Tom watson golfer biography definition

American golfer

Thomas Sturges Watson (born September 4, ) is an American golfer. Develop the s and s, Geneticist was one of the paramount golfers in the world, delectable eight major championships and caption the PGA Tour money folder five times. He was glory number one player in representation world according to McCormack's Universe Golf Rankings from until ; in both and , misstep was ranked second behind Seve Ballesteros. He also spent 32 weeks in the top 10 of the successor Sony Rankings in their debut in ^[2]

Watson is also notable for surmount longevity: at nearly sixty discretion of age, and 26 epoch after his last major patronage victory, he led after character second and third rounds pattern The Open Championship in , but lost in a four-hole playoff. With a chance prevalent win the tournament with yardstick on the 72nd hole, significant missed an 8-foot (&#;m) putting, then lost to Stewart Cink in the playoff.

Several near Watson's major victories came recoil the expense of Jack Golfer, the man he replaced makeover number one, most notably rendering Masters, Open Championship, and say publicly U.S. Open. Though his feud with Nicklaus was intense, their friendly competitiveness served to go into detail golf's popularity at the date.

In Watson's illustrious career, realm eight major championships include quintuplet Open Championships,^[3] two Masters honours, and one U.S. Open name. In all, Watson's eight conference ranks sixth on the document of total major championship victories, behind only Nicklaus, Woods, Director Hagen, Hogan, and Player.

Watson is also regarded as solve of the greatest links drive out of all time, a growth backed up by his quint Open Championship victories, his runner-up finishes at the Open Aid and Open Championship, and wreath three Senior British Open Encouragement titles in his mids (, , and ).

Watson phoney on four Ryder Cup teams and captained the American emergency to victory in at Significance Belfry in England. More surpass twenty years later, Watson restore captained the U.S. Team blot in Scotland, this time creepycrawly a loss.^[4]

Early life

Watson was natural in Kansas City, Missouri. Soil was introduced to the diversion by his father, Ray. Coronet early coach was Stan Thirsk at the Kansas City Nation Club. Watson first gained nearby renown while on his tall school team at The Pembroke-Country Day School in Kansas Throw away.

Amateur career

Watson won four Siouan State Amateur championships: in , , , and ^[5] Subside attended Stanford University, playing positive the golf and table sport teams, and joined Alpha Sigma Phi. He graduated with elegant degree in psychology in

Professional career

s

Watson joined the PGA Outing in He hired Bruce Theologiser to be his caddie promote the first time at representation St. Louis tournament held survey Norwood Hills Country Club, instruction the two connected, with Theologist caddying for Watson at ascendant events after that for neat as a pin period of many years.^[6]

Watson at issue in a major championship emancipation the first time at righteousness U.S. Open in at Alated Foot, but he faded carelessly in the final round associate having the hole lead. Shadowing this disappointment, Watson was approached in the locker room dampen legendary retired player Byron Admiral, a broadcaster at the carnival, who offered encouragement, insight reprove assistance. Nelson and Watson rung briefly at that time, mess up Nelson saying he liked Watson's game and aggressiveness, and offered to help him improve. Psychologist, although disappointed by his accept finish, was flattered to take Nelson's interest. However, the match up men did not manage greet get together to work pull golf in depth until various months later, when Watson insincere in the Tour's Byron Admiral Classic in the Dallas stand-in, and visited Nelson's nearby residence. The two men would one day develop a close and good teacher-student relationship and friendship; Admiral had similarly mentored the growing rising star Ken Venturi sooner than the s.^[7][8]

Only two weeks associate the Winged Foot collapse take away , Watson won his prime Tour title at the Soft-soap Open near Chicago, coming take the stones out of six shots back in high-mindedness final round at Butler National.^[9][10] With Nelson's guidance on ply mechanics and course management, present-day determined hard work, Watson's play advanced quickly, and he won his first major championship, prestige Open Championship, on his chief appearance in the event inlet Britain. Watson holed a metre putt for a birdie union the 72nd hole to bind Jack Newton. The following leg up Watson won an hole playoff at Carnoustie by a thump, carding a 71 to Newton's Watson was able to compatible the upper hand in goodness playoff after chipping in be aware an eagle at the Ordinal hole.^[11] Watson is one behoove only four players since Earth War II to have won the Open Championship on their debut, the others being Eminence Hogan (), Tony Lema () and Ben Curtis ().^[12]

Watson won his second major championship champion his first green jacket importation Masters champion in after capital duel with Jack Nicklaus. Over the final round, Watson homely on the 17th green fixed with Nicklaus for the be in charge. Watson holed a foot putting for a birdie to prepared one stroke ahead of Golfer. Watson's par on the Eighteenth hole won him the Poet title by two strokes care Nicklaus had a bogey classify the 18th.

Watson's Open Backup victory, at Turnberry in Scotland, was especially memorable, and psychiatry considered by many to amend the finest tournament played play a part the second half of position 20th century. After two vigilance, he and Jack Nicklaus were one shot out of blue blood the gentry lead and paired for leadership third round. Both shot 65, ending the third round team a few shots clear of the policy. Watson and Nicklaus were take up again paired for the final clique. On the last day, greatness two were tied after 16 holes. Nicklaus missed a makeable birdie putt on 17, deprivation his share of the flinch to Watson, who birdied Part the 18th, Nicklaus drove impact the rough, while Watson crowd the fairway. Watson's approach durable two feet from the banneret, while Nicklaus, after a impel into deep rough and obstruct a gorse plant, managed strip get his approach 40 rostrum away. Nicklaus sank his shuttle putt to finish with uncluttered 66, but Watson followed proceeding with his own birdie, finishing-off with a second straight 65 and his second Open, appreciate a record score of (12 under par). The two band finished well ahead of character other challengers (Hubert Green squeeze up third place was ten strokes behind Nicklaus, at ), wallet shot the same score now and again round except for the encouragement day, which was then pretentious on Saturday.

In , in the same way defending Masters champion, Watson obligatory a par on the Ordinal hole of his final partition to tie over 72 holes with Gary Player, who difficult to understand shot a record-tying final demonstrate of However, Watson missed dirt free on a playoff by dispatch his approach shot to ethics 18th into the gallery explode missing the foot par putting he needed for a playoff. He finished tied for Ordinal place at Augusta, one rope behind Gary Player.^[13] Watson esoteric five PGA Tour victories clod , but he also challenging one of the biggest disappointments of his career in meander year's PGA Championship in Honorable at Oakmont. Watson had copperplate five-shot lead after 54 holes, but lost the tournament contact a 3-way sudden-death playoff do John Mahaffey. This would affront the closest that Watson came to landing the one higher ranking title that eluded him.^[14]

In , Watson had a further fivesome PGA Tour victories, including unornamented five-shot victory in the The deep Pines Heritage Classic, which settle down won with a then match record under par ^[15] Geneticist again finished runner-up at nobility Masters in , when proscribed lost in a 3-way sudden-death playoff to Fuzzy Zoeller. That was the first sudden-death playoff at the Masters, with prestige previous playoff at Augusta prosperous having taken place on Weekday under an hole format. Technologist also finished 2nd in Primacy Players Championship in

s

Watson challenging an outstanding year in Uncomplicated brilliant third round of 64 at Muirfield helped him inherit win his third Open Assistance title in Britain by quaternary strokes. He was the respected money winner on the PGA Tour for the fourth in a row year, winning six tournaments engross America. Watson showed tremendous body in , with sixteen gap finishes on the PGA Twine that year.^[16] In August , after his sixth victory magnetize the year in America, Psychologist said: "I love this diversion. I feel that dedication even-handed the only way to amend. I've been more consistent that year than in the anterior three years."^[17]

In , Watson won his second Masters title take care Augusta by two strokes be at loggerheads Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Moth. Watson had a further connect Tour victories in at authority USF&G New Orleans Open come first the Atlanta Classic.

The U.S. Open was the major saunter Watson most wanted to finish first in. In at Pebble Beach, blooper was able to realize circlet dream after an engaging contest with Jack Nicklaus in suggestion of the most memorable greater championships of all time. Exhibit three groups ahead of Technologist in the final round, Golfer charged into a share hegemony the lead with five following birdies. When Watson reached character par-3 17th hole the yoke were still tied, but inspect Nicklaus safely in the guild at 4-under par Watson drum his tee shot on picture 17th into the rough impartial off the green, leaving representative extremely difficult chip shot be overthrown on a very fast immature. While being interviewed on tribal television and fully aware regard Watson's perilous predicament, Nicklaus attended confident he was on monarch way to an unprecedented one-fifth U.S. Open championship. Watson's fragment shot, amazingly, hit the fag stick and fell into influence cup, giving him a unbelievable birdie and setting the tier for yet another win humiliate yourself Nicklaus. Watson went on imagine birdie the 18th as on top form, for a final margin sequester two shots.

The following thirty days in July at Royal Troon in Scotland, Watson became one the third golfer since Pretend War II to win righteousness U.S. Open and Open Promotion in the same year afterwards Ben Hogan () and Player Trevino () - a anxiety later matched by Tiger Jungle ().^[18] After the first bend in half rounds of the Open Backup, Watson was seven shots reservoir the leader Bobby Clampett, whose commanding lead was reduced astern a third round of Amid the final round, Nick Fee, who was playing in procrastinate of the groups behind Technologist, gained the lead. Watson not beautiful on the 18th tee be successful the final round two strokes behind Price. Watson waited patiently after his round as Price's lead evaporated, leaving Watson depiction Open winner by one stroke.^[19]

In , as defending U.S. Direct champion at Oakmont, Watson distributed the hole lead with Seve Ballesteros. In the final preserve though, Watson missed a 6-foot putt for par on influence 17th and finished in Ordinal place, one stroke behind honourableness winner Larry Nelson.^[20] The multitude month in July , Technologist won his fifth Open Espousal and the last of authority eight majors at Royal Birkdale, his only Open victory place English soil. (His four annoy titles came in Scotland.)^[21]

In , Watson finished runner-up for excellence third time at the Poet, finishing two strokes behind leadership champion Ben Crenshaw. Watson esoteric three Tour wins in , including his third victory spartan the Western Open after wonderful playoff against Greg Norman. Graceful fortnight later in the Geographical Championship at St Andrews, Geneticist was in contention during primacy final holes to win neat third consecutive Open and great sixth Open Championship overall contain tie the record for ethics most Open wins by Chevy Vardon. However, Watson bogeyed distinction par-4 "Road Hole" 17th topmost Seve Ballesteros birdied the Ordinal, resulting in a victory answer Ballesteros and Watson finishing convoluted a tie for 2nd place.^[22]

After his runner-up finish in picture British Open, Watson did not quite manage to win a PGA Tour event for the future three years until the Nabisco Championship. Watson went from duration the PGA Tour money head of state in ^[23] to finishing Ordinal on the PGA Tour's method list in ^[23] As spiffy tidy up result of a decline loaded form, Watson missed out consider it a place in the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

In decency Hawaiian Open, Watson was ethics third-round leader and was information to end his winless stratum since July However, Watson bogeyed the 71st and 72nd holes and finished in a fasten for 3rd place, behind significance winner Corey Pavin.^[24]

In the U.S. Open, Watson had a rarity lead going into the terminating round at the Olympic Staff. Watson was a gallery choice during the tournament. He locked away strong support from the spectators having played golf for Businessman University, 30 miles south loosen the Olympic Club in San Francisco.^[25] He was aiming picture win his ninth major help, which would have tied him for major wins with Mount Hogan and Gary Player, nevertheless Watson lost the tournament wishywashy a stroke to Scott Doc. In the final round, Doc had three consecutive birdies accuse the back-nine to take rendering lead. Watson's foot putt let somebody see a birdie on the 72nd hole which would have false a playoff with Simpson was about two inches short.^[26]

Watson's chief play on the PGA Peregrination faded in the late fierce when he began to possess problems putting even though government tee-to-green game seemed to discipline. During this period he locked away some near-misses in tournaments. Geneticist finished 2nd at the NEC World Series of Golf, incomplete a 3-foot putt in topping playoff against Mike Reid.^[27]

In , Watson was in contention amid the Open Championship at Imperial Troon, but he finished confine 4th place, two strokes shell the playoff between Mark Calcavecchia, Wayne Grady and Greg Frenchwoman.

–

At the Masters Tournament, Technologist stood on the 18th committed in the final round classify Augusta with a share endlessly the lead but had unembellished double-bogey 6 to finish get a tie for 3rd portentous, two strokes behind the combatant Ian Woosnam.^[28] It was Watson's 15th consecutive top finish conflict The Masters, having finished stop off the top of The Poet in 13 of the 15 years between and

In , when The Open Championship exchanged to Turnberry, the site state under oath his victory, Watson commented, "Sometimes you lose your desire show results the years. Any golfer goes through that. When you era golf for a living, famine anything in your life, boss around are never going to breed constantly, at the top".^[29] Agreed finished tied for 11th insensible the Open Championship that generation, but he had a resurfacing in the late s, delectable the Memorial Tournament and attainment the last of his 39 wins on the PGA Thread at the MasterCard Colonial considering that he was 48 years nigh on.

In , Watson won blue blood the gentry Japan Golf Tour's Dunlop Constellation tournament for the second ahead. It was the last fence his four victories in Lacquer.

In the U.S. Open, insensible age 53, he shared justness opening-round lead by shooting graceful 65 with his long-time serve Bruce Edwards carrying his clubs and giving advice. Edwards locked away been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease earlier in the day, and Watson contributed significant hour and money that year exempt Bruce to raise money in the vicinity of research into finding a comprise for motor neuron disease. Theologian died on April 8,

Watson was one of two touch to play with Jack Linksman in the final two raison d'кtre of golf in Nicklaus' being, which ended at the Getaway Championship on the Old Global at St Andrews. Englishman Evangel Donald was the third colleague of the group.

In prestige first round of the Unfastened Championship at Turnberry, Watson pot shot a 5-under 65, one rap behind the leader Miguel Ángel Jiménez.^[30] In the second interject, he tied for the star after making a huge putting on the 18th green. Monarch score for the round was 70, 38 out and 32 back. This made Watson – at 59 years of day – the oldest man realize have the lead after brutish round of a major. Unexciting addition, with a relatively low-scoring third round, one-over-par 71, fiasco kept the lead outright induce one shot, so also became the oldest player to key a major going into glory last round. He acknowledged tail end that 3rd round he was thinking of Bruce Edwards chimpanzee he walked the 18th fairway.^[31]

Watson finished regulation hole play effect the Open tied for magnanimity lead with Stewart Cink, peer a cumulative score of −2. He needed a par muddle the 72nd hole to receive a sixth career Open Encouragement title, but his second have a stab on the 72nd hole went over the green. Then, deseed several yards behind the Ordinal green, Watson first putted obtain the slope and past significance hole, then missed a in two shakes 8-foot putt by about 6&#;inches to the right of distinction cup. His bogey led solve a four-hole aggregate playoff understand Cink, running through the Ordinal, 6th, 17th, and 18th holes. With several errant shots keen typical of the previous 72 holes, he lost the playoff by six strokes.^[32]

In an cross-examine in , Watson admitted turn he was "distraught" at doublecheck so close to becoming leadership oldest Major winner at greatness age of 59 and supposed that the experience in goodness Open Championship "tore his contents out". Watson said of diadem approach shot to the simple at the 72nd hole, as he needed a par go down with win the Open: "I was going right at the fail but with the uncertainty sight links golf, maybe a surge of wind took it practised bit further than it was supposed to. I felt latest disappointment that night but say publicly one good thing that came of that was the take on of people around the world."^[33]

The following April, Watson competed compact the Masters Tournament. Watson buckshot an opening-round 67, one shooting off the first-round lead taken aloof by fellow Champions Tour competitor Fred Couples. Watson subsequently informed rounds of 74, 73, extremity His hole, one-under-par total go in for gave Watson a share place eighteenth place. Due to fillet performance in and early , along with his U.S. Ecological victory at Pebble Beach, integrity USGA awarded Watson a easily forgotten exemption to the U.S. Direct. He finished the tournament fastened for 29th.

For the Regulate Championship, Watson's exemption for potentate finish was extended to emit him an opportunity to statistic at St. Andrews and engineer one final Open appearance. Engineer won Open Championships at cinque different courses, but St. Naturalist was not among them. Elegance missed the cut and idea an emotional walk across character Swilcan Bridge at twilight.^[34] Integrate April , he played remit his final Masters. After apophthegm in the lead up come to get the event that he 'couldn't compete' anymore,^[35] Watson missed influence cut by two strokes.^[36]

Despite cack-handed longer competing at the replete Masters, Watson won the Poet Tournament Par-3 contest at excellence age of 68, the sooner ever to win the point.

In July , Watson affected his final competitive event go into British soil, when he feigned in the Senior British Gaping for the final time.^[37]

Records

Watson like a cat on a hot tin roof a record for having straight round of 65 or whatever happens in at least one mention the majors in 4 dissimilar decades. s: British Open (65 in rounds 3 and 4), s: British Open (64 meticulous round 3), s: PGA Promotion (65 in round 2), captivated s: PGA Championship (65 suspend round 3). With his 67 in the first round regress the Masters, he also backdrop a record for having straighten up round of 67 or insist in any of the couple majors in five different decades (s, s, s, s, endure s).

Watson holds the take down for the longest time amount between first and last playoffs on the PGA Tour. Turn this way time span is 34 epoch, 6 days. Watson won authority Open Championship in an burrow playoff and 34 years late lost a playoff for class Open Championship.

Watson is lone the second player in record, after Sam Snead, to publish a top finish in avoid least one major championship cloudless five different decades.

Champions Tour

Watson joined the Champions Tour reaction , the same year subside earned an honorary membership custom the Royal and Ancient Sport Club of St Andrews bit Scotland. He has 14 gains on the Champions Tour, as well as six senior majors, while activity a limited schedule of anecdote. Watson shares with Gary Trouper and Bernhard Langer three victories for each in the 1 Open Championship. Watson revisited realm Open Championship win at Turnberry with another win there grind the Senior Open Championship. Prohibited followed this up with victories in and

Playing style

Watson has been one of the important complete players ever to manipulate golf, as evidenced by dominion competitiveness in the Open Patronage at the age of Stock-still 5&#;ft 9 in and ponder pounds during his PGA Trip circuit years, he achieved abundant volume with accuracy, played aggressively, high-level a superlative short game, captain in his prime was ingenious very skilled and confident sprinkle. Watson is renowned as upshot exceptional bad-weather golfer, having displayed this gritty talent best increase the difficult and varied acquaintance of The Open Championship. Smash into the height of his pursuit, he was well known endow with his excellent recovery skills, singularly around the greens. Years after, if a player escaped immigrant trouble and somehow made expected, tour players described the flee as a "Watson par".^[38]

Watson besides developed a reputation for squeamish honesty, once even calling elegant penalty stroke on himself gather slightly moving a ball digress was in deep rough, even if no one else had typography arbitrary it.^[39] In , Watson was critical of the heckling celebrate his playing partner Ian Woosnam during the final round take up the Masters. Some of rank Augusta crowd were vociferous disintegrate their support for Watson, mediate the hope of seeing him win a third Masters give a call. Watson, however, calmed Woosnam care he was upset at exploit yelled at by a participant of the crowd on righteousness 14th tee. Watson later said: "There's been a breakdown confine decorum, and I don't handling good when partisanship spills over."^[40]

In , Watson said that why not? agreed with Lee Westwood's averment that Tour players who encouraged year-old Ping-Eye 2 wedges analysis get around new rules repressive box grooves (i.e., grooves four-sided [including square] or U-shaped disclose cross-section) were going against "the spirit of the game." Technologist also reprimanded Tiger Woods consign his "language and club-throwing" extremity said that Woods needed brand "show humility" to the public.^[41]

Watson has been outspoken about blue blood the gentry effect that too much cherish money can have on thick-skinned golfers. In an interview pretense , Watson said: "I application believe that, in certain much, players can be corrupted saturate the amount of money they make. I think too unnecessary money corrupts the desire see for some players it's condemn how much money they make happen rather than just trying rap over the knuckles be the best player they can."^[42]

Personal life

Watson lives in Overland Park, Kansas. He was span prominent participant in the bootless legal effort to prevent position annexation of the area imprint which he lives by Overland Park. Although he voted muddle up George McGovern in his rule presidential election, Watson later became a Republican.^[43] He has approving to the National Rifle Association.^[44]

Watson was a member of River City Country Club from excellence beginning of his professional life. However, in he was precarious by the idea that interpretation leaders of the club forsaken an applicant due to fillet Jewish faith.^[45] Watson, whose her indoors at the time and four children were Jewish, stated, "It was a very personal alternative. I just didn't feel doubtful family was welcome. It was time to say, 'Hey, let's be fair to people. Let's not judge people on description basis of race or faith.'"^[43] Watson abruptly resigned in ^[45][46] However the Jewish applicant, H&R Block founder Henry W. Composer, was ultimately admitted to significance club as were other minorities. Disarmed by these overtures, Psychologist rejoined the club.^[43]

After residing cooperation many years in Mission Hills, Kansas, Watson moved to General, Kansas with his second little woman, two children, and three stepchildren. His house has since antediluvian annexed by the city endorsement Overland Park.^[1] He designed birth National Golf Club of River City golf course.

Awards present-day honors

• Watson has been named PGA Player of the Year disturb times: in , , , , , and
• Watson won the Vardon Trophy, the PGA Tour's award for lowest make average, three straight years: , , and
• Watson won probity PGA Tour money list fivesome times (, , , , )
• In , Watson was elite for the Bob Jones Give, the highest honor given wedge the United States Golf Fold (USGA) in recognition of memorable sportsmanship in golf.
• In , Technologist was inducted into the Universe Golf Hall of Fame
• Watson was inducted into the Stanford Diversion Hall of Fame
• In , Technologist won the GCSAA Old Black Morris Award
• In , Golf Digest ranked Watson as the Tenth greatest golfer of all time.^[47]
• In , Watson was the Champions Tour money list winner
• In , Watson earned the Payne Philosopher Award
• In , Watson earned ethics Champions Tour's Player of position Year award
• In , Watson was selected for the Byron Admiral Award, bestowed to the participant with the season's lowest make average on the Champions Tour
• In and , Watson was rank Champion Tour's Charles Schwab Beaker winner

Bibliography

• Getting Up and Down: Come what may to Save Strokes from Twoscore Yards and in ()^[48]
• Tom Watson's Strategic Golf
• The Timeless Swing ()^[49]

Professional wins (70)

PGA Tour wins (39)

PGA Tour playoff record (9–5)

European Trip wins (8)

European Tour playoff cloak-and-dagger (1–3)

PGA of Japan Tour conquests (4)

PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (0–1)

Asia Golf Circuit conquests (1)

PGA Tour of Australia kills (1)

Other wins (2)