Golf Central

Bobby Jones: I'll have a Ginsters, a Mars Bar and a Lucozade please mate...

Bobby Jones's résumé was pretty impressive before 1930; the fact that he'd already won nine national championships, three U.S. Opens, four U.S. Amateur titles and two British Opens  ensured he'd no doubt go down as one of the game's greats. Coming into the 1930 season, however, Jones set his sights on golf's holy grail: The Grand Slam. And it was on this day in 1930 that Jones indeed set the ball in motion for golf's greatest achievement by beating Cyrill Trolley (great name) in the fourth round of the British Amateur at St.Andrews. After Tolley had missed a crucial 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th, Jones then preceded to craftily lay a stymie in his opponent's path in the playoff, winning the match 1 up. Jones went on to win the British Amateur, the first leg of his monumental achievement, the other three tournament victories coming at the British Open, U.S Open and U.S Amateur.

May 30, 1945 was, believe or not, a very important day indeed for the humble golf ball. During the second World War, the War Production Board of the USA  banned the production of golf balls altogether, ordering companies such as Acushnet to make torpedo gaskets and molded gas masks for the allies instead. We'd argue, however, that golf balls play an equally important part in winning a war... just don't ask us how. Thankfully, Acushnet resumed service on this day in 1945 and the masses of Yank golfers could start smashing balls once again. Speaking of golf and war, Slammin' Sam Snead won the PGA Championships at Seaview Country Club on this day in 1942 thanks to an extension to his military induction date. The following week, however, he had to change the fairways for the seas, as he entered the U.S Navy.

Back at the dawn of time, on this day in 1279 BC, Rameses ll became pharaoh of Egypt. A keen military strategist, he won vital wars against long-term enemies and fathered 110 children in his 70-year rule. In 1974, Egyptologists visiting his tomb noticed that the Mummy’s condition was deteriorating, and shipped him to France for further examination. Bizarrely, he had to get a passport, which stated he was, in case there was any doubt, a dead King.

And it’s Zaldy Salvador! as they say in the Philippines to Glaswegian LPGA Tour member Janice Moodie (35), rapper Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels (44), average model / terrible actress Brooke Shields (43), and annoying James Dean wannabe Colin Farrel (32). Had Led Zeppelin drummer John ‘Bonzo’ Bonham not drank enough vodka to stop the Red Army, he’d have celebrated his 60th today. And on this day in 1996, LSD guru Dr Timothy Leary turned off, tuned out and, er, dropped for the last time, aged 76.