Malcolm Gregson

Malcolm Edward Gregson (15 August 1943 – 24 January 2024) was an English professional golfer. After a promising start to his career as an amateur and assistant professional, he had one exceptional year, 1967, when he won the Harry Vardon Trophy and played in the Ryder Cup, but had only limited success afterwards. After reaching 50 he played on the European Senior Tour, winning five times.

Early life and amateur career In 1943, Gregson was born in Leicester, England. He was educated at Millfield School in Somerset, England from 1957 to 1960. In 1957, he reached the last-16 of the Boys Amateur Championship, a week after his 14th birthday. In 1959, he represented England boys in their annual match against Scotland, played just before the Boys Championship.

In 1960, he again played for England boys against Scotland and was also selected for a combined England and Scotland team to play a Continental Europe team.

Professional career In 1961, Gregson turned professional. He became an assistant professional to Pat Keene at Moor Park Golf Club. In 1964, he won the Gor-Ray Cup, the assistants' championship.

In early 1967, Gregson played in Asia and Africa. In April, he had a run of success. At the start of the month he finished tied for fourth place in the Taiwan Open, a tournament on the Far East Circuit. Two week later he lost to Kenji Hosoishi in a playoff for the Indian Open and he then finished third in the Kenya Open the following week. Returning to England he won the Schweppes PGA Championship at the end of the month, with rounds of 67 and 65 on the final day to beat Irishman Hugh Boyle by three strokes. He did not get an automatic entry into the Open championship, having finished outside the top-30 in the Order of Merit in 1966. After rounds of 76 and 73 he was qualified after getting through an 8-man playoff for two places. In the Ryder Cup, Gregson lost all four matches he played in, the Americans winning the cup by 15 points. He collected the Harry Vardon Trophy as leader of the Order of Merit, which was based on a points system, and also made his only appearance for England in the World Cup which was played in Mexico City a few weeks after the Ryder Cup. Playing with Peter Alliss they finished tied for 13th place in the team event but Gregson finished tied for 6th in the individual standings. Gregson played on the 1969 PGA Tour from February to May but had limited success. He was a runner-up in the 1969 Gallaher Ulster Open behind Christy O'Connor Snr.

Gregson made the top one hundred on the Order of Merit in each of the European Tour's first nine official seasons from 1972 to 1980. He was twice a runner-up in the Dutch Open, in 1972 to Jack Newton and in 1979 to another Australian Graham Marsh. In late 1978 he finished fourth in both Tournament Players Championship and the European Open Championship. In 1972, playing with Brian Huggett, he won the Sumrie Better-Ball at Blairgowrie, a non-tour event.

Gregson was a regular competitor on the Safari Circuit, winning the 1974 Cock o' the North in Zambia, beating Jack Newton in a playoff.

Gregson played once on the European Senior Tour in 1993, soon after his 50th birthday and then competed regularly on the tour from 1994, making over 200 appearances before making his final appearance in 2008.

Awards and honors In 1967, Gregson won the Harry Vardon Trophy, bestowed to the player who has the lowest scoring average on the British PGA over the course of the season.

Professional wins (12) Great Britain and Ireland wins (5) Date Tournament Winning score Margin ofvictory Runner(s)-up Ref. 19 Jun 1964 Gor-Ray Cup 72-71-73=216 3 strokes Richard Davies, Hedley Muscroft 29 Apr 1967 Schweppes PGA Championship 74-69-67-65=275 3 strokes Hugh Boyle 3 Jun 1967 Daks Tournament 73-73-67-66=279 2 strokes Neil Coles 17 Jun 1967 Martini International 71-71-70-67=279 Tied Brian Huggett 8 Jun 1968 Daks Tournament 72-72-71-69=284 1 stroke Neil Coles

Safari Circuit wins (1) DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-upRef. 17 Mar 1974 Cock o' the North 71-71-72-70=284 Playoff Jack Newton

Other wins (1) 1972 Sumrie Better-Ball (with Brian Huggett)

European Seniors Tour wins (5) Sources:

European Seniors Tour playoff record (0–3) Source:

Results in major championships

Note: Gregson never played in the U.S. Open or PGA Championship.

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1969 and 1975 Open Championships) "T" = tied

Source:

Team appearances Amateur Boys' match v Continent of Europe (representing combined England & Scotland): 1960 (winners) World Cup (representing England): 1967 R.T.V. International Trophy (representing England): 1967 (winners) Double Diamond International (representing England): 1975 Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1997 (winners)