Edward Baird Hay Blackwell was a Scottish amateur golfer who played in the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a member of the R&A and finished in second place in the 1904 Amateur Championship contested at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. Although playing fine golf throughout, he eventually lost the final match to Walter Travis by the score of 4 and 3. He was known as a long hitter of the ball, often outdriving opponents by 50 yards or more. In 1898, Blackwell was described as probably the most consistently long driver the world had ever seen. As a result, his name became a household word among golfers. His brothers—Sir Ernley Blackwell and Walter Blackwell—were also useful golfers, playing on several occasions in the Amateur Championship.
Early life
Born in 1866—the son of Surgeon-Major James Hay Blackwell, H.E.I.C.S., and his wife, Eliza Jane Robertson—he began to play as soon as he could walk and the advantage of this early commencement was seen in his excellent playing style: a full, free swing, characterized by commanding power. His early boyhood was spent in St Andrews where he attended Dr. Browning's School. Before he left at age 13, he had won a prize with the score of 104. As a young man Blackwell had grown to a height of 6 feet, weighed, and had powerful forearms and wrists. Being a tall man, he preferred heavy clubs with long hickory shafts. His cleek was once described as "a weaver's beam with an old boot at the end of it".
1904 Amateur championship
In the 1904 Amateur Championship, contested at Royal St George's Golf Club, Blackwell played well throughout the tournament but lost the final match 4 and 3 to the American player Walter Travis.
Details of play
The sky was overcast with occasional flurries of rain and a stiff, raw wind from the northeast greatly affected both Travis's and Blackwell's driving. The match was over 36 holes of golf. Travis won the first 18-hole match by the score of 5 and 6. On starting the second round, Travis pulled his second shot into the rough and was bunkered on his third shot. Blackwell played his second shot into the same bunker and took two strokes to recover, but he won the hole in six to seven. Travis won the next but lost the third, where he failed at a 15-foot putt for a halve in three. The American, however, was four up at the fourth where Blackwell was weak on the green. After a good drive, a solid iron shot to the green, and a 30-foot putt for a birdie three at the fifth, Travis stood five up. He proceeded to win the sixth but lost the seventh. The eight was halved. Travis lost the ninth and made the turn four up. The next five holes were halved, Travis going somewhat off his long game, but saving holes on the greens. Travis became dormie four, halved the next and won 4 and 3. After the match, Blackwell stated, "Travis is a great golfer. I was a trifle off my game during the morning and lost several holes I ought to have won".
Blackwell was also a contestant in the 1911Open Championship, which was the 51st Open Championship, held 26–30 June at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. British star Harry Vardon won the Championship for the fifth time after a playoff against the Frenchman Arnaud Massy. Blackwell led the first round scoring with a fine 71—with Michael Moran joined on 72 by J. H. Taylor—and finished tied for 21st.
Results in major championships
Note: Blackwell played only in The Open Championship and The Amateur Championship. DNP = Did not play WD = Withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play Yellow background for top-10
