Ed Dudley

Who was Ed Dudley?

Edward Bishop Dudley was an American professional golfer of the late 1920s and 1930s. He was given the nickname, "Big Ed," in acknowledgment of his 6 ft 4 in frame.

Born in Brunswick, Georgia, Dudley was a 15-time winner on the PGA Tour. After winning both the Los Angeles and Western Opens in 1931, Dudley had his best year in 1933, when he was a quarter-finalist in the PGA Championship and won selection to the Ryder Cup team. He won two key matches in the 1937 Ryder Cup, to help the United States win for the first time in England. In a total of four Ryder Cup matches played, Dudley compiled a record of three wins and one loss, across three Cup series; all three U.S. teams he played for had to travel to Great Britain.

Dudley finished 24 times in the top-10 at major championships, and this is a record among players who did not win at least one major. His high finishes in majors include third place at the PGA Championship in 1932 and at The Masters in 1937. In 1937, he became the first player to finish in the top-10 in all four majors in one year, a feat not repeated until Arnold Palmer in 1960.