| Tom Weiskopf | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Thomas Daniel Weiskopf | ||
| Born | (1942-11-09)November 9, 1942 Massillon, Ohio, U.S. | ||
| Died | August 20, 2022(2022-08-20) (aged 79) Big Sky, Montana, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Sporting nationality |  United States | ||
| Spouse | Laurie | ||
| Career | |||
| College | Ohio State University | ||
| Turned professional | 1964 | ||
| Former tours | PGA Tour Senior PGA Tour | ||
| Professional wins | 28 | ||
| Number of wins by tour | |||
| PGA Tour | 16 | ||
| European Tour | 2 | ||
| Sunshine Tour | 1 | ||
| PGA Tour Champions | 4 | ||
| Other | 6 | ||
| Best results in major championships (wins: 1) | |||
| Masters Tournament | T2:1969,1972,1974,1975 | ||
| PGA Championship | 3rd:1975 | ||
| U.S. Open | T2:1976 | ||
| The Open Championship | Won:1973 | ||
| Achievements and awards | |||
| |||
Thomas Daniel Weiskopf (November 9, 1942 – August 20, 2022) was an Americanprofessional golfer who played on thePGA Tour and theChampions Tour. His most successful decade was the 1970s. He won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, including the1973 Open Championship. He was the runner-up atThe Masters four times. After winding down his career playing golf, Weiskopf became a notedgolf course architect.
Weiskopf was born inMassillon, Ohio. He attendedBenedictine High School in Cleveland andOhio State University, where he played on the golf team.
In 1964, Weiskopf turned professional. Weiskopf's first win on thePGA Tour came at the 1968Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational and fifteen more followed by 1982. His best career season was 1973, when he won seven tournaments around the world, includingThe Open Championship atRoyal Troon,[1][2] and he would finish that year ranked second in the world according toMark McCormack's world golf rankings. This was to remain his onlymajor championship victory but he was runner-up atThe Masters in 1969, 1972, 1974, and 1975, and had a T2 finish at the 1976U.S. Open.[3]
Weiskopf won theCanadian Open in 1973 and 1975, the latter win was achieved in dramatic fashion with a one-hole playoff win over archrival and fellow Ohio State University alumJack Nicklaus when Weiskopf nearly holed his approach on the 15th hole at theRoyal Montreal Golf Club's Blue Course. Weiskopf was a member of the United States team in the 1973 and 1975Ryder Cups. He also qualified for the 1977 team but decided to skip the competition in order to go big-game hunting.[1]
Weiskopf's swing was much admired in the golf world. He hit the ball high, generated enormous power and had very good control as well which is a rare combination. Weiskopf's height and displays of his temper on the golf course earned him the nickname of "The Towering Inferno".
He also worked as a broadcaster forCBS Sports[1] covering theMasters Tournament, first in 1981 and again from 1985–95. He returned to broadcasting withESPN andABC for coverage ofThe Open Championship from 2008–13.[citation needed]
Weiskopf joined theSenior PGA Tour in 1993 and won several senior tournaments, including onesenior major: the 1995U.S. Senior Open.[1][4]
Weiskopf got into golf course design working initially withJay Morrish but later established his own practice.[1] He has at least 40 courses to his credit in many parts of the world, including theMonument andPinnacle courses atTroon North Golf Club inScottsdale, Arizona;[5] andLoch Lomond, the venue of theScottish Open from 1995 to 2010.[1] A drivable par-4 hole is a common element in most of Weiskopf's designs. Many of the courses have received considerable praise by being ranked highly in lists of top courses around the world.[5] In January 2016, it was announced that Weiskopf would lead a renovation of theTorrey Pines North Course in San Diego, California.[6]
In 2020, Weiskopf was diagnosed withpancreatic cancer.[7] He died at his home inBig Sky, Montana on August 20, 2022, aged 79.[8] His death was first announced by fellow golferTom Watson, who extended his condolences to the Weiskopf family in a tweet.[7]
He was elected to theWorld Golf Hall of Fame in 2023 and was inducted on June 10, 2024.[9]
| Legend |
|---|
| Major championships (1) |
| Other PGA Tour (15) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 11,1968 | Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational | −15 (66-68-71-68=273) | 1 stroke |  Al Geiberger |
| 2 | Jul 7, 1968 | Buick Open Invitational | −8 (73-67-71-69=280) | 1 stroke | Mike Hill |
| 3 | Jun 13,1971 | Kemper Open | −11 (66-72-70-69=277) | Playoff | Dale Douglass, Gary Player,Lee Trevino |
| 4 | Aug 22, 1971 | IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic | −14 (67-71-66-70=274) | 1 stroke | Dave Hill |
| 5 | Feb 27,1972 | Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic | −10 (69-72-69-68=278) | 1 stroke | Jack Nicklaus |
| 6 | May 13,1973 | Colonial National Invitation | −4 (69-68-70-69=276) | 1 stroke |  Bruce Crampton,Jerry Heard |
| 7 | Jun 3, 1973 | Kemper Open (2) | −17 (65-70-68-68=271) | 3 strokes | Lanny Wadkins |
| 8 | Jun 10, 1973 | IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic (2) | −14 (67-71-65-71=274) | 4 strokes | Jim Barber |
| 9 | Jul 14, 1973 | The Open Championship | −12 (68-67-71-70=276) | 3 strokes |  Neil Coles,Johnny Miller |
| 10 | Jul 29, 1973 | Canadian Open | −10 (67-73-68-70=278) | 2 strokes | Forrest Fezler |
| 11 | Apr 6,1975 | Greater Greensboro Open | −9 (64-71-72-68=275) | 3 strokes | Al Geiberger |
| 12 | Jul 27, 1975 | Canadian Open (2) | −6 (65-74-68-67=274) | Playoff | Jack Nicklaus |
| 13 | Jun 5,1977 | Kemper Open (3) | −11 (67-71-69-70=277) | 2 strokes | George Burns,Bill Rogers |
| 14 | Mar 12,1978 | Doral-Eastern Open | −16 (67-70-67-68=272) | 1 stroke | Jack Nicklaus |
| 15 | Sep 20,1981 | LaJet Classic | −10 (73-67-70-68=278) | 2 strokes | Gil Morgan |
| 16 | Jul 4,1982 | Western Open | −12 (69-67-70-70=276) | 1 stroke | Larry Nelson |
PGA Tour playoff record (2–3)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1966 | Greater Greensboro Open | Doug Sanders | Lost to par on second extra hole |
| 2 | 1969 | Greater Greensboro Open | Julius Boros,Gene LittlerOrville Moody | Littler won with birdie on fifth extra hole Weiskopf eliminated by par on first hole |
| 3 | 1971 | Kemper Open | Dale Douglass,Gary Player,Lee Trevino | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 4 | 1975 | Canadian Open | Jack Nicklaus | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 5 | 1979 | Southern Open | Ed Fiori | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
| Legend |
|---|
| Major championships (1) |
| Other European Tour (1) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 14,1973 | The Open Championship | −12 (68-67-71-70=276) | 3 strokes | Neil Coles,Johnny Miller |
| 2 | Aug 23,1981 | Benson & Hedges International Open | −16 (66-69-68-69=272) | 1 stroke |  Eamonn Darcy, Bernhard Langer |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 1,1973 | Luyt Lager PGA Championship | −7 (70-69-67-67=273) | 3 strokes | Vin Baker |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 18, 1979 | Argentine Open | +5 (71-72-76-70=289) | 3 strokes |  Alberto Rivadeneira |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 29, 1965 | Ohio Open | −7 (70-71-70-70=281) | 9 strokes | David Lawrence |
| 2 | Oct 14, 1972 | Piccadilly World Match Play Championship | 4 and 3 | Lee Trevino | |
| 3 | Sep 9, 1973 | World Series of Golf | −3 (71-66=137) | 3 strokes | Johnny Miller,Jack Nicklaus |
| 4 | Sep 13, 1982 | Jerry Ford Invitational | −6 (66-70=136) | 3 strokes | Tom Purtzer,Fuzzy Zoeller |
| 5 | Feb 28, 1993 | Chrysler Cup Individual Trophy | −14 (66-67-69=202) | 4 strokes | George Archer |
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior major championships (1) |
| Other Senior PGA Tour (3) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 28,1994 | Franklin Quest Championship | −12 (68-67-69=204) | Playoff | Dave Stockton |
| 2 | Jul 2,1995 | U.S. Senior Open | −13 (69-69-69-68=275) | 4 strokes | Jack Nicklaus |
| 3 | Mar 31,1996 | SBC Dominion Seniors | −9 (69-69-69=207) | 2 strokes | Bob Dickson,Graham Marsh, Gary Player |
| 4 | Jun 9, 1996 | Pittsburgh Senior Classic | −11 (68-67-70=205) | 3 strokes |  Brian Barnes,J. C. Snead |
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994 | Franklin Quest Championship | Dave Stockton | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Open Championship | 1 shot lead | −12 (68-67-71-70=276) | 3 strokes | Neil ColesJohnny Miller |
| Tournament | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T16 | T2 | |||
| U.S. Open | T40 | 15 | T24 | T22 | |
| The Open Championship | |||||
| PGA Championship | T72 | CUT | T44 |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T23 | T6 | T2 | T34 | T2 | T2 | T9 | T14 | T11 | T41 |
| U.S. Open | T30 | CUT | 8 | 3 | T15 | T29 | T2 | 3 | T4 | T4 |
| The Open Championship | T22 | T40 | T7 | 1 | T7 | 15 | T17 | T22 | T17 | CUT |
| PGA Championship | CUT | T22 | T62 | T6 | WD | 3 | T8 | T58 | T4 | CUT |
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | T10 | T20 | T35 | ||||||
| U.S. Open | 37 | T39 | T24 | |||||||
| The Open Championship | T16 | CUT | T45 | CUT | ||||||
| PGA Championship | T10 | T27 | CUT | T30 | CUT |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | ||||||||||
| U.S. Open | CUT | |||||||||
| The Open Championship | CUT | T101 | CUT | CUT | ||||||
| PGA Championship |
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | |||||
| U.S. Open | |||||
| The Open Championship | CUT | ||||
| PGA Championship |
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1982 Open Championship)
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 15 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 16 |
| The Open Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 12 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 12 |
| Totals | 1 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 38 | 71 | 55 |
| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | U.S. Senior Open | −13 (69-69-69-68=275) | 4 strokes | Jack Nicklaus |
Tom Weiskopf in theRyder Cup | |||||||||
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| International | |
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| National | |
