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.
Early life Weiskopf was born in Massillon, Ohio. He attended Benedictine High School in Cleveland and Ohio State University, where he played on the golf team.
Professional career In 1964, Weiskopf turned professional. Weiskopf's first win on the PGA Tour came at the 1968 Andy 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, including The Open Championship at Royal Troon, 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.
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.
Weiskopf's swing was admired in the golf world. He hit the ball, generated power and had good control as well. Weiskopf's height and displays of his temper on the golf course earned him the nickname of "The Towering Inferno".
Later career He also worked as a broadcaster for CBS Sports 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.
Weiskopf joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1993 and won several senior tournaments, including one senior major: the 1995 U.S. Senior Open.
Weiskopf got into golf course design working initially with Jay Morrish but later established his own practice. 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; and Loch Lomond, the venue of the Scottish Open from 1995 to 2010. 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. In January 2016, it was announced that Weiskopf would lead a renovation of the Torrey Pines North Course in San Diego, California.
Personal life In 2020, Weiskopf was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died at his home in Big Sky, Montana on August 20, 2022, aged 79. His death was first announced by fellow golfer Tom Watson, who extended his condolences to the Weiskopf family in a tweet.
Awards and honors He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2023 and was inducted on June 10, 2024.
Amateur wins 1963 Western Amateur
Professional wins (28) PGA Tour wins (16) Legend Major championships (1) Other PGA Tour (15) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Feb 11, 1968Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational−15 (66-68-71-68=273)1 stroke Al Geiberger2Jul 7, 1968Buick Open Invitational−8 (73-67-71-69=280)1 stroke Mike Hill3Jun 13, 1971Kemper Open−11 (66-72-70-69=277)Playoff Dale Douglass, Gary Player, Lee Trevino4Aug 22, 1971IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic −14 (67-71-66-70=274)1 stroke Dave Hill5Feb 27, 1972Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic−10 (69-72-69-68=278)1 stroke Jack Nicklaus6May 13, 1973Colonial National Invitation−4 (69-68-70-69=276)1 stroke Bruce Crampton, Jerry Heard7Jun 3, 1973Kemper Open (2)−17 (65-70-68-68=271)3 strokes Lanny Wadkins8Jun 10, 1973IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic (2)−14 (67-71-65-71=274)4 strokes Jim Barber9Jul 14, 1973The Open Championship−12 (68-67-71-70=276)3 strokes Neil Coles, Johnny Miller10Jul 29, 1973Canadian Open−10 (67-73-68-70=278)2 strokes Forrest Fezler11Apr 6, 1975Greater Greensboro Open−9 (64-71-72-68=275)3 strokes Al Geiberger12Jul 27, 1975Canadian Open (2)−6 (65-74-68-67=274)Playoff Jack Nicklaus13Jun 5, 1977Kemper Open (3)−11 (67-71-69-70=277)2 strokes George Burns, Bill Rogers14Mar 12, 1978Doral-Eastern Open−16 (67-70-67-68=272)1 stroke Jack Nicklaus15Sep 20, 1981LaJet Classic−10 (73-67-70-68=278)2 strokes Gil Morgan16Jul 4, 1982Western Open−12 (69-67-70-70=276)1 stroke Larry Nelson
PGA Tour playoff record (2–3) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11966Greater Greensboro Open Doug SandersLost to par on second extra hole 21969Greater Greensboro Open Julius Boros, Gene Littler Orville MoodyLittler won with birdie on fifth extra holeWeiskopf eliminated by par on first hole31971Kemper Open Dale Douglass, Gary Player, Lee TrevinoWon with birdie on first extra hole41975 Canadian Open Jack NicklausWon with birdie on first extra hole51979 Southern Open Ed FioriLost to birdie on second extra hole
European Tour wins (2) Legend Major championships (1) Other European Tour (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jul 14, 1973The Open Championship−12 (68-67-71-70=276)3 strokes Neil Coles, Johnny Miller2Aug 23, 1981Benson & Hedges International Open−16 (66-69-68-69=272)1 stroke Eamonn Darcy, Bernhard Langer
Southern Africa Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Dec 1, 1973Luyt Lager PGA Championship−7 (70-69-67-67=273)3 strokes Vin Baker
South American Golf Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Nov 18, 1979Argentine Open +5 (71-72-76-70=289)3 strokes Alberto Rivadeneira
Other wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Sep 29, 1965Ohio Open−7 (70-71-70-70=281)9 strokes David Lawrence2Oct 14, 1972Piccadilly World Match Play Championship4 and 3 Lee Trevino3Sep 9, 1973World Series of Golf−3 (71-66=137)3 strokes Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus4Sep 13, 1982Jerry Ford Invitational−6 (66-70=136)3 strokes Tom Purtzer, Fuzzy Zoeller5Feb 28, 1993Chrysler Cup Individual Trophy−14 (66-67-69=202)4 strokes George Archer
Senior PGA Tour wins (4) Legend Senior major championships (1) Other Senior PGA Tour (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Aug 28, 1994 Franklin Quest Championship−12 (68-67-69=204)Playoff Dave Stockton2Jul 2, 1995U.S. Senior Open−13 (69-69-69-68=275)4 strokes Jack Nicklaus3Mar 31, 1996SBC Dominion Seniors−9 (69-69-69=207)2 strokes Bob Dickson, Graham Marsh, Gary Player4Jun 9, 1996Pittsburgh Senior Classic−11 (68-67-70=205)3 strokes Brian Barnes, J. C. Snead
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11994Franklin Quest Championship Dave StocktonWon with birdie on first extra hole
Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1973 The Open Championship 1 shot lead −12 (68-67-71-70=276) 3 strokes Neil Coles Johnny Miller
Results timeline Tournament19651966196719681969Masters TournamentT16T2U.S. OpenT4015T24T22The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT72CUTT44
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentT23T6T2T34T2T2T9T14T11T41U.S. OpenT30CUT83T15T29T23T4T4The Open ChampionshipT22T40T71T715T17T22T17CUTPGA ChampionshipCUTT22T62T6WD3T8T58T4CUT
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentCUTT10T20T35U.S. Open37T39T24The Open ChampionshipT16CUTT45CUTPGA ChampionshipT10T27CUTT30CUT
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTT101CUTCUTPGA Championship
Tournament20002001200220032004Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA Championship
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1982 Open Championship) WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 4 0 4 7 12 16 15U.S. Open 0 1 2 5 6 11 18 16The Open Championship 1 0 0 1 3 9 19 12PGA Championship 0 0 1 2 5 6 18 12Totals 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 Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up 1995 U.S. Senior Open −13 (69-69-69-68=275) 4 strokes Jack Nicklaus
U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1973 (winners), 1975 (winners) World Cup: 1972
References
External links
Profile on sporting-heroes.net
A 285-acre Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course