Tom Weiskopf

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Tom Weiskopf
Personal information
Full nameThomas Daniel Weiskopf
Born(1942-11-09)November 9, 1942
Massillon, Ohio, U.S.
DiedAugust 20, 2022(2022-08-20) (aged 79)
Big Sky, Montana, U.S.
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Sporting nationality United States
SpouseLaurie
Career
CollegeOhio State University
Turned professional1964
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Senior PGA Tour
Professional wins28
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour16
European Tour2
Sunshine Tour1
PGA Tour Champions4
Other6
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters TournamentT2: 1969, 1972, 1974, 1975
PGA Championship3rd: 1975
U.S. OpenT2: 1976
The Open ChampionshipWon: 1973
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame2023

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]

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:

Amateur wins[edit]

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 United States Al Geiberger
2 Jul 7, 1968 Buick Open Invitational −8 (73-67-71-69=280) 1 stroke United States Mike Hill
3 Jun 13, 1971 Kemper Open −11 (66-72-70-69=277) Playoff United States Dale Douglass, South Africa Gary Player,
United States Lee Trevino
4 Aug 22, 1971 IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic −14 (67-71-66-70=274) 1 stroke United States Dave Hill
5 Feb 27, 1972 Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic −10 (69-72-69-68=278) 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
6 May 13, 1973 Colonial National Invitation −4 (69-68-70-69=276) 1 stroke Australia Bruce Crampton, United States Jerry Heard
7 Jun 3, 1973 Kemper Open (2) −17 (65-70-68-68=271) 3 strokes United States Lanny Wadkins
8 Jun 10, 1973 IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic (2) −14 (67-71-65-71=274) 4 strokes United States Jim Barber
9 Jul 14, 1973 The Open Championship −12 (68-67-71-70=276) 3 strokes England Neil Coles, United States Johnny Miller
10 Jul 29, 1973 Canadian Open −10 (67-73-68-70=278) 2 strokes United States Forrest Fezler
11 Apr 6, 1975 Greater Greensboro Open −9 (64-71-72-68=275) 3 strokes United States Al Geiberger
12 Jul 27, 1975 Canadian Open (2) −6 (65-74-68-67=274) Playoff United States Jack Nicklaus
13 Jun 5, 1977 Kemper Open (3) −11 (67-71-69-70=277) 2 strokes United States George Burns, United States Bill Rogers
14 Mar 12, 1978 Doral-Eastern Open −16 (67-70-67-68=272) 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
15 Sep 20, 1981 LaJet Classic −10 (73-67-70-68=278) 2 strokes United States Gil Morgan
16 Jul 4, 1982 Western Open −12 (69-67-70-70=276) 1 stroke United States Larry Nelson

PGA Tour playoff record (2–3)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1966 Greater Greensboro Open United States Doug Sanders Lost to par on second extra hole
2 1969 Greater Greensboro Open United States Julius Boros, United States Gene Littler
United States Orville Moody 		Littler won with birdie on fifth extra hole
Weiskopf eliminated by par on first hole
3 1971 Kemper Open United States Dale Douglass, South Africa Gary Player,
United States Lee Trevino 		Won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1975 Canadian Open United States Jack Nicklaus Won with birdie on first extra hole
5 1979 Southern Open United States 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 England Neil Coles, United States Johnny Miller
2 Aug 23, 1981 Benson & Hedges International Open −16 (66-69-68-69=272) 1 stroke Republic of Ireland Eamonn Darcy, West Germany 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 South Africa 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 Colombia 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 United States David Lawrence
2 Oct 14, 1972 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship 4 and 3 United States Lee Trevino
3 Sep 9, 1973 World Series of Golf −3 (71-66=137) 3 strokes United States Johnny Miller, United States Jack Nicklaus
4 Sep 13, 1982 Jerry Ford Invitational −6 (66-70=136) 3 strokes United States Tom Purtzer, United States Fuzzy Zoeller
5 Feb 28, 1993 Chrysler Cup Individual Trophy −14 (66-67-69=202) 4 strokes United States 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 United States Dave Stockton
2 Jul 2, 1995 U.S. Senior Open −13 (69-69-69-68=275) 4 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
3 Mar 31, 1996 SBC Dominion Seniors −9 (69-69-69=207) 2 strokes United States Bob Dickson, Australia Graham Marsh,
South Africa Gary Player
4 Jun 9, 1996 Pittsburgh Senior Classic −11 (68-67-70=205) 3 strokes Scotland Brian Barnes, United States J. C. Snead

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 1994 Franklin Quest Championship United States 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 England Neil Coles United States 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
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

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 United States Jack Nicklaus

U.S. national team appearances[edit]

Professional

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Padraig Harrington, LPGA founders join '24 Golf Hall of Fame class". ESPN. Associated Press. March 9, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kelley, Brent. "Tom Weiskopf bio". About.com. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  3. ^ "1973 Tom Weiskopf". The Open. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  4. ^ "Tom Weiskopf". Golf Major Championships. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  5. ^ Diaz, Jaime (July 10, 1995). "Free at last". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Hall, Mike (August 21, 2022). "Report: 1973 Open Champion Tom Weiskopf Dies Aged 79". Golf Monthly. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Ferguson, Doug (August 21, 2022). "Tom Weiskopf, major champion and golf course architect, dies". Associated Press. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Holland, David R. "Course Design: Tom Weiskopf Excels at New Job Title". World Golf. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  9. ^ "Tom Weiskopf to lead multi-million dollar reno of Torrey Pines North". Golf Course Architecture.
  10. ^ "Golf Overview". Catamount Ranch & Club.
  11. ^ "Golf — Forest Highlands". www.fhgc.com. August 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "Golf". Lahontan Golf Club.
  13. ^ "Shanty Creek, Michigan, Ski Schuss Mountain, Golf The Legend". Archived from the original on February 29, 2000.
  14. ^ "Golf". Black Desert Resort. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

External links[edit]

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