Tom Weiskopf
Tom Weiskopf | |||
---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||
Full name | Thomas Daniel Weiskopf | ||
Born | Massillon, Ohio, U.S. | November 9, 1942||
Died | August 20, 2022 Big Sky, Montana, U.S. | (aged 79)||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||
Spouse | Laurie | ||
Career | |||
College | Ohio State University | ||
Turned professional | 1964 | ||
Former tour(s) | 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 | |||
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Thomas Daniel Weiskopf (November 9, 1942 – August 20, 2022) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. His most successful decade was the 1970s. He won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, including the 1973 Open Championship. He was the runner-up at The Masters four times. After winding down his career playing golf, Weiskopf became a noted golf course architect. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2023 and was be inducted in 2024.[1]
Career
[edit]Weiskopf was born in Massillon, Ohio. He attended Benedictine High School in Cleveland and Ohio State University, where he played on the golf team. He turned professional in 1964.
Weiskopf's first win on the PGA Tour came at the Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational in 1968 and 15 more followed by 1982. His best career season was 1973, when he won seven tournaments around the world, including The Open Championship at Royal Troon,[2][3] and he would finish that year ranked second in the world according to Mark McCormack's world golf rankings. This was to remain his only major championship victory but he was runner-up at The Masters in 1969, 1972, 1974, and 1975, and had a T2 finish at the 1976 U.S. Open.[4]
Weiskopf won the Canadian 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 alum Jack Nicklaus when Weiskopf nearly holed his approach on the 15th hole at the Royal Montreal Golf Club's Blue Course. Weiskopf was a member of the United States team in the 1973 and 1975 Ryder Cups. He also qualified for the 1977 team but decided to skip the competition in order to go big-game hunting.[2]
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".
Weiskopf joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1993 and won several senior tournaments, including one senior major: the 1995 U.S. Senior Open.[2][5]
He also worked as a broadcaster for CBS Sports[2] covering the Masters Tournament, first in 1981 and again from 1985–95. He returned to broadcasting with ESPN and ABC for coverage of The Open Championship from 2008–13.[citation needed]
Death
[edit]In 2020, Weiskopf was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[6] He died at his home in Big Sky, Montana on August 20, 2022, aged 79.[7] His death was first announced by fellow golfer Tom Watson, who extended his condolences to the Weiskopf family in a tweet.[6]
Golf course design
[edit]Weiskopf got into golf course design working initially with Jay Morrish but later established his own practice.[2] He has at least 40 courses to his credit in many parts of the world, including the Monument and Pinnacle courses at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona;[8] and Loch Lomond, the venue of the Scottish Open from 1995 to 2010.[2] 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.[8]
In January 2016, it was announced that Weiskopf would lead a renovation of the Torrey Pines North Course in San Diego, California. [9]
The following is a (partial) list of courses that Weiskopf either designed by himself or co-designed:
- Troon North Golf Club (Monument and Pinnacle courses), Scottsdale, Arizona
- Loch Lomond Golf Club, Luss, Argyll & Bute, Scotland
- Catamount Ranch & Club, Steamboat Springs, Colorado[10]
- Double Eagle, Galena, Ohio
- Mira Vista Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
- Forest Highlands (Canyon and Meadow courses), Flagstaff, Arizona[11]
- Lahontan Golf Club, Truckee, California[12]
- The Olympic Club (Ocean and Cliffs courses), San Francisco, California
- The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Colorado
- Shanty Creek Resort — Cedar River,[13] Bellaire, Michigan
- Quail Hollow Country Club, Concord Township, Ohio
- Snake River Sporting Club, Jackson, Wyoming
- Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany, Italy
- The Rim Golf Club, Payson, Arizona
- Silverleaf Club, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Estancia El Terrón Mendiolaza, Córdoba, Argentina
- Frost Creek, Eagle, Colorado
- Bloody Point, Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
- Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah[14]
- Marbella Country Club, San Juan Capistrano, California, 1989
Amateur wins
[edit]- 1963 Western Amateur
Professional wins (28)
[edit]PGA Tour wins (16)
[edit]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 | ![]() |
2 | Jul 7, 1968 | Buick Open Invitational | −8 (73-67-71-69=280) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
3 | Jun 13, 1971 | Kemper Open | −11 (66-72-70-69=277) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
4 | Aug 22, 1971 | IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic | −14 (67-71-66-70=274) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
5 | Feb 27, 1972 | Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic | −10 (69-72-69-68=278) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
6 | May 13, 1973 | Colonial National Invitation | −4 (69-68-70-69=276) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
7 | Jun 3, 1973 | Kemper Open (2) | −17 (65-70-68-68=271) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
8 | Jun 10, 1973 | IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic (2) | −14 (67-71-65-71=274) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
9 | Jul 14, 1973 | The Open Championship | −12 (68-67-71-70=276) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
10 | Jul 29, 1973 | Canadian Open | −10 (67-73-68-70=278) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
11 | Apr 6, 1975 | Greater Greensboro Open | −9 (64-71-72-68=275) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
12 | Jul 27, 1975 | Canadian Open (2) | −6 (65-74-68-67=274) | Playoff | ![]() |
13 | Jun 5, 1977 | Kemper Open (3) | −11 (67-71-69-70=277) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
14 | Mar 12, 1978 | Doral-Eastern Open | −16 (67-70-67-68=272) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
15 | Sep 20, 1981 | LaJet Classic | −10 (73-67-70-68=278) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
16 | Jul 4, 1982 | Western Open | −12 (69-67-70-70=276) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
PGA Tour playoff record (2–3)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1966 | Greater Greensboro Open | ![]() |
Lost to par on second extra hole |
2 | 1969 | Greater Greensboro Open | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Littler won with birdie on fifth extra hole Weiskopf eliminated by par on first hole |
3 | 1971 | Kemper Open | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
4 | 1975 | Canadian Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
5 | 1979 | Southern Open | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
European Tour wins (2)
[edit]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 | ![]() ![]() |
2 | Aug 23, 1981 | Benson & Hedges International Open | −16 (66-69-68-69=272) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
Southern Africa Tour wins (1)
[edit]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 | ![]() |
South American Golf Circuit wins (1)
[edit]No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nov 18, 1979 | Argentine Open | +5 (71-72-76-70=289) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Other wins (5)
[edit]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 | ![]() |
2 | Oct 14, 1972 | Piccadilly World Match Play Championship | 4 and 3 | ![]() | |
3 | Sep 9, 1973 | World Series of Golf | −3 (71-66=137) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
4 | Sep 13, 1982 | Jerry Ford Invitational | −6 (66-70=136) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
5 | Feb 28, 1993 | Chrysler Cup Individual Trophy | −14 (66-67-69=202) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
Senior PGA Tour wins (4)
[edit]Legend |
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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 | ![]() |
2 | Jul 2, 1995 | U.S. Senior Open | −13 (69-69-69-68=275) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Mar 31, 1996 | SBC Dominion Seniors | −9 (69-69-69=207) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
4 | Jun 9, 1996 | Pittsburgh Senior Classic | −11 (68-67-70=205) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1994 | Franklin Quest Championship | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
Major championships
[edit]Wins (1)
[edit]Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 | The Open Championship | 1 shot lead | −12 (68-67-71-70=276) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Results timeline
[edit]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.
Summary
[edit]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 |
- Most consecutive cuts made — 18 (1975 Masters — 1979 U.S. Open)
- Longest streak of top-10s — 4 (1973 U.S. Open — 1974 Masters)
Champions Tour major championships
[edit]Wins (1)
[edit]Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | U.S. Senior Open | −13 (69-69-69-68=275) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
U.S. national team appearances
[edit]- Professional
References
[edit]- ^ "Padraig Harrington, LPGA founders join '24 Golf Hall of Fame class". ESPN. Associated Press. March 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Kelley, Brent. "Tom Weiskopf bio". About.com. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
- ^ "1973 Tom Weiskopf". The Open. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Weiskopf". Golf Major Championships. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
- ^ Diaz, Jaime (July 10, 1995). "Free at last". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ a b Hall, Mike (August 21, 2022). "Report: 1973 Open Champion Tom Weiskopf Dies Aged 79". Golf Monthly. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (August 21, 2022). "Tom Weiskopf, major champion and golf course architect, dies". Associated Press. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Holland, David R. "Course Design: Tom Weiskopf Excels at New Job Title". World Golf. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
- ^ "Tom Weiskopf to lead multi-million dollar reno of Torrey Pines North". Golf Course Architecture.
- ^ "Golf Overview". Catamount Ranch & Club.
- ^ "Golf — Forest Highlands". www.fhgc.com. August 23, 2021.
- ^ "Golf". Lahontan Golf Club.
- ^ "Shanty Creek, Michigan, Ski Schuss Mountain, Golf The Legend". Archived from the original on February 29, 2000.
- ^ "Golf". Black Desert Resort. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Tom Weiskopf at the PGA Tour official site
- Tom Weiskopf at the European Tour official site
- Profile on sporting-heroes.net
- Profile on golfweb.com
- A 285-acre Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course
- American male golfers
- Ohio State Buckeyes men's golfers
- PGA Tour golfers
- PGA Tour Champions golfers
- Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
- Winners of men's major golf championships
- Winners of senior major golf championships
- Golf commentators
- Golf course architects
- Golfers from Ohio
- Sportspeople from Massillon, Ohio
- Deaths from pancreatic cancer in the United States
- Deaths from cancer in Montana
- 1942 births
- 2022 deaths