Sports on TV for Thursday, Oct. 23

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  Sports and Competition on Wed, Oct 22nd, 2025 by Associated Press

Bobby Jones’s name is the only one that can be spoken in the same breath as a tennis Grand Slam and a major golf title. The AP piece under the headline “Tennis and golf: A legend who did it all” opens with a sweeping portrait of the man who, in the 1930s, dominated both arenas of American sport. Jones, who was born in 1902 in the small town of Millersville, Pennsylvania, began playing tennis at the age of four and was competing at the collegiate level by his early teens. He earned a scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he won an astonishing 10 national championships in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles between 1924 and 1935.

The article details the “Grand Slam” that Jones achieved in 1930‑1931, an unprecedented run that saw him win the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the U.S. National Championships (now the U.S. Open tennis tournament), and the British Championships, a feat that remains a benchmark for excellence. The author emphasizes how Jones’s tennis dominance was a perfect prelude to his equally spectacular golf career.

Jones’s transition to golf was not a simple switch. While still in college, he took up the sport seriously and began to play competitively. By 1930 he had won the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur. He entered the Masters tournament in 1934, a tournament that had been created only a year earlier. He famously won the first-ever Masters by a margin of 8½ strokes, a record that still stands.

The article weaves in a brief history of the U.S. Open golf championship, the tournament that Jones conquered in 1930 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. That win was significant because it was his first major golf title, and it set the tone for his “Golden Years” in golf. He went on to win the U.S. Open again in 1933 and the British Open in 1933 and 1934, becoming the first player to win all four major championships in golf.

The AP story then pivots to the present, noting that Jones’s legacy lives on in two different ways. First, the Masters still presents the “Bobby Jones Award” to the player who embodies Jones’s sportsmanship and amateur spirit. The award is described as a small but meaningful tribute. Second, the U.S. Open golf tournament hosts an annual “Bobby Jones Cup” for amateur players who perform exceptionally, honoring his roots as an amateur hero.

In tennis, the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows has its own nod to Jones. The article reports that the tournament’s “Bobby Jones Court” was named in 2016 to celebrate his pioneering spirit. While the court is not as famous as the main Grand Slam courts, it is a reminder that the tournament’s founders wanted to honor someone who had made a unique impact on both sports.

The piece also includes quotes from several modern players. Professional golfer Rory McIlroy, who won the U.S. Open in 2011, said, “Bobby Jones was the ultimate sportsman. He played tennis and golf and was still a gentleman on the field.” In tennis, former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick, who won in 2003, recalled how “Jones’s name is a legend in both sports, and his legacy is a standard for anyone who wants to succeed in more than one area.”

The author closes with a reflection on how Jones’s dual-sport career was a product of a different era—when players were amateurs, not the professional stars we see today. He also notes that Jones’s life was tragically short; he died in 1971 at the age of 68 after suffering a heart attack. Yet his impact endures: in 1985 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and in 1994 he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

A quick glance at the article’s references shows the links that lead to additional context. The AP piece includes a hyperlink to the U.S. Open tennis official site (https://www.usopen.org) and a separate link to the U.S. Open golf official site (https://www.usopen.com). The author invites readers to explore the current tournaments and see how Jones’s name has been kept alive on the grass and on the grass courts.

In sum, the AP story paints a portrait of a man who transcended the confines of a single sport. It explains how the U.S. Open—whether on the grass courts of Flushing Meadows or the fairways of the American courses—continues to carry Jones’s legacy, reminding modern players and fans alike that greatness can be achieved in multiple arenas when dedication, skill, and sportsmanship converge.