Robert S. Simpson was a Scottish professional golfer who achieved success in winning two Western Opens in 1907 and 1911, as well as finishing fourth in the U.S. Open in 1904. Simpson was from Carnoustie, Scotland. He apprenticed under Robert Simpson, a Scottish golf club-maker and golf course architect, who was also from Carnoustie and part of a famous golf family of six brothers.[1][2] The two Simpsons however were not related. Bobby Simpson did apprentice in Scotland as a club-maker under the other Robert Simpson prior to leaving for the United States to become a golf professional.[3]
Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
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Full name | Robert S. Simpson |
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Born | Scotland, U.K. |
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Sporting nationality | Scotland |
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Spouse | Fannie E. Steinkopf (m. 1911) |
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Status | Professional |
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Professional wins | 2 |
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U.S. Open | T6: 1904 |
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Simpson was part of the "Scottish Invasion" of golf professional of the late 1890s and 1900s. He secured positions at multiple courses in the Midwest including The Country Club of Oconomowoc, Hinsdale Country Club (Chicago, Illinois), Kent Country Club (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Memphis Country Club (Memphis, Tennessee), Kenosha Country Club (Kenosha, Wisconsin), Blue Mound Country Club (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin), Omaha Country Club (Omaha, Nebraska) and many years at Riverside Country Club (Chicago, Illinois).[citation needed] Many of the early golf professionals from Scotland earned an income in various ways as greenskeepers, part-time course architects, club-makers, teaching professionals, tournament players and exhibition golf players. His most notable victories came with victories in the Western Open in 1907 and 1911.[4][5]
1908 Western Open
At the 1908 Western Open at the Beverly Country Club Simpson finished third (153) behind Willie Anderson (152) and Stewart Gardner (151), with the lowest round of the tournament (73).