Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., born in 1902, is known as the greatest amateur golfer ever. Though essentially a weekend golfer, in 1930 he won the U.S. Open, the British Open, the British Amateur and the U.S. Amateur. This became known as the Grand Slam and no other golfer has ever achieved this feat. Shortly after this accomplishment, Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf at the age of 28 and focused on his law career and business. 

At 19, Bobby Jones earned a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech. He then went to Harvard and earned a degree in English in just three semesters. When he was 24 Bobby entered law school at Emory University. He took the bar exam as a practice exercise after his first year and passed. He then joined his fathers law practice. Through the years his passion for golf never waned. He developed the Augusta National Golf Club, helped found the Masters Tournament, wrote numerous articles and books on golf and helped design golf clubs that bore his name. 

As a child and young man, Jones suffered from back problems and after several operations was eventually diagnosed with syringomyelia in 1948. Paralysis first required him to use a cane, then leg braces, and finally a wheelchair. At first glance, Jones' fate might appear a cruel irony. But those who knew him would disagree. While known primarily for his unmatched skill on the golf course, the true measure of Bobby Jones was his character.

Bobby Jones once said, "I still can't accept this thing. I fight it every day. When it first happened to me I was pretty bitter, and there were times when I didn't want to go on living. But I did go on living, so I had to face the problem of how I was to live. I decided that I'd just do the very best I could." For the next 23 years, he did just that as he suffered from the pain and crippling of this degenerative disorder until his death in 1971.

Robert A. Jones (no relationship) founded the Bobby Jones Open in 1979. It is an annual golf tournament in which the players must be named Bob, Robert or Roberta Jones to participate. Each of the Bobs has a nickname that helps to lessen the confusion, especially when checking into the hotel. At the end of the two-day tournament, the Bobs enjoy an awards banquet and generously bid on auction items to raise more funds. The Bobby Jones Open (BJO) has raised over $250,000 to be used for research, rehabilitation and other projects relating to syringomyelia.

The BJO founder, Robert A. Jones, served as a distinguished member of the Board of Directors for the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, Inc. from 1990-2007. Funds from the BJO have been donated to ASAP for sponsorship of the annual conference, the 800 line, and more. The BJO also provides grants for durable medical equipment to ASAP members in financial need, as well as the college scholarships.

On behalf of all ASAP members, we thank the Bobby Jones Open and all the participants in the BJO for their continued generosity to help improve the lives of those with syringomyelia and Chiari Malformation. 

For more information on Bobby Jones Open College Scholarships, Click here.

For more information on Bobby Jones Open Assistance Grants, Click here.