James Christian Albus (born June 18, 1940) is an American professional golfer.
Early life and amateur career Albus was born in Staten Island, New York. He attended New Dorp High School, and went on to Bucknell University, where he was a successful baseball player. It was while he was at college that he took up golf, which was unusually late for a future pro. He transferred to UCLA and graduated in 1965.
Professional career In 1968, he became a golf professional and worked as a club professional at courses that included La Tourette Golf Course and Piping Rock Club. He won a number of local and regional tournaments while he was a club professional and played in five U.S. Opens and seven PGA Championships. He was Met PGA Player of the Year in 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1988. Albus' greatest success came after he turned 50 and began playing on the Senior PGA Tour, now known as the PGA Tour Champions, where he has won six tournaments, including a senior major, the 1991 Senior Players Championship.
Albus has been inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame as well as the PGA Metropolitan Section Hall of Fame. He played his last event associated with the PGA Tour organization in 2009.
Professional wins (19) Regular career wins (11) 1970 Metropolitan Open 1975 Long Island PGA Championship 1976 Long Island PGA Championship 1978 New York State Open 1981 Metropolitan PGA Championship, Long Island PGA Championship 1982 Metropolitan PGA Championship 1984 Metropolitan Open 1986 Long Island PGA Championship 1987 Long Island Open 1988 Long Island Open
Senior PGA Tour wins (6) LegendSenior PGA Tour major championships (1)Senior PGA Tour regular events (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jun 9, 1991 Mazda Presents The Senior Players Championship−9 (66-74-69-70=279)3 strokes Bob Charles, Charles Coody, Dave Hill2Feb 21, 1993GTE Suncoast Classic−7 (68-68-70=206)2 strokes Don Bies, Gibby Gilbert3Mar 13, 1994 Vantage at The Dominion−8 (68-67-73=208)1 stroke George Archer, Graham Marsh, Lee Trevino4Aug 7, 1994Bank of Boston Senior Golf Classic −13 (67-66-70=203)2 strokes Bob Brue, Raymond Floyd5Mar 12, 1995The Dominion Seniors (2)−11 (71-65-69=205)3 strokes Raymond Floyd, Jay Sigel6Feb 15, 1998GTE Classic (2)−6 (68-69-70=207)1 stroke José María Cañizares, Simon Hobday, Kermit Zarley
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–3) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11994 GTE Northwest Classic Simon HobdayLost to birdie on third extra hole 21994Golf Magazine Senior Tour Championship Raymond FloydLost to birdie on fifth extra hole31995 Senior Tournament of Champions Jim ColbertLost to birdie on third extra hole
Other senior wins (2) 2001 Georgia-Pacific Super Seniors Match-Play Championship, Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Simon Hobday)
Results in major championships
Timeline Tournament197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988U.S. OpenCUTCUTCUTT30CUTPGA ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTCUTT65CUTCUT Note: Albus never played in the Masters Tournament nor The Open Championship.
CUT = missed 36 hole cut "T" = tied
Results in senior major championships Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1991 Mazda Presents The Senior Players Championship −9 (66-74-69-70=279) 3 strokes Bob Charles, Charles Coody, Dave Hill
Timeline Results may not be in chronological order.
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999Senior PGA Championship–T22T7T38T10T27T39T39U.S. Senior OpenT27T29T26T35T2T29T27CUTT13The Tradition– T28T17T15T54T65T53T45Senior Players Championship–1T18T152T35T5448T24T37
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007Senior PGA ChampionshipT5179CUTCUT69CUT75CUTSenior British Open Championship–––CUTU.S. Senior OpenT47T59CUTCUTThe TraditionT43T55T44T42T78T67T6370Senior Players ChampionshipT60T10T30T48T5875
Note: The Senior British Open Championship did not become a major until 2003.
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
U.S. national team appearances PGA Cup: 1977 (tie), 1981 (tie), 1982 (winners)
See also
References
External links