Simon Hobday, former US Senior Open champion, passes away aged 76
Thursday 2 March 2017 13:50, UK
Tributes have been paid to former senior major champion and two-time European Tour winner Simon Hobday, who has died aged 76 after a long battle with cancer.
The South African won 17 professional titles in a worldwide career spanning more than a quarter of a century, including a one-shot victory in the 1994 US Senior Open at Pinehurst.
Known as one of South African golf's most colourful characters, Hodbay also lived part of his life in Zimbabwe and Zambia, who he represented in the Eisenhower Trophy.
Former Masters winner Trevor Immelman tweeted: "Very sad news on the passing of Simon Hobday. One of the best ball strikers and funniest men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."
After turning professional in 1969, Hobday spent most of his career on the Sunshine Tour, where the first of six titles came on home soil at the 1971 South African Open Championship.
His two European successes were at the 1976 German Open and the 1979 Madrid Open, before Hobday won five events in a two-year stretch on the Champions Tour between 1993 and 1995.
Compatriot and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen said: "RIP Simon Hobday, a great character en legend of the game. Stories that will live forever."
Sky Sports Golf commentator Tony Johnstone added: "Simon Hobday, a true legend of the game, has left us. One of the greatest characters golf has known who gave us so many laughs. RIP Hobbers."
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