Australian golf great Bob Shearer dies
Golf is mourning the sudden demise of Australian great Bob Shearer, who died on Sunday at the age of 73.
Shearer suffered a heart attack just three days after playing a final round at his beloved Southern Golf Club in Melbourne.
Shearer won 27 tournaments around the world in his playing career spanning four decades, hoisting the famous Australian Open's Stonehaven Cup in 1982 at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney.
Shearer surpassed Jack Nicklaus to claim that title, finishing a four-stroke winner over the Golden Bears and the late Payne Stewart.
Winner of the 1983 Australian PGA Championship, he won twice on the European Tour, once on the US PGA Tour, claimed the New Zealand Open on two occasions and received the Australasian Order of Merit honors four times.
Shearer, who later worked in golf course design, was made a Life Member of the PGA of Australia.
"Bob was a huge player of the game here in Australia in the 70s and 80s and I am absolutely devastated that I have lost another great teammate," said Australian PGA President Roger Davies.
"Bob and I traveled a lot together playing in Europe and as hard as it was to beat them on the golf course, you couldn't find a better person to drink beer after round.
"On behalf of the PGA of Australia, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to his wife Cathy and Bob's family and friends at this incredibly sad time."
Golf Australia president Andrew Newbold called Shearer "one of our greats".
"Bob Shearer was a great man as a player, known for the easygoing beauty of his golf, but also for his brilliant and very Australian manner," Newbold said.
“He had a ready smile and was a favorite of fans across the country on his way to winning our biggest tournament.
"At the door of his untimely passing he was a regular fixture at his home club Southern in Melbourne and a tremendous advocate for the sport that he was so passionate about.
"On behalf of Golf Australia's Board, Executive and all golfers, our heartfelt condolences go out to staff Cathy Shearer and the entire Shearer family."
Shearer's wife, Cathy, the longtime Australian Open media manager, also paid tribute.
"I would like to say that he was what he should have been. That was golf. It was his life and his love," she said.
"He used to play three or four times a week and it was everything to him."
Shearer is survived by Kathy and their two sons, Brett and Bobby.
