Bruce Devlin

Australian professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer

Bruce William Devlin (born 10 October 1937) is an Australian professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer.

Devlin was born in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Devlin won the Australian Amateur in 1959.

In 1961, Devlin turned pro and joined the PGA Tour the following year. During his PGA Tour career, he had eight victories all of which occurred between 1964 and 1972. In 1972, he earned $119,768 and finished eighth on the money list. In 1970 Devlin teamed with David Graham to represent Australia in the 18th World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Australian team held a record advantage of 19 strokes going into the final round. After each of the two Australians shot one over par scores of 73 in the last round, they still won, with a record aggregate of 32 under par 544 over 144 holes, by eight strokes and finished second and third individually. Devlin and Graham again represented Australia in the 1971 World Cup, but when Devlin was not selected for the event the year after, Graham refused to play and neither Graham nor Devlin participated in any World Cup events again. At the 72nd hole of the 1975 Andy Williams San Diego Open Invitational, Devlin shot a 10 after hitting multiple shots into the water in front of the 18th green of the Torrey Pines South Course. The pond was thereafter nicknamed "Devlin’s Billabong". Devlin is one of only four golfers to have scored a double eagle (three under par) at the Masters Tournament. He achieved this in the first round of the 1967 Masters, holing a 4 wood from 248 yards on the par 5 8th hole.

On the Senior PGA Tour, Devlin won one tournament, the 1995 FHP Health Care Classic. At the end of the 1998 golf season, Devlin decided to retire from the Senior PGA Tour to concentrate on his Golf Course Architecture and Design business and his commitment to ESPN's golf telecasts. The main focus of Devlin's career in the past 30 years has been his work as a Golf Course Architect and Designer. Devlin has designed and built more than 150 golf courses throughout the world including Australia, Japan, Scotland, the Bahamas, and the United States. About two thirds of the golf courses he designed have been in Florida and Texas. Many of these courses have hosted all of the professional golf tours, including: The Houston Open, HealthSouth LPGA Classic, Key Biscayne Golf Classic, and The Nike Cleveland Open. His golf design business is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Devlin has also worked as a television commentator. He worked for NBC from 1977 to 1982; ESPN from 1983 to 1987; and since 1999 has occasionally covered professional golf for ESPN.

Devlin married Gloria in the late 1950s. They have three children, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner up14 Dec 1983Air New Zealand Shell Open−10 (67 67 66=200)*1 stroke Bobby Clampett
*Note: The 1983 Air New Zealand Shell Open was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s) up17 Sep 1963Wills Classic−6 (69 74 71 71=287)4 strokes Ted Ball, Kel Nagle221 Sep 1963Caltex Tournament−18 (68 68 69 69=274)3 strokes Darrell Welch328 Sep 1963New Zealand Open−11 (68 70 66 69=273)1 stroke Peter Thomson