Max Faulkner

Herbert Gustavus Max Faulkner, OBE (29 July 1916 – 26 February 2005) was an English professional golfer who won the Open Championship in 1951.

Faulkner was born on 29 July 1916 in Bexhill-on-Sea, the son of Gus (1893–1976), a professional golfer who had been assistant to James Braid before World War I.

His younger brother, Frank (1919–1941), who was also an assistant to his father, was killed in a road traffic accident near Cambridge, while serving as a corporal in the Army, aged 21.

Faulkner showed considerable talent when very young.

Four steady rounds left him tied for 21st place in the championship.

At the end of July he had his best finish in an important tournament, the Daily Mirror Assistants' Tournament, despite starting with a 77.

After the war his father took a position at Pennard Golf Club on the Gower Peninsula in south Wales where he stayed until 1925.

His father was briefly at a golf facility in Regent's Park but in 1927 became the professional at Bramley Golf Club, just south of Guildford, where he remained until 1945.

Faulkner was outstanding at a number of sports but golf was his main interest.

After leaving school he became an assistant to his father at Bramley.

Faulkner was the eldest of three boys.

He entered the first Daily Mirror Assistants' Tournament in September 1933, just two months after his 17th birthday.

The event had prize money of £750, more than the Open Championship, and attracted 206 entries.

There was a 36-hole qualifying contest on the first day, after which the leading 64 played match-play.

Faulkner played with his father in the 1934 Sunningdale Foursomes, where they reached the semi-final before losing.

The second Daily Mirror Assistants' Tournament was played in late May 1934.

Faulkner again qualified for the match-play stage but lost his first match.

Still aged 17, he entered the 1934 Open Championship at Royal St George's.

He had two rounds of 76 to qualify for the main event.

In the championship he had two rounds of 78 and missed the cut.

In September he qualified for the final stage of the News of the World Match Play, winning his first match and losing at the last-32 stage.

1935 was a less successful season for Faulkner.

The Daily Mirror Assistants' Tournament became a stroke play event with sectional qualifying.

Faulkner qualified well, finishing 4th in the strong Southern Section but missed the cut in the main tournament.

1936 started poorly with Faulkner failing to qualify for the final stages of the Daily Mail Tournament.

In April he moved from Bramley and took a position at Sonning Golf Club, east of Reading, Berkshire where Arthur Young was the professional.

Faulkner was to be playing assistant and able to compete in all the leading tournaments.

Faulkner entered the 1936 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

He just qualified with a score of 155 for the two qualifying rounds.

Faulkner was joint leader at the halfway stage of the 1937 Daily Mail Tournament but fell back with two rounds 78 on the final day.

The following week, in partnership with Stanley Anderson, he won the Addington Foursomes.

Faulkner was one of the leading qualifiers for the 1937 Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links, tying for 6th place.

In the championship itself he had a second 83 and missed the cut.

He again performed well in the Daily Mirror Assistants' Tournament, despite a poor first day.

A final round course-record 66 lifted him into a tie for 3rd place.

In September he qualified for the final stage of the News of the World Match Play where he won two matches before losing to Percy Alliss at the last-16 stage.

Final day rounds of 70 and 72 lifted him into 4th place.

The following week he finished 3rd in the Irish Open.

Faulkner finished the stroke-play in a tie for 16th place.

The following day, despite suffering from a muscle problem in his back, he won his two matches, before losing the following day at the last-16 stage.