Australian golf legend Bruce Devlin launched career in Waco Turner Open, to visit Falconhead Resort Thursday
By Barbara W. Sessions
Burneyville – Australian great Bruce Devlin captured 30 titles across the globe during his remarkable professional run from 1961–1972.
But few places stir his memory quite like Burneyville, Oklahoma — home of the 1963 Waco Turner Open, played May 2–5. Devlin openly credits his eighth‑place finish at that event with saving his young career.
That week delivered his first paycheck of 1963: $825 in prize money plus another $190 from the famed Turner Bonus system, which rewarded birdies, eagles, and chip-ins with cold, hard cash.
Fans can hear the story straight from Devlin this Thursday when the 88‑year‑old returns to Falconhead Resort (formerly Turner’s Lodge) for the first time since that pivotal 1963 tournament.
He will speak at 10 a.m. at the Turner’s Lodge Pro Golf Museum in the Pro Shop at 115 Falconhead Dr., Burneyville, OK. Admission is free and the public is warmly invited.
In his next start, Bruce Devlin explains to his son, Kelvin, age 3, how the ball took a backspin and went into the cup for an eagle on the par 4, No. 11 in the 1963 Oklahoma City Open at Quail Creek Golf Course on May 16. Devlin took the lead after 36 holes thanks to his seven-under-par 65. He fell back to 9th place but won $900. (Ray Foster photograph courtesy of Oklahoma Historican Society in Turner’s Lodge Pro Golf Museum). Devlin and Kelvin will speak at 10 a.m. February 16 at the Turner’s Lodge Pro Golf Museum in the Pro Shop at Falconhead Resort, Burneyville.A special Museum exhibit, “The Devil Takes Oklahoma,” will spotlight photos and highlights from Devlin’s spirited play at Burneyville, multiple Oklahoma City Opens, and the 1970 PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa.
Accompanying Devlin will be his son, Kel, and Gary Martinolli, the editor of the Brassie, the Journal of Australian Golf Heritage. It is Martinolli’s second visit to the Museum this year. He is planning a photo shoot of Devlin at the course where it started, for a book on the great champion.
Nicknamed “Devil,” Devlin charmed reporters everywhere he went. After his playing days, Devlin expanded his fame through broadcasting with NBC and ESPN. He also built a respected career in golf course architecture and design.
Three Australian golfers – Bruce Devlin (left), Dill Dunk, and Ted Ball – shared the third round lead on May 4 of the 1963 Waco Turner Open in Burneyville with 212’s. Devlin eventually finished in a T-8 but the prize money – $815 – and Turner bonus cash for birdies, eagles, and chip-ins – $190 – kept him on the PGA Tour. He eventually won 30 times around the world. (Daily Ardmoreite Photo in Turner’s Lodge Pro Golf Museum)Today he continues to share stories through his podcast, “FORE The Good of the Game,” co‑hosted with Mike Gonzalez, where they interview legends from the 1960s era.
Devlin turned professional in 1961, but under Australian PGA rules, he served a 12‑month probationary period during which he couldn’t keep any winnings — the association collected them. His first official check as a pro, according to Daily Oklahoman golf writer Wally Wallis, arrived at the 1962 Masters: $400. Wallis reported that Devlin earned four additional checks in the U.S. that year, the largest being $800 for a tie for 17th at the Houston Classic.
He also claimed $735 for a tie for 13th at the Canadian Open. Returning to Australia, he captured the Wills Classic on October 27, worth roughly $1,000 U.S.
In 1963, before reaching Burneyville, Devlin had competed in the Greater Greensboro Open, the Houston Classic, and the Texas Open — and earned nothing. At the Waco Turner Open, he finally secured his first check of the year, the biggest of his career to that point, and a massive emotional lift.
“When I arrived in Burneyville, I was in real trouble,” Devlin wrote in his book ‘Play Like the Devil.’ “I had only $400 in the world — not enough to pay the week’s hotel bill (in Ardmore) and get my family home to Australia – and a recent record of failure.”
He was ready to quit the Tour and return to life as a master plumber.
“The Waco Turner Open, which with bonuses brought in $1,015 — figures etched on my brain for life — got us out of there without having to wash the dishes,” he continued.
The Turner magic followed him. Two weeks later, at the 1963 Oklahoma City Open at Quail Creek Golf Club, Devlin stormed into the lead by two strokes after 36 holes, fueled by a dazzling course‑record 65.
Though he eventually slipped to ninth, he still pocketed $900.
Then came the explosion. Before 1963 ended, Devlin won the French Open, the New Zealand Open, the Caltex and Willis tournaments in Australia, and finished runner‑up to Jack Nicklaus after a playoff in the Australian Open.
“From the edge of bankruptcy in May, I had by Christmas won $5,337,” he wrote. That windfall funded the down payment on his family’s first home in Canberra. From there, his career took off.
Ironically, for a golfer who once couldn’t make a cut, Devlin soon built a reputation for almost never missing a payday.
By the time he returned to Oklahoma for the 1966 Oklahoma City Open, he told Oklahoman reporter Dave Todd, “I’ve finished in the money in 26 straight tournaments.”
It was the longest active streak on the PGA Tour. “I’ve been in the top 10 in six tournaments this year, and last year I was in the top 10 in nine of 21. I’ve been hitting the ball very well.”
The headline on the article read, “For “Ex-Plumber Devlin Golf’s a Lead-Pipe Cinch.”
During Devlin’s career, golf’s majors eluded him, but he posted three top‑five finishes at the Masters, two at the British Open, five top‑10s at the U.S. Open, and one at the PGA Championship.