Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Tom Watson

Golfer Tom Watson
Mitch Gunn / Shutterstock.com

Profession: Golfer

Nationality:
United States of America
American

Biography: One of the leading players in the world in the 1970s and 1980s.

Born: September 4, 1949
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Age: 74 years old

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Virgo

Historical Events

  • 1975-07-12 British Open Men's Golf, Carnoustie: American Tom Watson wins 18-hole playoff by 1 stroke over Jack Newton of Australia; first of 8 major titles; first of 5 Open Championships
  • 1977-04-10 41st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tom Watson wins the first of his 2 green jackets, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Jack Nicklaus
  • 1977-07-09 British Open Men's Golf, Turnberry: Tom Watson wins second of 5 Open titles by a stroke from Jack Nicklaus; pair play together in final 2 rounds; separate themselves from field under rare clear skies, remembered as the "Duel in the Sun"
  • 1978-04-09 42nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: 42-year-old Gary Player shoots a record-tying final round 64 (−8) to win by 1 stroke from Rod Funseth, Tom Watson and Hubert Green
  • 1978-08-06 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Oakmont CC: John Mahaffey recovers from 7 down with 14 to play to force playoff; beats Tom Watson & Jerry Pate on 2nd hole
  • 1979-03-25 PGA Tournament Players Championship, Sawgrass CC: Lanny Wadkins wins in windy conditions, 5 strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Watson
  • 1979-04-15 43rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Fuzzy Zoeller wins his only Masters with a birdie on the 2nd hole of a playoff with Ed Sneed and Tom Watson
  • 1980-07-20 British Open Men's Golf, Muirfield: Tom Watson wins his 3rd of 5 Open titles, by 4 strokes from fellow American Lee Trevino
  • 1981-04-12 45th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tom Watson wins his second green jacket and 5th major title by 2 strokes over Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller
  • 1982-06-20 US Open Men's Golf, Pebble Beach GL: Tom Watson wins his only US Open by 2 strokes from Jack Nicklaus
  • 1982-07-18 British Open Men's Golf, Royal Troon: American Tom Watson wins his 4th Open Championship, 1 stroke clear of Peter Oosterhuis and Nick Price
  • 1983-06-20 US Open Men's Golf, Oakmont CC: Larry Nelson wins by 1 shot from Tom Watson in a storm affected Monday finish
  • 1983-07-17 British Open Men's Golf, Royal Birkdale GC: Defending champion Tom Watson wins his 5th Open Championship, 1 stroke clear of Andy Bean and Hale Irwin; Watson's 2nd consecutive Open win and 3rd in last 4
  • 1983-10-16 Ryder Cup Golf, PGA National GC: US wins 14½-13½; Bernard Gallacher's missed 3-foot putt for bogey gives Tom Watson 2 & 1 win and the US winning point
  • 1984-04-15 48th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Crenshaw wins the first of his 2 green jackets, 2 strokes ahead of 1977 & 1981 champion Tom Watson
  • 1984-07-22 British Open Men's Golf, St Andrews: Seve Ballesteros of Spain wins his 2nd of 3 Open titles by 2 shots from Bernhard Langer & Tom Watson
  • 1987-06-21 US Open Men's Golf, Olympic Club: Scott Simpson passes and holds off 1982 champion Tom Watson on the Lake Course to win his only major title by 1 stroke
  • 1992-03-29 PGA Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass: Davis Love III wins by 4 strokes ahead of runners-up Ian Baker-Finch, Phil Blackmar, Nick Faldo, and Tom Watson.
  • 2000-04-02 The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, GC at Desert Mountain: Tom Kite wins his lone Champions Tour major with birdie on 6th playoff hole with Tom Watson & Larry Nelson
  • 2001-05-27 Senior PGA Championship, Ridgewood CC, NJ: 5-time British Open champion Tom Watson wins first of 6 Champions Tour major titles with a 1 stroke win over Jim Thorpe
  • 2002-06-30 US Senior Open Men's Golf, Caves Valley GC: Don Pooley wins by 1 stroke in a playoff with Tom Watson
  • 2003-06-29 US Senior Open Men's Golf, Inverness Club: Bruce Lietzke wins by 2 strokes from Tom Watson
  • 2003-07-13 Senior Players Championship Men's Golf, TPC of Michigan: Craig Stadler wins his first of 2 Champions Tour major titles by 3 strokes from Tom Kite, Jim Thorpe and Tom Watson
  • 2003-07-27 British Senior Open Men's Golf, Turnberry: American Tom Watson wins in a playoff with Carl Mason of England
  • 2003-08-31 The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, Reserve Vineyards & GC: Tom Watson wins his third of 6 Champions Tour majors by 1 stroke from Jim Ahern & Tom Kite
  • 2005-07-24 British Senior Open Men's Golf, Royal Aberdeen: Tom Watson wins his second Open Senior title in a playoff with Ireland's Des Smyth
  • 2006-07-09 US Senior Open Men's Golf, Prairie Dunes GC: Defending champion Allen Doyle wins by 2 strokes ahead of Tom Watson for his 4th Champions Tour major title
  • 2007-07-29 British Senior Open Men's Golf, Muirfield: Tom Watson wins his 3rd Open Senior title by 1 shot from Mark O'Meara and Stewart Ginn
  • 2007-10-07 Senior Players Championship Men's Golf, Baltimore CC: Loren Roberts wins his third of 4 Champions Tour major titles by 6 strokes from Tom Watson
  • 2009-07-19 British Open Men's Golf, Turnberry: American Stewart Cink wins his only major championship by 6 strokes in a 4-hole playoff with 5-time champion Tom Watson
  • 2009-10-04 Senior Players Championship Men's Golf, Baltimore CC: Jay Haas wins his third and final Champions Tour major title by 1 stroke from Tom Watson
  • 2011-05-29 Senior PGA Championship, Valhalla GC: Tom Watson wins his 6th and final Champions Tour major title with a birdie on the first playoff hole against David Eger
  • 2014-05-25 Senior PGA Championship, GC at Shore Harbor: Colin Montgomerie of Scotland wins first of 3 Champions Tour majors by 4 strokes from Tom Watson

Famous Golfers