Sir Bob Charles is a New Zealand sporting hero. His golfing achievements over five decades rank him as one of the most successful left handed players of all time.

He was the first ‘lefty’ to win a major, securing the British Open Championship title in 1963 after a 36 hole playoff with American Phil Rodgers. He is also the first player with a left handed swing elected into Golf’s Hall of Fame, although ironically Sir Bob is actually right handed, except “games requiring two hands”. He came close to winning more major titles with runner-up finishes in The open in 1968 and ’69, the PGA Championship in 1968 and third place in the US Open in 1964 and 1970.