John Ball (golfer)

John Ball (golfer)

John Ball, Jr. (24 December 1861 – 2 December 1940) was a prominent English amateur golfer of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Ball was born in Hoylake, Merseyside. His father was the prosperous owner of the Royal Hotel, located near the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, in Hoylake. Ball grew up playing golf as a youth on the Royal Liverpool course, which was established in his early boyhood.

After winning The Amateur Championship in 1888, Ball became the first English-born player to win The Open Championship in 1890, and in the same year won his second Amateur, the first to win both titles in the same year. Ball subsequently won the 1892, 1894, 1899, 1907, 1910, and 1912 Amateurs, a record eight titles in all, in addition to two runner-up finishes. Ball retired with a 99-22 record (81.8%) at the The Amateur Championship. Ball was also runner-up in the 1892 Open.

Ball died in Holywell, Wales. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977.