scored 60. Bolt had 11 birdies in his round and had a putt for a 59, but missed a 15-foot putt for birdie on the 18th green. Bolt had scored 71 in his first round and followed with rounds of 69 and 71 over his final 36 holes. Bolt tied with Earl Stewart, but won an 18-hole playoff the following day.

Bolt was a member of the United States Ryder Cup teams in 1955 and 1957. In 1955, at Thunderbird Country Club in California, he won his two matches, including a singles victory over Christy O'Connor Snr. In the 1957 match at Lindrick Golf Club in England he won his foursomes match but lost to Eric Brown in the singles.

Bolt's fiery disposition earned him the nicknames "Thunder" and "Terrible Tommy". He was known to break clubs during rounds, and his penchant for throwing clubs led to the adoption of a rule prohibiting such behavior. In his later years, he admitted that a lot of his on-course eruptions were merely showmanship and that he felt they had detracted from his playing.

Bolt was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www.arksportshalloffame.com/wp-content/uploads/ASHOF-Past-Inductees-Bios-2014.pdf |title=ASHOF Inductee Profiles}}

Death

Bolt died in Cherokee Village, Arkansas at the age of 92.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/sports/golf/04bolt.html |title=Tommy Bolt, a Top Golfer Who Was Known Better for His Temper, Dies at 92 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 4, 2008 |last1=Litsky |first1=Frank |last2=Weber |first2=Bruce}} He is interred at Evening Shade Cemetery in Evening Shade, Arkansas.

Professional wins (20)

=PGA Tour wins (15)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

| Major championships (1)

Other PGA Tour (14)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Nov 11, 1951

|North and South Open

|−5 (71-72-71-69=283)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Barnum

align=center|2

|align=right|Jan 8, 1952

|Los Angeles Open

| +5 (73-74-70-72=289)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Burke Jr., {{flagicon|USA}} Dutch Harrison

align=center|3

|align=right|Jan 18, 1953

|San Diego Open

|−14 (66-68-70-70=274)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Doug Ford

align=center|4

|align=right|Feb 1, 1953

|Tucson Open

|−15 (65-68-66-66=265)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Chandler Harper

align=center|5

|align=right|Mar 21, 1954

|Miami Beach International Four-Ball
(with {{flagicon|USA}} Dick Mayer)

|−30 (67-61-65-65=258)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Julius Boros and {{flagicon|USA}} Dutch Harrison

align=center|6

|align=right|Jun 28, 1954

|Insurance City Open

|−13 (71-60-69-71=271)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Earl Stewart

align=center|7

|align=right|Sep 5, 1954

|Rubber City Open

|−23 (69-69-63-64=265)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Fred Hawkins

align=center|8

|align=right|Jan 23, 1955

|Convair-San Diego Open (2)

|−14 (64-67-72-71=274)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Palmer

align=center|9

|align=right|Feb 13, 1955

|Tucson Open (2)

|−14 (69-67-65-65=266)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bud Holscher, {{flagicon|USA}} Art Wall Jr.

align=center|10

|align=right|Jul 10, 1955

|St. Paul Open

|−19 (65-68-68-68=269)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Barber

align=center|11

|align=right|Jul 28, 1957

|Eastern Open Invitational

|−12 (64-72-69-71=276)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Casper, {{flagicon|USA}} Fred Hawkins

align=center|12

|align=right|May 4, 1958

|Colonial National Invitation

| +2 (68-70-70-74=282)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ken Venturi

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|13

|align=right|Jun 14, 1958

|U.S. Open

| +3 (71-71-69-72=283)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Gary Player

align=center|14

|align=right|Jun 6, 1960

|Memphis Open Invitational

|−7 (72-69-65-67=273)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ben Hogan, {{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler

align=center|15

|align=right|Mar 12, 1961

|Pensacola Open Invitational

|−13 (72-68-68-67=275)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Gary Player

PGA Tour playoff record (4–2)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1952

|Los Angeles Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Burke Jr., {{flagicon|USA}} Dutch Harrison

|Won 18-hole playoff;
Bolt: −2 (69),
Burke: E (71),
Harrison: +3 (74)

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|1954

|Miami Beach International Four-Ball
(with {{flagicon|USA}} Dick Mayer)

|{{flagicon|USA}} Julius Boros and {{flagicon|USA}} Dutch Harrison

|Won with birdie on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|3

|1954

|Insurance City Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Earl Stewart

|Won 18-hole playoff;
Stewart conceded on final hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|4

|1955

|Miami Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Snead

|Lost to par on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|5

|1960

|Memphis Open Invitational

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ben Hogan, {{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler

|Won 18-hole playoff;
Bolt: −2 (68),
Hogan: −1 (69),
Littler: +1 (71)

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|6

|1961

|Home of the Sun Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Hill, {{flagicon|USA}} Bud Sullivan

|Hill won with birdie on third extra hole

=Senior wins (5)=

1969 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
1978 Australian Seniors Championship{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110916770 |title=American veteran wins seniors title with 1-over-par round |newspaper=The Canberra Times |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=16 October 1978 |access-date=11 February 2020 |page=18 |via=Trove }}
1980 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Art Wall Jr.)
1995 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Jack Fleck)

Sources:{{refn|{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H15gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K3INAAAAIBAJ&pg=1461%2C1701451 |newspaper=Wilmington Morning Star |location=(North Carolina) |agency=Associated Press |title=Tommy Bolt wins North and South golf tournament |date=November 12, 1951 |page=5}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ooFIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MIMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2801%2C1835519 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Three Gain Golf Playoff |date=January 8, 1952 |page=11}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2tMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5eUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3016%2C2830433 |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |title=Bolt Takes Open In Play-off Duel |date=January 9, 1952 |page=13}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d8Q_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=yVcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1258%2C4227346 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Captures San Diego Golf Tourney With 274; Tops Ford By Three Strokes |date=January 19, 1953 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0sM_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=xlcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=913%2C589713 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Tommy Bolt Clips 15 Strokes Off Par With 265 to Capture Tucson Tourney |date=February 2, 1953 |page=11}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D8k_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=h1cMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1066%2C2170317 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Mayer Sinks Long Putt to Gain Victory |date=March 22, 1954 |page=12}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uoE_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=FlUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=973%2C4037531 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Tommy Bolt; Stewart Tie |date=June 28, 1954 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u4E_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=FlUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1072%2C4260725 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Captures Insurance City Open Playoff; Stewart Concedes on Last Hole |date=June 29, 1954 |page=15}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lfMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4pkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7185%2C670542 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |agency=Associated Press |last=Howell |first=Fritz |title=Tommy Bolt wins Rubber City Open |date=September 6, 1954 |page=12}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=foI_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=NFUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=893%2C2613485 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Takes San Diego Golf Title |date=January 24, 1955 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QH0_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=C1UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3844%2C4170852 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Tommy Bolt Stages Rally; Wins Tucson Open With 266 |date=February 14, 1955 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x24_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=llQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2694%2C3091219 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Overhauls Barber to Capture St. Paul Open With 19-Under-Par 269 |date=July 11, 1955 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H3w_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=CFUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3702%2C4244228 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Captures Eastern Open |date=July 29, 1957 |page=10}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XcQ_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=0FcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=783%2C1498335 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Tommy Bolt Golf Winner |date=May 5, 1958 |page=13}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L6wpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tk4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6187%2C4628988 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Drum |first=Bob |title=Tom Bolt wraps up Open title with 283 |date=June 15, 1958 |page=1, sec. 4}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BdYjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8ecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7062%2C2209798 |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |title=Bolt Gets 67; Three in Tie |date=June 6, 1960 |page=11}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qN9RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9YMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=381%2C2158026 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Wins In Playoff |date=June 7, 1960 |page=21}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ChtcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SFUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1585%2C3538507 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |title=Bolt Wins Golf Meet |date=March 13, 1961 |page=15}}}}

Major championships

=Wins (1)=

class="wikitable"

!Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up

style="background:#FBCEB1;"

| 1958

U.S. Open

3 shot lead

+3 (71-71-69-72=283)

4 strokes

{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Gary Player

=Results timeline=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1950

!1951

!1952

!1953

!1954

!1955

!1956

!1957

!1958

!1959

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

|style="background:yellow;"|T5

|T12

|T22

|style="background:yellow;"|T8

|CUT

|T32

|T30

align=left|U.S. Open

|CUT

|T29

|style="background:yellow;"|T7

|CUT

|style="background:yellow;"|T6

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

|T22

|WD

|style="background:lime;"|1

|T38

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|R32

|style="background:yellow;"|SF

|R128

|style="background:yellow;"|R16

|style="background:yellow;"|T5

|T17

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1960

!1961

!1962

!1963

!1964

!1965

!1966

!1967

!1968

!1969

align=left|Masters Tournament

|T20

|style="background:yellow;"|T4

|CUT

|T37

|CUT

|style="background:yellow;"|T8

|T17

|T26

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|WD

|T22

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|T57

|WD

|T30

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|WD

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1970

!1971

!1972

!1973

!1974

!1975

!1976

!1977

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|3

|WD

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

Note: Bolt never played in The Open Championship.

WD = Withdrew

CUT = missed the half-way cut

R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play

"T" indicates a tie for a place

=Summary=

Totals	1	0	5	9	14	22	48	29
class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made
align=left\|Masters Tournament	0	0	1	3	5	9	17	13
align=left\|U.S. Open	1	0	1	2	4	6	17	8
align=left\|The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
align=left\|PGA Championship	0	0	3	4	5	7	14	8

Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1953 PGA – 1956 PGA)
Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (twice)

U.S. national team appearances

Ryder Cup: 1955 (winners), 1957
Hopkins Trophy: 1953 (winners), 1956 (winners)
Lakes International Cup: 1954 (winners)

References

External links

{{PGATour player|01104}}
{{World Golf Hall of Fame|tommy-bolt}}
{{Find a Grave|29498324}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110927163514/http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2004/01/18/Hernando/A_Bolt_of_energy.shtml St. Petersburg Times feature]

{{navboxes|title=Tommy Bolt in the Ryder Cup

|list={{1955 United States Ryder Cup team}}

}}

Category:American male golfers

Category:PGA Tour golfers

Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers

Category:Winners of men's major golf championships

Category:Ryder Cup competitors for the United States

Category:World Golf Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Golfers from Oklahoma

Category:United States Army personnel of World War II

Category:People from McCurtain County, Oklahoma