Tom Watson

Thomas Sturges Watson (born September 4, 1949) is an American retired professional golfer on the PGA Tour Champions, formerly on the PGA Tour. He graduated from Qualifying School in 1971, and won 8 Major Titles in his career.

Basics

• College
  • Stanford University
• Turned Pro
  • 1971
• Current Tour
  • Retired
• Previous Tours
  • PGA Tour
  • European Tour
  • PGA Tour Champions¹
  • European Seniors Tour

Results

• Professional Wins
  • 70
• Wins By Tour
  • PGA Tour: 39 (Tied 10th all time)
  • European Tour: 8
  • Japan Golf Tour: 4
  • Asian Tour: 1
  • PGA Tour of Australasia: 1
  • PGA Tour Champions: 14
  • Other: 11
• Highest Ranking
  • 1 (1978-’82)
• Best Major Results
  • The Masters: Won x2 (1977 & ’81)
  • PGA Championship: T2 (1978)
  • US Open: Won (1982)
  • The Open Championship: Won x5 (1975, ’77, ’80, ’82, & ’83)
• Awards
  • World Golf Hall of Fame: 1988
  • Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame
  • PGA Tour Money List Winner (1977, ’78, ’79, ’80, & ’84)
  • PGA Player of the Year (1977, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’82 & ’84)
  • Vardon Trophy² (1977, ’78, & ’79)
  • Bob Jones Award³ (1987)
  • Old Tom Morris Award⁴ (1992)
  • Payne Stewart Award⁵ (2003)
  • Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup winner⁶ (2003 & ’05)
  • Champions Tour money list winner (2003)
  • Champions Tour Player of the Year (2003)
  • Champions Tour Byron Nelson Award⁷ (2003)
• International and Team Golf
  • Ryder Cup⁸ Player Representing  United States
    • 1977 –
    • 1981 –
    • 1983 –
    • 1989 – tie
  • Ryder Cup Non-Playing Captain
    • 1993 –
    • 2014
  • Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge⁹ – Representing the Senior PGA Tour
    • 1999 –
    • 2000
    • 2001

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1. Previously called the Seniors Tour ↩︎
2. Awarded to the PGA Tour’s leader in scoring average. ↩︎
3. Highest honor given by the USGA in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf ↩︎
4. the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s most prestigious honor. It is presented each year to an individual who “through a continuing lifetime commitment to the game of golf has helped to mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris.” ↩︎
5. given to a PGA Tour player whose “values align with the character, charity and sportsmanship that Stewart showed”. This includes respect for the traditions of the game, commitment to uphold the game’s heritage of charitable support and professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct. ↩︎
6. Given to the winner of the Champions Tour cup series, based on thousands of dollars of purses earned. ↩︎
7. Given to the Champions Tour’s leader in adjusted scoring average. ↩︎
8. The Ryder Cup is a biennial men’s golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States ↩︎
9. The Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge was an unofficial golf event held in November at the Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, Nevada at Reflection Bay Golf Club. The tournament was a unique stroke play event, and, as the name suggests, pitted three teams, with three members per team, from the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, and the Champions Tour (known as the Senior PGA Tour prior to 2001) against each other. ↩︎