science | January 09, 2026

Simon Hobday’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

IntroProfessional golfer
WasAthlete 
Golfer 
FromSouth Africa 
TypeSports 
Gendermale
Birth23 June 1940, Mahikeng, Mahikeng Local Municipality, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, North West
Death2 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.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
115 Aug 1976German Open−18 (67-68-65-66=266)1 stroke Antonio Garrido
229 Apr 1979Madrid Open−3 (67-73-71-74=285)2 strokes Francisco Abreu, Gordon J. Brand,
Tienie Britz

Senior PGA Tour wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
14 Jul 1993Kroger Senior Classic−11 (67-69-66=202)1 stroke Gibby Gilbert, Mike Hill,
Bob Reith
212 Dec 1993Hyatt Senior Tour Championship−17 (64-68-67=199)2 strokes Raymond Floyd, Larry Gilbert
33 Jul 1994U.S. Senior Open−10 (66-67-66-75=274)1 stroke Jim Albus, Graham Marsh
44 Sep 1994GTE Northwest Classic−7 (70-69-70=209)Playoff Jim Albus
517 Sep 1995Brickyard 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.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11994GTE Northwest Classic Jim AlbusWon 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)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up
1994U.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