Barnes, "Long Jim" (James M.)
Golf
b. April 8, 1886, Lelant, Cornwall, England
d. May 24, 1966
Barnes came to the United States to seek his golfing fortune in 1906, after working as a caddie and club-maker in England. His first victory didn't come until 1913, in the Pacific-Northwest Open. He also tied for fourth in the U. S. Open that year.
The first PGA championship was held October 10-16, 1916, in Bronxville, NY. It was a match-play tournament with thirty-one entrants. Barnes won the $500 prize by beating Jock Hutchison Sr. one-up in the final match. Because of World War I, the second PGA wasn't held until 1919, when Barnes won again, beating Fred McLeod.
He won the U. S. Open in 1921, shooting a 289 to beat Walter Hagen and Fred McLeod by nine strokes. In 1925, he won the British Open, becoming the first golfer to win the three major professional championships of the era. Barnes was also runner-up the PGA championship in 1921 and 1924. His last victory was in the 1939 New Jersey Open, when he was 52 years old.