Summary
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 will be inducted in 2024.[1]
| Tom Weiskopf | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Thomas Daniel Weiskopf | ||
| Born | November 9, 1942 Massillon, Ohio, U.S. | ||
| Died | August 20, 2022 (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 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 | |||
| |||
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 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 golf analyst for CBS Sports[2] covering the 1981 and 1985–1995 Masters Tournament. After 2008, he contributed to ABC's and ESPN's coverage of The Open Championship.[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 |  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 Littler Orville 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 |
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 | Neil Coles, Johnny Miller
|
| 2 | Aug 23, 1981 | Benson & Hedges International Open | −16 (66-69-68-69=272) | 1 stroke |  Eamonn Darcy,  Bernhard Langer
|
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 | Vin Baker
|
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 |  Alberto Rivadeneira
|
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 | 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
|
Senior PGA Tour wins (4) edit
| 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 |
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 | Neil Coles Johnny Miller
|
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 | Jack Nicklaus
|
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. 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
