Tom Watson

Watson began playing golf at age 6 through the influence of his father. Was coached by Byron Nelson through the 1970s and '80s, and before and after by PGA professional Stan Thirsk. Ranks T-10th on the PGA Tour's all-time victory list, with 39 official titles. Had a remarkable run from 1977 through 1982, when he won at least three titles per year. Has been a runner-up 32 times in his PGA Tour career. After numerous close calls, including almost winning the 1974 U.S. Open, Watson started working with Nelson, who helped him immediately with his first victory at the 1974 Western Open. Winner of eight major championships: 1975, '77, '80, '82, and '83 British Open; '77 and '81 Masters; '82 U.S. Open. In 1982, he became one of only six players to win the U.S. Open and British Open in the same year (Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Tiger Woods are the others). Was the PGA Tour's leading money-winner five times, including four years in a row (1977-80, '84). In 1980, he became the first player to earn $500,000 in a season when he captured six PGA Tour events to go along with a third British Open title. In 1987, won the season-ending Tour Championship and earned $360,000. After a nine-year absence from the winner's circle, he claimed the 1996 Memorial title. Finished 25th on the money list, his highest ranking since 1987, and made his first trip to the Tour Championship since winning it in 1987. Earned 39th PGA Tour title with a victory at the 1998 MasterCard Colonial. At 48, he became the oldest player ever to win the event (previous oldest: Ben Hogan was 46 when he captured his last of five Colonial titles). The stretch between his first victory (1974) and last victory (23 years, 11 months, 24 days) is the third-longest in Tour history. Winner of three Vardon trophies (1977-79). Six-time PGA Tour Player of the Year (1977, '78, '79, '80, '82, and '84). Played on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams (1977, '81, '83, and '89) and captained the 1993 squad to victory at the Belfry. Captained the American team again in 2014, but the team lost in Scotland. Played full-time on the PGA Tour between 1972 and 1999. In 615 events, Watson won 39 times, was runner-up 32 times, 3rd 23 times, and finished in the top-10 219 times. Had earnings of $11,081,140. Became a member of the PGA Tour Champions in 1999. In 2004, he was troubled by hip and shoulder problems throughout the season. He did not register an official victory for the first time in his PGA Tour Champions career and finished outside the top-30 money-winners for the first time. He was planning on having both his left hip and right shoulder operated on at the end of the year but reconsidered and opted for rehab instead. Played at his 31st Masters, learning about the death of his longtime caddie, Bruce Edwards, just hours before his scheduled first-round tee time. Had his left hip replaced in October 2008, and nine months later, he almost pulled off one of the all-time greatest sports stories. In 2009 at the age of 59, he was a par away from becoming the oldest winner in major championship history at the British Open at Turnberry, Scotland. A bogey put him in a four-hole playoff with Stewart Cink, which he lost. Had problems with his right arm in 2012, which made gripping the club difficult because the hand was weak. Was forced to miss defending his title at the 2012 Senior PGA Championship. In December 2012, was named the captain of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Turned 65 before the Ryder Cup, making him the oldest player named a Ryder Cup Captain for either an American or European team. At his appointment, surpassed British legend J.H. Taylor, who was 62 when he guided Great Britain to victory in 1933. Watson passed Ben Hogan for the longest period between captain roles, at 21 years. Hogan served in 1947, '49, and '67.
2013 Notes: Played at his 40th Masters, 36th British Open, and 32nd PGA Championship. Played a limited schedule on PGA Tour Champions. In eight starts, had two top-10s: T-4th at the Legends of Golf (playing with Andy North) and 5th at the Toshiba Classic.
2014 Notes: Battled Colin Montgomerie down the stretch before finishing 2nd at the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores, Mich., despite a final-round 65. The performance was his best PGA Tour Champions effort since winning the same championship at Valhalla in 2011. It was also his 17th top-3 finish in a senior major. Played a total of seven events and had four top-10 finishes. Played at his 41st Masters, his 40th in succession, tying Jack Nicklaus for fifth place in that category. Did not make the cut after rounds of 78-81. Captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team for a second time, with the U.S. losing to Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland.
2015 Notes: Nearly won his first event in four years when he made a final-round charge at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach in late September. Rebounded from a four-over-par 75 at Poppy Hills in his opening round with weekend scores of 65-67 at Pebble Beach to eventually finish 2nd, one stroke behind Esteban Toledo. His only other top-10 was a T-7th at the U.S. Senior Open, where he led after a first-round 66. Made his final appearance at the British Open, posting rounds of 76-80 at St. Andrews, but missed the cut. Also played at the European Tour's KLM Open in The Netherlands in September and finished T-47th, with four rounds in the 60s. At age 66 years, 7 days, he became the second-oldest player to make the cut in a European Tour event. Bob Charles remains the oldest, at 71 years, 261 days (2008 New Zealand Open).
2016 Notes: Played his last Masters, missing the cut. It was his 43rd Masters and his 42nd in succession. Bettered his age for the third time in his career when he posted a seven-under-par 65 in the second round at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Trailed by just two strokes after 36 holes before eventually finishing T-11th, his best result in eight starts.
2017 Notes: This was the first year in Watson's professional career that he didn't play any majors. Started the year T-40th at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Was T-22nd with his teammate Andy North at the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf, his best result. Finished T-23rd at the Senior Open Championship.
2018 Notes: Finished 33rd at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai and T-45th at the Toshiba Classic, where, at age 68, he shot a final-round 68. It marked the eighth time he shot or bettered his age on PGA Tour Champions, the second time in 2018 after an opening 68 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Watson opened with rounds of 69-68 at St. Andrews and was T-6th through 36 holes at The Senior Open Championship. His second-round 68 marked the ninth time he shot or bettered his age on PGA Tour Champions, and it was the seventh time a player shot or bettered his age at The Senior Open (since 2003). Watson closed with rounds of 73-77 and finished T-21st. Only played in six PGA Tour Champions events.
2019 Notes: Played in seven PGA Tour Champions events with one top-10 finish. Was 75th in the Schwab Cup rankings. He finished T-10th at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, marking his first finish in the top-10 on PGA Tour Champions since a solo second-place finish at the 2015 PURE Insurance Championship. Made his 18th and final start at the Senior Open played at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, where he finished T-64th. He had played in 38 British Opens, winning five times, and with his three wins in the Senior Open, he won eight in the two events. Watson was one of only three players to win both championships (Gary Player and Bob Charles were the others). At the end of November, his wife Hilary passed away after a two-and-a-half-year battle with Pancreatic cancer.
2020/21 Notes: Only played twice on the PGA Tour Champions, T-30th in the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in 2020, and 41st at the same tournament in 2021.
2022 Notes: Was 41st at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. He hasn't played competitively since.
In 2022, he joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honorary starter at the Masters for the first time, they will be doing it again in 2023.

PGA Tour victories: 39 - 1974 Western Open; 1975 Byron Nelson Classic, British Open; 1977 Bing Crosby Pro-Am, San Diego Open, Masters, Western Open, British Open; 1978 Tucson Open, Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, Byron Nelson Classic, Hall of Fame Classic, Anheuser-Busch Classic; 1979 Sea Pines Heritage Classic, Tournament of Champions, Byron Nelson Classic, Memorial Tournament, Hall of Fame Classic; 1980 San Diego Open, Los Angeles Open, Tournament of Champions, New Orleans Open, Byron Nelson Classic, British Open, World Series of Golf; 1981 Masters, USF&G Classic, Atlanta Classic; 1982 Los Angeles Open, Sea Pine Heritage Classic, U.S. Open, British Open; 1983 British Open; 1984 Seiko-Tucson Match Play Championship, Tournament of Champions, Western Open; 1987 Nabisco Championship; 1996 Memorial; 1998 MasterCard Colonial
PGA Tour Champions Victories: 14 - 1999 Bank One Championship; 2000 IR Senior Tour Championship; 2001 Senior PGA Championship; 2002 Senior Tour Championship at Gaillardia; 2003 Senior British Open, JELD-WEN Tradition; 2005 Senior British Open, Charles Schwab Cup Championship; 2007 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, Senior British Open; 2008 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, Liberty Mutual Legends Of Golf (Teamed with Andy North); 2010 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai; 2011 Senior PGA Championship.
Other Wins: 1980 Dunlop Phoenix; 1984 Australian Open; 1992 Hong Kong Open; 1994 Skins Game; 1997 Dunlop Phoenix; 1999 Wendy's three-tour challenge (with Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin); 1999 Diner's club matches (with Jack Nicklaus); 2000 Hyundai team matches (with Jack Nicklaus); 2004 Wendy's Champions Skins game; 2005 Liberty Mutual Legends of golf (Raphael Division with Andy North); 2006 Liberty Mutual Legends of golf (Raphael Division with Andy North); 2007 Wendy's Champions Skins Game (with Jack Nicklaus), Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (Raphael Division with Andy North); 2010 Wendy's Champions Skins Game (with Jack Nicklaus); 2011 Ka'anapali Champions Skins Game (with Jack Nicklaus).