Product Code Database
Lionel Platts (10 October 1934 – 23 May 2021) European Tour - Lionel Platts - Biography was an English professional . He finished 7th in the PGA Order of Merit in both 1964 and 1965. He played in the 1965 Ryder Cup.
Platts was runner-up in the Schweppes PGA Close Championship at Western Gailes Golf Club in 1964, two strokes behind Tony Grubb. The event was played in April and was the first important event of the season. The PGA experimented with using the bigger ball, as used in America. The following month he was again a runner-up, in the Martini International, six strokes behind Christy O'Connor Snr. Later in 1964 Platts won the Braemar seven-club tournament at Turnberry by a stroke from John Jacobs, winning £550. He played with a driver, 4, 6, 7 and 9 irons, a wedge and a putter. Platts finished the season 7th in the Order of Merit behind Peter Alliss, who won the Harry Vardon Trophy.
In May 1965 he lost in a sudden-death playoff to Ángel Miguel in the Swallow-Penfold Tournament. Later in the year he lost to Neil Coles at the 19th hole in the final of the News of the World Match Play."Platts reaches the 19th hole once too often" The Times, 6 September 1965; pg. 4; Issue 56419 The following week he again came close to success in the Gallaher Ulster Open, losing to Bernard Hunt at the sixth hole of sudden-death playoff. Platts finished 7th in the Order of Merit for the second successive season, behind Bernard Hunt.
Selection for the 1965 Ryder Cup was based on a points system, starting with the 1964 Carroll Sweet Afton Tournament and finishing with the 1965 Esso Golden Tournament in late July. Platts finished 6th in the list to gain a place in the team. Platts played two fourball matches on the second day with Peter Butler, both against Billy Casper and Gene Littler, halving them both. He played in both singles sessions on the final day, losing to Julius Boros but beating Tommy Jacobs in the final match. Platts accepted an invitation to play in the 1966 Masters Tournament, scoring 80 and 79 and missing the cut.
Playing with Hedley Muscroft, Platts was runner-up in the inaugural Sumrie Better-Ball in 1969. Platts won the 1971 Portuguese Open, a stroke ahead of Antonio Garrido and Paul Herbert. In 1972 he won the Scottish Uniroyal Tournament, three strokes ahead of Peter Oosterhuis. The event had insufficient prize money to be part of the inaugural European Tour season.
Platts played in the Open Championship every year from 1961 to 1977. His best performance was when he was tied for 12th in 1965. He scored 68 in the first round of the 1967 Open Championship to lead the field, and eventually finished tied for 13th place. Platts made a hole-in-one during the second round of the 1971 Open Championship, on the 212-yard 4th hole at Royal Birkdale.
Platts was 57 when the European Senior Tour started in 1992 but he played a number of events, mostly between 1992 and 1994, making his final appearance in 2006.
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1968 and 1973 Open Championships)
Personal life
Platts' son Chris had some success as a professional golfer. He won the 1988 Kenya Open on the Safari Circuit, the 1991 Open de Vittel on the Challenge Tour and the 1993 Perrier European Pro-Am, an unofficial money event on the Challenge Tour.
Professional wins
Results in major championships
Masters Tournament CUT The Open Championship T20 T24 T39 CUT T12 T55 T13 CUT CUT
Note: Platts only played in the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship.Masters Tournament The Open Championship CUT T40 CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances
External links
|
|
