Bruce Crampton (born 28 September 1935) is an Australian professional golfer.

Early life and amateur career In 1935, Crampton was born in Sydney, New South Wales. He attended Kogarah High School from 1948 to 1950.

In August 1953, Crampton reached final of the New South Wales Amateur Championship, losing 5&4 to Harry Berwick. As an amateur, he also had success at professional tournaments. In October 1953, at the age of 18, he led the Lakes Open after two rounds. According to Norman Von Nida, he was "probably" the first amateur in roughly 15 years, since Jim Ferrier, "to lead a big tournament after two rounds." In 1953, Von Nida also stated: "Crampton proves my prediction that he would become one of the greatest players Australia has produced."

Professional career In 1953, Crampton turned professional, becoming an assistant to Billy McWilliam at Beverley Park in Sydney. His decision to turn professional came soon after he had been left out of the Australian amateur team to tour Britain in 1954 and play in the Commonwealth Tournament at St Andrews.

Crampton won the Vardon Trophy for the player with the lowest stroke average on the PGA Tour in 1973 and 1975. He had 14 career wins on the PGA Tour between 1961 and 1975 and was runner up in four major championships – one Masters, one U.S. Open, and two PGA Championships – all to Jack Nicklaus. He was ranked among the top five golfers in the world in both 1972 and 1973, according to Mark McCormack's world golf rankings. His other regular career victories included the Australian Open, New Zealand PGA Championship, Far East Open and the Philippine Open. As a senior, he won 20 times on the Champions Tour, and topped the money list in 1986.

Awards and honors Crampton is an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Crampton is also a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MPE). In 1973 and 1975, Crampton earned the Vardon Trophy, given by the PGA of America to the PGA Tour's lowest scorer of the year. In 1973, the New South Wales PGA bestowed upon him their Player of the Year award. He is also a member of the New South Wales Hall of Champion. In 1986, Crampton won the money list for the Senior PGA Tour. In 1992, he was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. In 2001, Crampton was also inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (45) PGA Tour wins (14) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up123 Jul 1961Milwaukee Open Invitational−8 (70-64-67-71=272)1 stroke Gay Brewer, Bob Goalby215 Jul 1962Motor City Open−17 (66-65-70-66=267)3 strokes Dave Hill, Don Massengale326 Apr 1964Texas Open Invitational−7 (71-69-68-65=273)1 stroke Bob Charles, Chi-Chi Rodríguez424 Jan 1965Bing Crosby National Pro-Am−3 (75-67-73-69=284)3 strokes Tony Lema511 May 1965Colonial National Invitation−4 (71-68-71-66=276)3 strokes George Knudson630 May 1965500 Festival Open Invitation−5 (71-70-67-71=279)1 stroke Jacky Cupit, Lionel Hebert79 Nov 1969Hawaiian Open−14 (71-71-65-67=274)4 strokes Jack Nicklaus82 Aug 1970Westchester Classic−15 (67-71-68-67=273)1 stroke Larry Hinson, Jack Nicklaus918 Jul 1971Western Open−5 (66-73-69-71=279)2 strokes Bobby Nichols1014 Jan 1973Phoenix Open−12 (68-67-68-65=268)1 stroke Steve Melnyk, Lanny Wadkins1121 Jan 1973Dean Martin Tucson Open−11 (70-70-66-71=277)5 strokes George Archer, Gay Brewer, Labron Harris Jr.126 May 1973Houston Open−11 (72-66-67-72=277)1 stroke Dave Stockton1324 Jun 1973American Golf Classic−7 (70-67-68-68=273)3 strokes Gay Brewer, Bob Murphy, Lanny Wadkins144 May 1975Houston Open (2)−15 (68-70-66-69=273)2 strokes Gil Morgan

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11970Houston Champions International Gibby GilbertLost to par on third extra hole21974B.C. Open Richie KarlLost to birdie on first extra hole Source:

PGA Tour satellite wins (1)

1968 West End Classic

Other wins (8) this list may be incomplete 1954 New Zealand PGA Championship 1956 Australian Open, Speedo Tournament 1957 Pelaco Tournament 1958 North Coast Open 1959 Far East Open, Philippine Open 1971 Wills Masters

Senior PGA Tour wins (20) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up111 May 1986Benson & Hedges Invitational−14 (67-67-68=202)2 strokes Bob Charles227 Jul 1986MONY Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic−11 (70-65-71=206)1 stroke Roberto De Vicenzo, Orville Moody, Chi-Chi Rodríguez317 Jul 1986GTE Northwest Classic −6 (77-71-72=210)2 strokes Don January, George Lanning421 Sep 1986PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational−9 (68-69-72=70=279)1 stroke Lee Elder, Chi-Chi Rodríguez526 Oct 1986Pepsi Senior Challenge −8 (65-71=136)1 stroke Gary Player69 Nov 1986Las Vegas Senior Classic−10 (71-67-68=206)2 strokes Dale Douglass723 Nov 1986Shearson-Lehman Brothers Senior Classic−16 (65-67-68=200)4 strokes Butch Baird831 May 1987Denver Champions of Golf−12 (73-64-67=204)1 stroke Walt Zembriski 96 Jul 1987The Greenbrier American Express Championship−16 (63-70-67=200)6 strokes Orville Moody1019 Jul 1987MONY Syracuse Senior Classic (2)−7 (65-67-65=197)6 strokes Chi-Chi Rodríguez116 Sep 1987Bank One Senior Golf Classic−13 (63-64-70=197)6 strokes Miller Barber, Bob Charles, Joe Jimenez1215 May 1988United Hospitals Classic−5 (71-65-69=205)Playoff Billy Casper1310 Jul 1988GTE Northwest Classic (2)−9 (69-68-70=207)1 stroke Don Bies, Bruce Devlin1412 Mar 1989MONY Arizona Classic−16 (67-64-69=200)1 stroke Bobby Nichols1523 Jul 1989Ameritech Senior Open−11 (70-67-68=205)1 stroke Jim Ferree, Orville Moody165 Aug 1990PaineWebber Invitational (2)−11 (68-69-68=205)3 strokes Tom Shaw1714 Oct 1990Gatlin Brothers Southwest Senior Classic−12 (67-68-69=204)4 strokes Lee Trevino186 Jan 1991Infiniti Senior Tournament of Champions−9 (70-69-69-71=279)4 strokes Frank Beard198 Mar 1992GTE West Classic−15 (66-63-66=195)3 strokes Chi-Chi Rodríguez2018 May 1997Cadillac NFL Golf Classic−6 (76-67-67=210)Playoff Hugh Baiocchi

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (2–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11988United Hospitals Classic Billy CasperWon with birdie on first extra hole21990GTE North Classic Mike HillLost to birdie on first extra hole31993PGA Seniors' Championship Tom WargoLost to par on second extra hole41997Cadillac NFL Golf Classic Hugh BaiocchiWon with birdie on third extra hole

Other senior wins (2) 1987 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Orville Moody) 1988 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Orville Moody)

Results in major championships Tournament1956195719581959Masters TournamentT21T26CUTU.S. OpenT19CUTThe Open ChampionshipT13T39T34PGA Championship

Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT16CUTT29T11T21T11T17T49T13U.S. OpenT38T22T45T5T14T32T57T46T6The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT17T3T56T20T43T26T23T15

Tournament1970197119721973197419751976Masters TournamentT38T18T2T43T11CUT27U.S. OpenT30T492CUTT23CUTThe Open ChampionshipT18CUTPGA ChampionshipT6T57T242T482T38

CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 1 0 1 1 10 19 16U.S. Open 0 1 0 2 3 7 17 14The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 4PGA Championship 0 2 1 3 4 9 15 15Totals 0 4 1 6 8 28 56 49 Most consecutive cuts made – 33 (1961 U.S. Open – 1973 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

Team appearances Amateur Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing New South Wales): 1953

Professional World Cup (representing Australia): 1957, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1972 Slazenger Trophy (representing British Commonwealth and Empire): 1956 Vicars Shield (representing New South Wales): 1956 (winners)

See also List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins

Notes

References

External links