Simon Hobday’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story
David Ramirez
Published Apr 10, 2026
| Intro | Professional golfer |
| Was | Athlete Golfer |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 23 June 1940, Mahikeng, Mahikeng Local Municipality, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, North West |
| Death | 2 March 2017 (aged 76 years) |
Simon Forbes Newbold Hobday (23 June 1940 – 2 March 2017) was a South African professional golfer who won tournaments on three continents.
Hobday was born in Mafikeng. He lived part of his life in Zambia and represented the country in the 1966 Eisenhower Trophy. He also lived in Rhodesia.
Hobday turned professional in 1969. He spent his regular career mainly on the Southern Africa Tour, where he won six times and the European Tour, where he won the 1976 German Open and the 1979 Madrid Open. As a senior, he played mainly in the United States on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour), where he claimed five titles between 1993 and 1995 including one senior major, the 1994 U.S. Senior Open.
Professional wins (17)
Southern Africa Tour wins (6)
- 1971 South African Open
- 1978 Rhodesian Dunlop Masters
- 1978 Victoria Falls Classic
- 1979 Rhodesian Open
- 1981 ICL International
- 1985 Trustbank Tournament of Champions
European Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 Aug 1976 | German Open | −18 (67-68-65-66=266) | 1 stroke | Antonio Garrido |
| 2 | 29 Apr 1979 | Madrid Open | −3 (67-73-71-74=285) | 2 strokes | Francisco Abreu, Gordon J. Brand, Tienie Britz |
Senior PGA Tour wins (5)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 Jul 1993 | Kroger Senior Classic | −11 (67-69-66=202) | 1 stroke | Gibby Gilbert, Mike Hill, Bob Reith |
| 2 | 12 Dec 1993 | Hyatt Senior Tour Championship | −17 (64-68-67=199) | 2 strokes | Raymond Floyd, Larry Gilbert |
| 3 | 3 Jul 1994 | U.S. Senior Open | −10 (66-67-66-75=274) | 1 stroke | Jim Albus, Graham Marsh |
| 4 | 4 Sep 1994 | GTE Northwest Classic | −7 (70-69-70=209) | Playoff | Jim Albus |
| 5 | 17 Sep 1995 | Brickyard Crossing Championship | −12 (71-65-68=204) | 1 stroke | Isao Aoki, Hale Irwin, Bob Murphy, Lee Trevino |
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994 | GTE Northwest Classic | Jim Albus | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
Senior major championship is shown in bold.
Other senior wins (4)
- 1997/98 Vodacom Senior Classic (South Africa)
- 2001 Nelson Mandela Invitational (with Martin Maritz; unofficial event in South Africa), Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Legendary Division (with Jim Albus)
- 2003 Nelson Mandela Invitational (with Lee Westwood; unofficial event in South Africa)
Champions Tour major championships
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | U.S. Senior Open | −10 (66-67-66-75=274) | 1 stroke | Jim Albus, Graham Marsh |
Team appearances
Amateur
- Eisenhower Trophy (representing Zambia): 1966
Professional
- Double Diamond International (representing the Rest of the World): 1976, 1977
