Jack Newton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack Newton |
|
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | 30 January 1950 Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 15 April 2022 (aged 72) |
| Nationality |  Australia |
| Spouse | Jackie |
| Children | 2 |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1969 |
| Retired | 1983 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour of Australasia European Tour PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 13 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 1 |
| European Tour | 3 |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 3 |
| Other | 6 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters Tournament | T2: 1980 |
| U.S. Open | T32: 1980 |
| The Open Championship | 2nd: 1975 |
| PGA Championship | T20: 1980 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| PGA Tour of Australia Order of Merit winner |
1979 |
Jack Newton OAM (born January 30, 1950 – died April 15, 2022) was a famous Australian professional golfer. He won many big golf tournaments around the world. These included the Buick-Goodwrench Open in the USA and three events on the European Tour. He also won the Australian Open in 1979. Jack was very close to winning two major championships. He finished second in the 1975 Open Championship and the 1980 Masters Tournament.
Sadly, in 1983, Jack had a terrible accident. He walked into a spinning airplane propeller. This caused him to lose his right arm and an eye.
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Jack's Golf Career
Jack Newton was born in Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia. He became a professional golfer in 1969. He was one of Australia's best golfers in the 1970s and early 1980s.
In 1972, he won the Dutch Open and the Benson & Hedges Festival of Golf. In 1974, he won the Benson & Hedges Match Play Championship. Jack also won the Buick-Goodwrench Open on the PGA Tour in 1978. In Australia, he won the New South Wales Open twice (1976 and 1979). He also won the Australian Open Championship in 1979.
Close Calls in Major Tournaments
At the 1975 Open Championship in Scotland, Jack Newton played against Tom Watson. Jack had hurt his ankle before the tournament. Even with the injury, he set a course record of 65 in the third round. In the final round, Jack was leading. But he made some mistakes on the last few holes. Tom Watson then made a long putt to tie Jack.
They had an 18-hole playoff the next day. Tom Watson won by just one stroke. Jack later said that a key moment was when Watson made an amazing shot for an eagle on the 14th hole.
In 1979, Jack won the PGA Tour of Australia's top player award. He also finished tied for second place at the 1980 Masters Tournament. He was four strokes behind the winner, Seve Ballesteros.
The Propeller Accident
On July 24, 1983, when Jack Newton was at the peak of his golf career, he had a very serious accident. He was getting off a Cessna airplane at Sydney Airport. He accidentally walked into the spinning propeller.
This terrible accident caused him to lose his right arm and one eye. He also had severe injuries to his stomach area. It was raining heavily at the time, and there were also some safety issues near the plane.
Right after the accident, doctors thought Jack only had a 50/50 chance of living. He was in a coma for several days and spent eight weeks in intensive care.
Life After the Accident
After a long time recovering, Jack Newton returned to public life. He became a golf commentator for TV and radio. He also wrote for newspapers and designed golf courses. He was a public speaker and led the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
He taught himself how to play golf again using only one hand. He would swing the club with his left hand while standing in a right-handed way. He could usually score in the mid-80s, which is very good for one-handed golf!
In 2003, Jack was diagnosed with a serious illness called meningococcal meningitis. He was quickly taken to the hospital.
Jack's Family and Awards
Jack Newton married his wife, Jackie, in 1974. They had two children, Kristie and Clint. Their son, Clint Newton, became a professional rugby league player. Their daughter, Kristie, also became a professional golfer.
In 2007, Jack was given the Medal of the Order of Australia. This award recognized his great work for golf, especially in helping young golfers and raising money. On October 13, 2016, he was added to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. This was for his important role in helping young golfers develop their skills.
Jack Newton passed away on April 15, 2022, at the age of 72. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2020, and his health got worse.
