James Alfred 'Bill' Cox

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(18 March 1910 – 3 December 1985) was an English

professional golfer A professional golfer is somebody who receives payments or financial rewards in the sport of golf that are directly related to their skill or reputation. A person who earns money by teaching or playing golf is traditionally considered a "golf pr ...

. In golfing publications his full name was given as William James Cox. He was in the British Ryder Cup teams in 1935 and 1937 and tied for 8th place in the 1938 Open Championship. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he became a commentator on

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

Television.

Golf career

Cox played on the British Ryder Cup teams in 1935 and 1937. He was tied for the lead after two rounds in the 1936 Open Championship but a third-round 79 dropped him down the field and he finished tied for 12th place. In the 1938 Open he finished tied for 8th place, his best finish. In 1939 he finished tied for second place in the News Chronicle Tournament. In 1946 he became the professional

Fulwell Golf Club Fulwell Golf Course, operated by Fulwell Golf Club, is a golf course and centre comprising an 18-hole course located in Fulwell in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, west London. It is adjacent to the 9-hole Twickenham Golf Course, ...

where he remained until 1975. He was awarded the

in the

1967 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1967 were appointments by many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, on the occasion of the official birthda ...

"for services to golf".

Broadcasting career

After

Cox was a frequent broadcaster on

Television, generally as a commentator with Henry Longhurst. He was replaced by

Peter Alliss Peter Alliss (28 February 1931 – 5 December 2020) was an English professional golfer, television presenter, commentator, author and golf course designer. Following the death of Henry Longhurst in 1978, he was regarded by many as the "Voice o ...

in 1969.

Professional wins

*1951 Daily Telegraph Foursomes Tournament (with Walter McLeod)

Results in major championships

''Note: Cox only played in The Open Championship.''
NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

Ryder Cup The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States, with hosting duties alternating between venues in Europe and the United States for each edition. The cup is named after the English businessman S ...

(representing Great Britain):

1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * January 12 – Amelia Earhart ...

1937 Events January * January 1 – Anastasio Somoza García becomes President of Nicaragua. * January 5 – Water levels begin to rise in the Ohio River in the United States, leading to the Ohio River flood of 1937, which continues into Feb ...

England–Scotland Professional Match The England–Scotland Professional Match was an annual men's professional golf competition between teams representing England and Scotland. It was played from 1903 to the start of World War I and was then revived in 1932 and played until the star ...

(representing England): 1935 (winners), 1936 (winners), 1937 (winners) *Coronation Match (representing the Ladies and Professionals): 1937

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Bill English male golfers Ryder Cup competitors for Europe British golf commentators English sports broadcasters BBC sports presenters and reporters Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Chalfont St Giles People from Copthorne, West Sussex 1910 births 1985 deaths 20th-century English sportsmen