Ted Ray

Edward Rivers John Ray (6 April 1877 – 26 August 1943) was a British professional golfer, one of the leading players of the first quarter of the 20th century.

Ray was born at Marais, Grouville, Jersey on 6 April 1877, the son of Stephen Ray, the captain of an oyster trawler, and his wife, Mary Ann Arm.

He learnt his golf on the Grouville Links, one of large number of local boys who later became professional golfers which included Harry Vardon, his brother Tom, the Gaudin brothers, the Boomer brothers and the Renouf brothers.

Ray was a tall, well-built man who was known for his prodigious power, although his shots often landed in awful positions.

In addition to his prowess on the golf course, he was also useful at billiards and lawn bowls.

Ray turned professional in 1894 at the age of 17, initially working as a club-maker before becoming a professional near St Malo.

He played in the 1899 Open Championship finished in a tie for 16th place.

Later in 1899 he took a position as a club professional at Churston Golf Club, Churston, Devon.

Ray played in 29 successive Open Championships from 1899 and 1932, his run ending when he failed to qualify in 1933.

During his time at Churston, he was encouraged by the club's committee to enter The Open Championships from 1900 to 1902, and was granted a week's leave of absence and five pounds for expenses each year.

After leaving Churston, in early 1903, he became the head professional at Ganton Golf Club, replacing Harry Vardon who had left to join the South Herts Golf Club.

He won two major championships, the Open Championship in 1912 and the U.S. Open in 1920, and contended in many others.

In 1912 he took the position of golf professional at Oxhey Golf Club near Watford in Hertfordshire.

Ray favoured an attacking style, and had to develop phenomenal recovery skills.

Cartoonists usually depicted him with a niblick in hand, festooned with clumps of heather and saplings, with an inseparable pipe clamped between his teeth.

Ray was admired by fans for his daring play, friendly, genial manner and optimistic spirit.

Ray was also a fine clubmaker and advertised his business while the professional at Oxhey.

He specialised in the production of drivers, mashies, and niblicks.

Before World War I Ray was often overshadowed by the Great Triumvirate of James Braid, J.H. Taylor and Harry Vardon and then after the war by George Duncan and Abe Mitchell.

Despite this he was one of the leading British golfers of the first quarter of the 20th century.

Ray had an excellent record in the Open Championship.

He won the Open at Muirfield in 1912, leading after every round and finishing four strokes ahead of Harry Vardon and eight clear of James Braid in third place.

He was runner-up twice, in 1913 and 1925, and had 9 other finishes in the top-10.

In addition to his appearances in the Open Championship, Ray also played three times in the U.S. Open, in 1913 and 1920, when he was touring America with Harry Vardon, and in 1927, when he was in America as part of the British Ryder Cup team.

Ray is best known for being in a playoff for the U.S. Open in 1913 with Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet, the winner.

Ray had an opening round of 79 but he rebounded with a course record of 70 in round two which electrified the gallery and got him back into contention.

He narrowly missed a 5-foot putt at the last that would have given him a 69.

His four cards for the tournament were 79-70-76-79=304.

Ray, Vardon and Ouimet played an 18-hole playoff the following day.

All three took 38 for the first 9 holes but Ouimet came home in 34 to Vardon's 39 and Ray's 40 to win the title.

The 1913 U.S. Open was the subject of a 2005 Disney movie entitled, The Greatest Game Ever Played, based on author Mark Frost's 2002 book of the same name.

Ray had joined Vardon on an extensive tour of North America, promoted and financed by English media baron Lord Northcliffe.

His last top-10 finish was in 1925 when, at the age of 48, he finished joint runner-up, a stroke behind Jim Barnes.

Ray had the best final round of 73, despite four-putting the ninth green.

He was captain of the British team in the inaugural Ryder Cup, in 1927.

Ray's last appearance was in 1937, just after his 60th birthday.

He had rounds of 76 and 81 to just make the qualifying score.

In the championship itself he had rounds of 87 and 88 and missed the cut by 22 strokes.

Already two strokes behind Ouimet, Ray effectively dropped out of contention when he took 6 at the 15th.

Vardon was only one behind Ouimet after 16 holes but finished 5–6 while Ouimet finished 3–4 to win by five shots.