Robert Sweeny Jr.
Robert John Vincent Sweeny Jr. (July 25, 1911, Pasadena, California – October 21, 1983) was an American amateur golfer, socialite, businessman and Second World War Royal Air Force bomber pilot. He competed in all four men's major golf championships, including many Masters Tournaments.[1] In 1937, he won the British Amateur Championship.
Early life and family
Sweeny's grandfather, Charles Sweeny, was an Irish immigrant who made his fortune in mining in the Coeur d'Alene region.[2][1][3] Bob or Bobby was the youngest of four sons of Robert and Teresa Sweeny. Robert Sr. was a successful lawyer in Los Angeles, before moving to New York City in 1916 to pursue business opportunities and enlarge the family fortune.[1][4] One uncle was Charles Sweeny (1882–1963), a soldier of fortune and officer in various armies.
He and his older brother Charles Francis Sweeny (1909–1993) grew up in Manhattan luxury.[1] The brothers attended Loyola School in New York City and Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut.[4] The family regularly vacationed in Europe. Robert Sweeny Sr. either joined[1] or in 1926 founded[5] the Federated Trust and Finance Corporation of London, and by the late 1920s, had homes in Wimbledon[1] and Le Touquet.[5]
He followed his brother to Wadham College, Oxford, though it took him over two years to pass the entrance exam.[1][4] Both brothers competed in the 1927 Boys Amateur Championship; Bobby lost in the fourth round.[1]
Amateur golf career
When Bob graduated, he joined Philip Hill and Partners, a London investment banking firm, but showed more interest in his golf.[4]
He made his debut in the Amateur Championship in 1929, shortly before his 18th birthday. In his fourth attempt, he reached the semi-finals in 1935. He lost in the semi-finals of both the 1933 and 1934 Open de France. In 1937, he won the British Amateur Championship and the Golf Illustrated Gold Vase, the latter by seven strokes.[4]
He received one of four foreign invitations to the 3rd Masters Tournament. He would go on to play in numerous Masters:[4]
- 1936: tied for 44th
- 1940: tied for 39th
- 1949: 52nd
- 1950: tied for 51st
- 1951: tied for 55th
- 1952: tied for 55th
- 1953: tied for 34th (his best Masters result)
- 1954: 63rd
- 1955: withdrew pre-tournament
- Cut instituted in 1957
He also played in many Opens:[4]
- 1932: 44th
- 1934: missed cut
- 1935: 46th
- 1937: missed cut
- 1939: 33rd
- 1946: missed cut
- 1959: missed cut
- 1967: missed cut
- 1968: missed cut
- 1970: missed cut
In 1954, Arnold Palmer beat him 1 up in the United States Amateur Championship. Palmer considered this his first major victory and the "turning point" of his career.[6]
Second World War
A strong anti-Nazi, as were his brother and uncle (both named Charles Sweeny), he tried the join the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a fighter pilot, but was turned away due to his being considered too old at 28 or 29 years of age. He was eventually made adjutant of No. 71 Squadron RAF, but managed to become a bomber pilot, flying the Consolidated B-24 Liberator with No. 224 Squadron RAF.[7] Sweeny was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in September 1943.[8] Flight Lieutenant Sweeny was given a medical discharge on September 27, 1945, retaining the rank of squadron leader.[9]
Personal life
Barbara Hutton, one of the wealthiest women in the world, was in the process of divorcing her second husband in 1938 and 1939. Newspapers speculated whether Bob Sweeny was to become her third.[2][3] They had a serious relationship, but Hutton ended up marrying movie star Cary Grant in 1942.
In 1948, Sweeny met 18-year-old New York debutante Joanne Marie Connelley. Despite their significant age difference, they married the following year. They had two daughters, Sharon (born 1950) and Brenda (born 1952). However, he divorced her in 1953 when she was allegedly caught in a compromising situation with playboy Porfirio Rubirosa.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hand, Patrick (December 28, 2020). "The Forgotten Glory of Bobby Sweeny".
- ^ a b "Babs Finds Love?". The Spokesman-Review. December 10, 1939 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b St. George, Mary (December 10, 1939). "The Sweenys Can Do the Telling!". Evansville Press – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Robert Sweeny Jr". golfbible.co.uk.
- ^ a b "Ritzy life of Charlie, the Yank who stayed on". Evening Standard. September 20, 1988. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Shedloski, Dave (August 27, 2021). "At U.S. Senior Amateur, CC of Detroit will celebrate Arnold Palmer's first national title". Golf Digest.
- ^ "Robert John Vincent Sweeny Jr". American Air Museum in Britain.
- ^ "Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Tuesday, the 31st of August, 1943". The London Gazette. September 3, 1943. p. 3925.
- ^ "Supplement to The London Gazette, 9 October, 1945". The London Gazette. p. 4945.