Published on March 13th, 2013

James Bruen

Another year of competitive golf is just beginning to emerge from the darkness of what has been for most golfers a dreary winter period. As per usual, the first national competition to kick off will be the Jimmy Bruen Shield. This year is the 36th installment of an event, which has been embraced by the Irish golfing family since its inception back in 1978.

While the Jimmy Bruen has become a household name to those who play the game of golf, not everyone is aware of where this competition came from and fewer still know the details of the man whose name it bares. James Bruen was a 20th century Irish amateur golfer. He was born in Belfast (1920) but lived in Cork for most of his life before dying in 1972. James O’Grady Bruen’s golfing life began at the tender age of 11 – playing with his father and future wife (Nell) while on holidays in Bundoran. He received his first handicap (6) in Muskerry Golf  Club at the age of 15.

From this point on his talent and love affair with the game grew so rapidly that less than 12 months later he would hold the course record (66) at the mid-Cork club. Later Bruen would move his golf to Cork Golf club from where he was to have even greater success, winning the British Amateur Championship (1946). Bruen was once described by Henry Cotton, (Open champion 3 times) as “the best golfer – professional or amateur – in the world.” Although Bruen had numerous triumphs at home and abroad, perhaps his greatest achievement was being an integral part of the successful Walker Cup team that beat America in 1938 at St. Andrews. (GB&I had lost 10 out of 10 up to that point.)

The year after his Walker Cup debut he entered the Open Championship at St Andrews – was the leading qualifier with a 69 in each of the qualifying rounds. He finished with a four round total of 298 in the championship and ended up finishing 13th He was also leading amateur that year. In 1946, Bruen had surgery to repair damage to his wrist after a domestic accident and unfortunately it signaled the beginning of the end for the man with the famous “Bruen Loop”.

The story of James Bruen is littered with a host of record-breaking successes that are tangled up with some career threatening events. Like so many other sports stars of his time, Bruen’s ability to glow on the world stage was severely hampered by WWII. Unfortunately for James, he would also would also contract a severe case of rheumatic fever during this period which would later impede his ability to play the game he loved. James Bruen was only 52 years old when he died. (1972). The golfing union of Ireland honoured him six years later by setting up the inaugural Jimmy Bruen Shield in 1978.

The best golfer – professional or amateur – in the world.

To see the Jimmy “Bruen loop” have a look at the link below and see him strut his stuff (where he belongs) alongside the greats of the game.

James Bruen is featured on the timeline at 2.30 seconds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJV2DIOiKd