By Joel Beall
The Coronavirus pandemic has hit a giant pause button on fans being able to watch golf on TV, and in some cases, even kept people off courses. But while we hunker down and hope for a speedy return to normalcy, we can also use this time as an opportunity to learn more about the game we love. Here’s our latest instalment of “Did you know?”

In 2019 the Augusta National Golf Club launched the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. But it’s not the only time a tournament other than the Masters was played on the hallowed Georgia property.

In 1937 and 1938, Augusta National served as host for the PGA Seniors’ Championship. The tournament, which debuted in 1937, was brought to Augusta National by co-founder Bobby Jones, who thought the event would be a platform to honour the pioneers who came before him. Jones asked the club’s board of governors to alter its bylaws to allow another tournament to be played at Augusta National.

“They all feel as I do, that they are glad to make an exception to an established policy in order to make a gesture of appreciation to those members of your association who have contributed much to golf in this country,” Jones said.

It was supposed to be more of a celebration rather than a competitive tournament. There was a practice round and three 54-hole tournaments, divided by ages groups: 50-54, 55-59 and 60-plus. Jock Hutchison won the inaugural Senior PGA over 36 other players with a seven-over 223, while Fred McLeod won the rain-shortened 1938 event in an 18-hole playoff over Otto Hackbarth, after Hackbarth three-putted the 17th and 18th in regulation. (Related note: “Hackbarthed” should be the new term for “three-jack.”).

The tournament moved to warmer confines in 1939, but the spirit of the Senior PGA was brought back with the introduction of the Honorary Starters in 1963, with Hutchison and McLeod serving as the ceremonial strikers.

The post Did You Know: Augusta National has hosted another major appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By John Huggan
Along with contemporaries Howard Clark, Mark James, Ken Brown and Sam Torrance, Gordon Brand Jr. was one step below the so-called “Big Five” of European golf–—Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle—during the 1980s and 1990s. Which is to say that the 60-year-old Scot, who was brought up in Bristol, England, was, by his admission, a really good rather than great player.

On Thursday, the European Tour announced that Brand had died on the eve of the PGA Seniors Championship, a tournament he was preparing to compete in.

During the heart of his career, Brand was hampered by the fact that the qualification process for the three major championships played in the United States, at the time, offered limited access for non-PGA Tour pros. This despite the fact that Brand was an eight-time European Tour winner and two-time Ryder Cup player. Not even after finishing fourth on what was then the European Order of Merit (now the Race to Dubai) in 1987 did Brand merit an invitation to the next year’s Masters. Nor was he exempt for the 1988 U.S. Open or PGA Championship. Only once in his 38-year pro career, at the 1989 U.S Open, at age 38, did Brand tee it up in any of the three.

Still, as a member of the 1987 European Ryder Cup side at Muirfield Village—viewed by many as the strongest-ever Old World lineup—Brand shined, contributing 1½ points to his team’s first-ever victory in America.

Never loathe to having a laugh, Brand was always amused how most thought the “junior” that routinely followed his name was because his father had the same name. As it turned out, the late Brand senior, the longtime club professional at the Knowle Club in Bristol, was also “Gordon.” But it was the presence of yet another Gordon Brand on the European Tour (the Englishman was runner-up to Greg Norman at the 1986 Open at Turnberry) that necessitated some clarification.

Torrance, the former Ryder Cup skipper, was among those quick to pay tribute to his fellow Scot and former four-ball partner. The pair combined to telling effect in the 1989 matches at The Belfry when beating Curtis Strange and Paul Azinger, 1 up.

“Heartbroken,” Torrance said. “One of my dearest friends for over 40 years. I will miss you.”

Clutch putts, fist pumps and celebrations.

The best of Gordon Brand Jnr’s @RyderCup career. pic.twitter.com/GuHnhGMBwE

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) August 19, 2018

European Tour star Eddie Pepperell also acknowledged Brand’s characteristic economy of words.

“I remember years ago asking Gordon Brand Jr. if he had any regrets,” said the young Englishman. “ ‘My Ryder Cups say not,’ was his response. At the time I didn’t like it, and thought he was a miserable old man. Turned out he was just proud, and rightly so. Thanks to Gordon for teaching me something.”

Other current European Tour pros took time on Thursday to pay respect to Brand via social-media posts.

So sad… I remember watching him play as a kid for the first time at the @BMWPGA and getting his signed golf ball on the 18th hole. #RIPGBjnr https://t.co/XHiq2QEtvn

— Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) August 1, 2019

When i came on Tour in 1996 this was one of the men that helped me understand what it was all about. A great man, a great friend,that has left us way too early.
Thank you Junior for everything!
RIP ? https://t.co/jSboqJIL48

— Thomas Bjorn (@thomasbjorngolf) August 1, 2019

Beyond playing on the European Senior Tour, where he had won twice, Brand was also an occasional pundit. Only two weeks ago he was part of the commentary team on “Open Radio” at Royal Portrush. As ever, his commentary was, like the man himself, humorous, intelligent and informative.

The post Gordon Brand Jr., a Scot who played on two European Ryder Cup teams, has died appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.