George Duncan

Who was George Duncan?

George Duncan was a Scottish professional golfer.

Duncan was born in Methlick, Aberdeenshire. He was first apprenticed as a carpenter and rejected a chance to become a professional footballer at Aberdeen to become a golf professional. In 1920, he won the first post World War I Open Championship at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent, in one of the greatest comebacks in Open Championship history. After shooting 80 in his first two rounds, Duncan was still thirteen shots behind the leader during the final round, but made up the deficit to win. He is the last player to win a golf major with a score of 80 for a round. He played for Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1927, 1929, and 1931. He was playing captain in 1929 when GB won. He was also a golf course designer. His much sought-after professional teaching and swing analysis skills lead to him being referred to as "the pros pro."

Although he did not win the British Open in 1922, his third round of that Open was included as one of the 25 greatest rounds of golf ever played in the Guinness Book of Golf Records Facts and Champions. His third round 69 was only the third round shot under 70 in British Open history; a major achievement given the limitations of the golf technology of the day. He just failed to win the 1922 Open, eventually losing to Walter Hagen by a margin of one stroke. The scene of his demise was a dip in the fairway in front of the 18th green from which he fluffed a chip shot to a position five yards short of the pin. He eventually missed the crucial putt for a tie with Hagen, which led to the short position in front of the 18th being ironically named "Duncan's Hollow."