Top Harrys In Golf
The latest -- and last -- Harry Potter book will go on sale Saturday, and while that might not impact your tee time, it's likely your children will want to read whether the boy wizard lives or dies. In honor of what could be the most highly anticipated book release of this generation, here is Golf Digest resident historian Cliff Schrock's list of top golfing Harrys (along with a few variations).
By the way, The Complete Golfer, written by top-ranked Harry Vardon (see book cover in photo), ranks 428,623 in Amazon.com's sales ranking -- or roughly 428,622 behind where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows may soon end up.
1. Harry Vardon -- Six-time British Open champion and 1900 U.S. Open winner; his method for holding the grip by itself earned him immortality.
2. Harry Cooper -- "Lighthorse" Harry won 31 pro titles; the Englishman won the first-ever Vardon Trophy.
3. Harry Lillis Crosby -- You might know him as Bing. A fine amateur player whose 1937 clam bake at Pebble Beach started a love affair with pro-ams.
4. Harry Bradshaw -- 1949 British Open runner-up who on the fifth hole in the second round hit a ball that had rolled into an empty beer bottle in the rough.
5. Harold Henning -- South African pro who won the 1965 World Cup with partner Gary Player.
6. Harold Hilton -- Won the 1892 British Open and was a four-time British Amateur champion and U.S. Amateur winner.
7. Harold McSpaden -- One of the Gold Dust Twins with Byron Nelson, McSpaden was a 17-time winner on tour.
8. Harrison Frazar -- A steady performer with more than $7 million in tour earnings.
9. Harry Weetman --A 7-time Ryder Cupper for the British side.
10. Harry Ashby -- Won the 1972 English Amateur.
11. Harry Givan -- From Seattle, was a 1936 Walker Cup player and contender in many U.S. Amateurs.
12. Harry Toscano -- Senior PGA Tour player who had attended the University of Houston.
13. Harold Ridgley -- Runner-up in the 1957 British Amateur.
14. Harry Bannerman -- Scottish pro who played in the 1971 Ryder Cup.
15. Harry Bentley -- Won the 1936 English Amateur, and was a three-time Walker Cup player.
16. Harry (Big Crawford) Crawford -- Scottish caddie back in the early 1900s.
17. H.S. (Harry) Colt -- British golf course architect.
18. Harry Todd -- American who was low amateur in the 1941 U.S. Open.
19. Harriot Curtis -- U.S. Women's Amateur champion who with sister Margaret were the namesakes for the Curtis Cup competition.
20. ???? -- It's your call. Tell us if we've left off your favorite golfing Harry.
-- Cliff Schrock
Does Harry Taylor Count? A player, on and off the Champions Tour now, the Harry of golf club designers forged a leadership spokesman career in the 1980s.
Yes, Harry Taylor definitely deserves a mention, but I wouldn't put him in the top group. I met Harry Taylor back when he was still an equipment rep and before he tried his hand at the various tours. I was working for Golf Digest's trade magazine, Golf Shop Operations, and if I'm not mistaken, Harry was pushing metal head drivers for Taylor Made Golf Co. I recall one meeting we had at Westchester C.C. Nice man, but I probably didn't make much of an impression on him as a fresh-faced reporter!