Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "Bobby Jones" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 18c Bobby Jones stamp issued September 22, 1981. Bobby Jones first picked up a golf club in 1911, when he was nine years old -- and by the time he put his clubs down for the last time he had won thirteen of golf's major championships. His titles included five wins at the U.S. Amateur tournament, four U.S. Open victories, three wins in the British Open, and one British Amateur win. In addition, Jones is the only man ever to win the fabled "Grand Slam" of golf, meaning that he tallied four major victories in a single year. Noted for his smooth, consistent swing, and his ancient putter which he called "Calamity Jane," Jones dominated both professional golfers and amateurs alike -- so much so, in fact, that he became the first American since Benjamin Franklin to receive the "freedom of the burgh" of St. Andrews, Fife, the location of the most celebrated golf course in all the world. Despite his tremendous success, however, Bobby Jones never relinquished his amateur status, preferring to earn his living as a lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia. And, even more surprising, he chose to retire from tournament play at the age of twenty-eight, just as he reached the peak of his abilities. He did not lead an idle retirement life, however -- he went on to make several motion picture shorts for golf instruction, and was instrumental in organizing the Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia -- a tournament he may well have added to his list of victories, had he continued in active competition! Image Size: 20.75 x 15.25 in. Overall Size: 29.5 x 22 in. Unframed. (B07076)