Robert Allenby (born 12 July 1971) is an Australian professional golfer.
Early life Allenby was born in Melbourne on 12 July 1971. He is of English descent, with his father being a native of Leeds.
Allenby attended Alamein State School before attending Ashwood High School.
Professional career He turned professional in 1992 and was successful almost immediately, topping the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit in his first season and again in 1994. He continues to play some events on his home tour and has won 13 times in Australasia, including the Victorian Open as an amateur. He also began to play on the European Tour and it was his principal tour until 1998. He won four tournaments on it, including three in 1996, when he finished third on the Order of Merit. He has featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Allenby now plays primarily in the U.S. on the PGA Tour. He earned exempt status for 1999 by finishing 17th at the 1998 Qualifying School. He had a disappointing first season in America, coming 126th on the money list, but came good in 2000 when he won the Shell Houston Open and the Advil Western Open. He claimed another pair of wins the following season. In both of those years he came 16th on the money list. He has not won since but finished in the top 50 each year from 2002 to 2004. His performances in the major championships have been somewhat disappointing; his highest placing in a major is tied seventh at the 2004 U.S. Open. In 2005 he became the first golfer to win the "triple crown" of the Australian Masters, Australian PGA and Australian Open in the same year.
Allenby played for the International Team in the Presidents Cup in 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2009. After posting a 2–2–1 record in the 2009 Presidents Cup, Allenby accused Anthony Kim of being ill-prepared for his Sunday singles match, in which Allenby lost 5 and 3. In December 2009 Allenby became the first Australian to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, defeating Henrik Stenson in a playoff. It was his first professional win in four years, but he did not have to wait long for the next as he returned home to claim his fourth Australian PGA Championship title the following week.
Allenby missed the cut in the 2011 Masters Tournament by one stroke after bogeying the 18th hole of the second round. In February 2012, Allenby missed an opportunity to end an eleven-year drought on the PGA Tour, when he took a two stroke advantage to the 72nd hole of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He hit his tee shot into the trees on the right and proceeded to make double bogey to fall into a playoff with rookie John Huh. He lost out at the eighth extra hole when he could only bogey the par three 10th, leaving Huh with a tap in par for the tournament. Both players had made par on all seven previous holes throughout the playoff until this point.
Controversies Allenby fractured his sternum and suffered facial injuries when he was involved in a car accident when the vehicle he was driving struck an obstacle on a roundabout in Puerto Banús in September 1996. The incident occurred after he was forced to withdraw from the 1996 European Open tournament after suffering a foot injury during the Loch Lomond World Invitational the previous weekend.
Statements made by Allenby at the 2009 and 2011 Presidents Cups generated controversy. In 2009, following a loss to American Anthony Kim in the Sunday singles, Allenby accused Kim of partying all night on the eve of the Singles matches. That statement was vehemently denied by Kim and the members of the American team. In 2011, following a 0–4–0 record at the Presidents Cup where he failed to gain any points for the International team, he asserted that his record wasn't completely his fault and cited his partners' poor play as a reason. His partners, including Geoff Ogilvy, were displeased with Allenby's comments. The following week, at the Australian PGA Championship, Allenby got into contention which resulted in Ogilvy making a tweet that Allenby perceived as being sarcastic. After the tournament ended, Allenby exchanged heated words with Ogilvy and came close to having a physical altercation with Ogilvy.
In July 2015 at the RBC Canadian Open, Allenby had a verbal altercation with his caddie, Mick Middlemo, after playing four holes. While Allenby says that he was verbally abused and threatened by Middlemo, Middlemo says Allenby was verbally abusive. Middlemo walked off the course and Allenby selected a school principal from the gallery to carry his clubs the rest of the round. Later reports from another caddy in the group, Simon Clarke, seemed to indicate the problem was with Allenby. Clarke said, "I've known Rob for a long time and I've known Mick for a long time. It's disappointing that at age 42, or however old he [Allenby] is, he's still treating people that way and how many good caddies he's gone through."
Personal life Allenby resides in Jupiter, Florida.
Allenby is a patron of the Challenge Cancer Support Network, which has raised more than AU$9 million since 1993 for children with cancer and blood disorders. On 22 June 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.
Allenby said he was kidnapped while drinking at a bar in Honolulu on 17 January 2015, with his kidnappers robbing and beating him before leaving him in a park several miles away. An arrest was made concerning the false use of his credit card when it was used to spend US$32,000 at a strip club, which was filed as a case of mistaken identity.
Amateur wins 1989 (1) Australian Juniors Amateur Championship 1990 (2) Victorian Amateur Championship, Riversdale Cup 1991 (1) Riversdale Cup
Professional wins (22) PGA Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up130 Apr 2000Shell Houston Open−13 (68-67-68-72=275)Playoff Craig Stadler29 Jul 2000Advil Western Open−14 (69-69-68-68=274)Playoff Nick Price325 Feb 2001Nissan Open−8 (73-64-69-70=276)Playoff Brandel Chamblee, Toshimitsu Izawa, Dennis Paulson, Jeff Sluman, Bob Tway423 Sep 2001Marconi Pennsylvania Classic−19 (70-65-66-68=269)3 strokes Larry Mize, Rocco Mediate
PGA Tour playoff record (3–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result12000Shell Houston Open Craig StadlerWon with par on fourth extra hole 22000Advil Western Open Nick PriceWon with par on first extra hole32001Nissan Open Brandel Chamblee, Toshimitsu Izawa, Dennis Paulson, Jeff Sluman, Bob TwayWon with birdie on first extra hole42008Stanford St. Jude Championship Trevor Immelman, Justin LeonardLeonard won with birdie on second extra hole52012Mayakoba Golf Classic John HuhLost to par on eighth extra hole
European Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up112 Jun 1994Honda Open−12 (72-67-68-69=276)Playoff Miguel Ángel Jiménez29 Jun 1996Alamo English Open−10 (69-71-69-69=278)1 stroke Ross McFarlane, Colin Montgomerie330 Jun 1996Peugeot Open de France−16 (70-65-68-69=272)Playoff Bernhard Langer431 Aug 1996One 2 One British Masters−4 (69-71-71-73=284)Playoff Miguel Ángel Martín
European Tour playoff record (3–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11994Honda Open Miguel Ángel JiménezWon with par on third extra hole21996Peugeot Open de France Bernhard LangerWon with birdie on first extra hole31996One 2 One British Masters Miguel Ángel MartínWon after concession on first extra hole
Sunshine Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up16 Dec 2009Nedbank Golf Challenge−11 (68-70-68-71=277)Playoff Henrik Stenson
Sunshine Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12009Nedbank Golf Challenge Henrik StensonWon with par on third extra hole
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (12) Legend Flagship events (2) Other PGA Tour of Australasia (10) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up118 Oct 1992Perak Masters−13 (66-70-68-71=275)2 strokes Stuart Bouvier, Marimuthu Ramayah26 Dec 1992Johnnie Walker Australian Classic−13 (66-68-69-72=275)5 strokes Peter Senior324 Jan 1993Optus Players Championship−14 (71-66-69-68=274)Playoff Wayne Grady427 Nov 1994Heineken Australian Open−8 (70-70-70-70=280)1 stroke Brett Ogle55 Feb 1995Heineken Classic−10 (73-66-67-72=278)1 stroke Wayne Smith63 Dec 2000Australian PGA Championship−13 (69-64-72-70=275)1 stroke Steven Conran718 Nov 2001(2002 season)Australian PGA Championship (2)−15 (65-69-70-69=273)1 stroke Geoff Ogilvy87 Dec 2003MasterCard Masters−11 (67-67-72-71=277)Playoff Jarrod Moseley, Craig Parry, Adam Scott927 Nov 2005Australian Open (2)−4 (63-72-72-77=284)1 stroke Nick O'Hern, John Senden, Paul Sheehan104 Dec 2005Cadbury Schweppes Centenary Australian PGA Championship (3)−18 (68-71-64-67=270)1 stroke Mathew Goggin1111 Dec 2005MasterCard Masters (2)−17 (67-68-68-68=271)Playoff Bubba Watson1213 Dec 2009Australian PGA Championship1 (4)−14 (70-68-66-66=270)4 strokes John Senden, Scott Strange 1Co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (3–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11993Optus Players Championship Wayne GradyWon with birdie on first extra hole22003MasterCard Masters Jarrod Moseley, Craig Parry, Adam ScottWon with birdie on second extra holeMoseley and Parry eliminated by birdie on first hole32005MasterCard Masters Bubba WatsonWon with par on first extra hole42011Australian PGA Championship Greg Chalmers, Marcus FraserChalmers won with par on first extra hole
Other wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up13 Nov 1991Victorian Open(as an amateur)−1 (76-70-66-75=287)6 strokes David Armstrong, Paul Moloney
Results in major championships Tournament199119921993199419951996199719981999Masters TournamentCUTU.S. OpenT33CUTT46The Open ChampionshipCUTCUTT60T15T56T10T19PGA ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTT49T13CUT
Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009Masters Tournament47T29T39CUTCUTT22CUTT42T38U.S. OpenCUTT12CUTT7CUTT16CUTT18CUTThe Open ChampionshipT36T47CUTT43CUTT52T16CUTT7T52PGA ChampionshipT19T16T10T39T9CUTT20CUTT31T24 Tournament2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Masters TournamentT45CUTU.S. OpenT29CUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipT27T48CUTPGA ChampionshipT26CUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 1 12 7U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 1 4 15 7The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 2 5 20 14PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 2 7 18 11Totals 0 0 0 0 5 17 65 39 Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (2000 Open Championship – 2002 U.S. Open) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (five times)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament19951996199719981999The Players Championship73CUTCUT
Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009The Players ChampionshipT53T21T11T4T33CUTT38CUTT42T14
Tournament201020112012201320142015The Players Championship2T50T61CUTT56
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012Match PlayR32R64R16R32QFR32R64R64R64R32R64ChampionshipT25NT1T31T21T54T26T3T20T28T11T15InvitationalT12T23T2T6T9T2281T20T2T4869ChampionsT23T21T56
1Cancelled due to 9/11
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play "T" = tied NT = No Tournament Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.
Results in senior major championships Tournament 20212022The Tradition–62Senior PGA Championship–CUTU.S. Senior Open–CUTSenior Players Championship–76The Senior Open ChampionshipT64CUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances Amateur Eisenhower Trophy (representing Australia): 1990 Nomura Cup (representing Australia): 1991 (winners) Sloan Morpeth Trophy (representing Australia): 1990 (winners), 1991 (winners) Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Victoria): 1989, 1990, 1991
Professional World Cup (representing Australia): 1993, 1995, 2009 Dunhill Cup (representing Australia): 1994, 1997 Presidents Cup (International Team): 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003 (tie), 2009, 2011