Thomas Lawrence McNamara, Sr. (November 18, 1882 – July 21, 1939) was an American professional golfer.
Early life McNamara was born in Brookline, Massachusetts to an immigrant Irish family. His parents were Thomas McNamara (1841–1909) and Mariah McNamara née Curry (1851–1940).
Professional career McNamara was the head professional at Wollaston Golf Club. During the 1909 U.S. Open, McNamara became the first man ever to break 70 in a competitive American tournament. McNamara held a three-stroke lead in the 1909 U.S. Open heading to the back nine. Due to the extremely hot temperatures, McNamara suffered a heatstroke on the 14th hole. After doctors treated him, he insisted on finishing the tournament. He succeeded in finishing, but his game collapsed down the stretch and finished second.
The following year, 1910, he served as the head golf professional at the Fall River Country Club in Fall River, Massachusetts.
McNamara was considered one of American's best homegrown professionals during the early twentieth century. He was head professional at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. He proposed the idea of a national tournament to his boss, Rodman Wanamaker. McNamara was the manager of the golf department in Wanamaker's New York City department store. Thus came the PGA Championship, first played in 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club.Memorable Moments in the PGA Championship
Personal life McNamara and his wife Mary had seven children.
McNamara died, from coronary thrombosis, at his home in Mount Vernon, New York on July 21, 1939. Tournament wins this list may be incomplete
PGA Tour wins (1) 1915 Western Open Source:
Other wins (6) 1912 North and South Open, Metropolitan Open 1913 North and South Open, Massachusetts Open 1914 Philadelphia Open Championship 1915 Philadelphia Open Championship
Results in major championships Tournament19031904190519061907190819091910191119121913191419151916191719181919192019211922U.S. Open39CUTT2014T102T5T292T16T132T15NTNTT3The Open Championship25NTNTNTNTNTPGA ChampionshipNYFR32NTNTR16R64 Note: The Masters Tournament was not founded until 1934.
NYF = tournament not yet founded NT = no tournament CUT = missed the half-way cut R64, R32, R16 = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances France–United States Professional Match (representing the United States): 1913
References