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Peter Thomson
AO CBE
Thomson in Tasmania
Personal information
Full name Peter William Thomson
Nickname The Melbourne Tiger
Born (1929-08-23)23 August 1929
Brunswick, Victoria, Australia
Died 20 June 2018(2018-06-20) (aged 88)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Nationality  Australia
Spouse Lois Brauer (m. 1952)
Mary Kelly (m. 1960)
Children Deirdre, Andrew, Peta-Ann, Fiona
Career
Turned professional 1949
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
European Tour
Australasian Tour
Senior PGA Tour
Professional wins 98
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour 6
European Tour 1
Japan Golf Tour 1
PGA Tour of Australasia 1
Champions Tour 11
Other 46 (Australia/New Zealand)
28 (Europe)
10 (Asia/Japan)
1 (other regular)
1 (other senior)
Best results in Major Championships
(Wins: 5)
The Masters Tournament 5th: 1957
U.S. Open T4: 1956
The Open Championship Won: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965
PGA Championship DNP
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 1988
Arnold Palmer Award
(Champions Tour)		 1986

Peter William Thomson AO, CBE (23 August 1929 – 20 June 2018) was an Australian professional golfer. He won the Open Championship five times between 1954 and 1965. Thomson is the only golfer in the modern era to win a major three times in succession – The Open in 1954, 1955 and 1956.

Life

Thomson was born in Brunswick, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. His Open Championship wins came in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965. He was the only man to win the tournament for three consecutive years in the 20th century.

Thomson was a prolific tournament champion around the world, winning the national championships of ten countries, including the New Zealand Open nine times. He competed on the PGA Tour in 1953 and 1954 with relatively little success (finishing 44th and 25th on the money list), and after that was an infrequent competitor. However, in 1956, playing in just eight events, he won the rich Texas International Open, and achieved his best finish in one of the three majors staged in the United States (fourth at the U.S. Open), to finish ninth on the money list.

In the era that Thomson won his first four Open Championships, few of the leading professionals from the United States travelled to Britain to play in that event. At that time, the prize money in the Open was insufficient for an American to cover their expenses. However, Thomson demonstrated with his win in 1965 that he could beat a field of the world's best players, as that victory came against a field that included Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tony Lema, three of the top four American golfers from the 1964 money list.

Thomson enjoyed a successful senior career. In 1985 he won nine times on the Senior PGA Tour in the United States, and finished top of the money list. His last tournament victory came at the 1988 British PGA Seniors Championship. He was president of the Australian PGA from 1962 to 1994 and a victorious non-playing captain of the international team in the 1998 Presidents Cup.

He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.

Thomson was active as a golf writer, contributing to The Age of Melbourne for some 50 years from the early 1950s. His local club was Victoria Golf Club. He was an honorary member of Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Thomson designed over a hundred golf courses in Australia and around the world.

Death

Thomson died in Melbourne on 20 June 2018 after a four-year battle with Parkinson's disease, at the age of 88.

Amateur wins

  • 1947 Australasian Foursomes Shield (with Dick Payne)
  • 1948 Victorian Amateur Championship

Professional wins (98)

PGA Tour wins (6)

Legend
Major championships (5)
Other PGA Tour (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 9 Jul 1954 The Open Championship −9 (72-71-69-71=283) 1 stroke South Africa Bobby Locke, Wales Dai Rees,
England Syd Scott
2 8 Jul 1955 The Open Championship (2) −7 (71-68-70-72=281) 2 strokes Scotland John Fallon
3 4 Jun 1956 Texas International Open −13 (67-68-69-63=267) Playoff United States Gene Littler, United States Cary Middlecoff
4 6 Jul 1956 The Open Championship (3) +2 (70-70-72-74=286) 3 strokes Belgium Flory Van Donck
5 5 Jul 1958 The Open Championship (4) −6 (66-72-67-73=278) Playoff Wales Dave Thomas
6 9 Jul 1965 The Open Championship (5) −3 (74-68-72-71=285) 2 strokes Wales Brian Huggett, Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Snr

PGA Tour playoff record (2–0)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1956 Texas International Open United States Gene Littler, United States Cary Middlecoff Won with birdie on second extra hole
2 1958 The Open Championship Wales Dave Thomas Won 36-hole playoff;
Thomson: −3 (68-71=139),
Thomas: +1 (69-74=143)

European Tour wins (1)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 23 Sep 1972 W.D. & H.O. Wills Tournament −14 (71-69-66-64=270) 3 strokes England Peter Butler

Japan Golf Tour wins (1)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runners-up
1 23 May 1976 Pepsi-Wilson Tournament −5 (71-72-68=211)* Playoff Australia Brian Jones, Australia Graham Marsh,
Japan Shozo Miyamoto

*Note: The 1976 Pepsi-Wilson Tournament was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

Japan Golf Tour playoff record (1–0)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 1976 Pepsi-Wilson Tournament Australia Brian Jones, Australia Graham Marsh,
Japan Shozo Miyamoto		 Won with par on fourteenth extra hole
Jones eliminated by par on fourth hole
Miyamoto eliminated by par on first hole

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runners-up
1 11 Feb 1973 Victorian Open −4 (71-73-73-67=284) 2 strokes Australia Stewart Ginn, Australia Bob Tuohy

Other European wins (28)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 9 Jul 1954 The Open Championship 72-71-69-71=283 1 stroke South Africa Bobby Locke, Wales Dai Rees,
England Syd Scott
2 2 Oct 1954 News of the World Match Play 38 holes Scotland John Fallon
3 8 Jul 1955 The Open Championship 71-68-70-72=281 2 strokes Scotland John Fallon
4 6 Jul 1956 The Open Championship 70-70-72-74=286 3 strokes Belgium Flory Van Donck
5 21 Jun 1957 Yorkshire Evening News Tournament 65-67-64-68=264 15 strokes Republic of Ireland Harry Bradshaw
6 9 May 1958 Dunlop Tournament 70-69-71-71-67=348 3 strokes South Africa Harold Henning
7 14 Jun 1958 Daks Tournament 70-67-69-69=275 Tie South Africa Harold Henning
8 5 Jul 1958 The Open Championship 33-72-67-73=278 Playoff Wales Dave Thomas
9 11 Oct 1959 Italian Open 69-67-68-65=269 1 stroke Italy Alfonso Angelini
10 17 Oct 1959 Spanish Open 71-73-72-70=286 2 strokes France Jean Garaïalde, England Syd Scott
11 11 Jun 1960 Daks Tournament 74-66-67-72=279 2 strokes Scotland Tom Haliburton, England Jimmy Hitchcock
12 17 Jun 1960 Yorkshire Evening News Tournament 70-66-65-67=268 5 strokes England Bernard Hunt
13 20 Jun 1960 Bowmaker Tournament 67-65=132 1 stroke England Bernard Hunt
14 24 Jul 1960 German Open 71-67-72-71=281 2 strokes Argentina Roberto De Vicenzo, France Jean Garaïalde
15 23 Jun 1961 Yorkshire Evening News Tournament 70-69-70-73=262 1 stroke Wales Dai Rees
16 26 Aug 1961 Esso Golden Tournament 21 points Tie Wales Dave Thomas
17 9 Sep 1961 News of the World Match Play 3 & 1 England Ralph Moffitt
18 16 Sep 1961 Dunlop Masters 70-71-72-71=284 8 strokes Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Snr
19 5 May 1962 Martini International 66-69-72-68=275 4 strokes Scotland Eric Brown
20 20 May 1962 Piccadilly No. 1 Tournament 72-69-73-69=283 3 strokes Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Snr
21 5 Jun 1965 Daks Tournament 70-71-68-66=275 4 strokes England Guy Wolstenholme
22 9 Jul 1965 The Open Championship 74-68-72-71=285 2 strokes Wales Brian Huggett, Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Snr
23 10 Sep 1966 News of the World Match Play 2 & 1 England Neil Coles
24 22 Jul 1967 Esso Golden Tournament 20 points Tie Australia Kel Nagle
25 10 Sep 1967 News of the World Match Play 4 & 3 Wales Dai Rees
26 8 Oct 1967 Alcan International 69-71-73-68=281 5 strokes England Tony Grubb
27 14 Sep 1968 Dunlop Masters 66-69-73-66=274 5 strokes Wales Dave Thomas
28 13 Jun 1970 Martini International 65-68-68-67=268 Tie England Doug Sewell

Other Australia and New Zealand wins (45)

  • 1949 Victorian Close Championship
  • 1950 New Zealand Open
  • 1951 Australian Open, New Zealand Open, Victorian Close Championship
  • 1952 Victorian PGA Championship, Mobilco Tournament
  • 1953 New Zealand Open, New Zealand PGA Championship, Victorian PGA Championship
  • 1954 Ampol Tournament (Nov)
  • 1955 Wiseman's Tournament, New Zealand Open, Caltex Tournament, Pelaco Tournament, Speedo Tournament
  • 1956 Pelaco Tournament
  • 1958 Victorian Open, Pelaco Tournament
  • 1959 New Zealand Open, Pelaco Tournament, Coles Tournament, Caltex Tournament
  • 1960 New Zealand Open, Wills Classic
  • 1961 New Zealand Open, Adelaide Advertiser Tournament, New South Wales Open
  • 1963 Lakes Open, Metalcraft Tournament (tie with Ted Ball)
  • 1964 Forest Products Tournament
  • 1965 New Zealand Open, Metalcraft Tournament, Caltex Tournament, BP Tournament (tie with Kel Nagle)
  • 1966 New Zealand Wills Masters (tie with Tim Woolbank), Caltex Tournament (tie with Kel Nagle)
  • 1967 Caltex Tournament (tie with Bob Charles), Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open
  • 1968 South Australian Open, Victorian Open, Sax Altman Tournament (tie with Guy Wolstenholme)
  • 1971 New Zealand Open
  • 1972 Australian Open

Asia Golf Circuit wins (5)

  • 1962 Yomiuri International
  • 1964 Philippine Open
  • 1965 Hong Kong Open
  • 1967 Hong Kong Open
  • 1976 Indian Open

Other Japan wins (5)

  • 1969 Chunichi Crowns
  • 1971 Dunlop Tournament, Wizard Tournament
  • 1972 Chunichi Crowns, Pepsi Tournament

Other wins (4)

  • 1952 Mills Round Robin (South Africa)
  • 1960 Hong Kong Open
  • 1964 Indian Open
  • 1966 Indian Open

Senior PGA Tour wins (11)

Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other Senior PGA Tour (10)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 16 Sep 1984 World Seniors Invitational −7 (69-69-69-74=281) 1 stroke United States Arnold Palmer
2 9 Dec 1984 General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship −2 (67-73-74-72=286) 3 strokes United States Don January
3 17 Mar 1985 The Vintage Invitational −7 (69-73-69-69=280) 1 stroke United States Billy Casper, United States Arnold Palmer
4 31 Mar 1985 American Golf Carta Blanca Johnny Mathis Classic −11 (70-64-71=205) 1 stroke United States Don January
5 5 May 1985 MONY Senior Tournament of Champions −4 (70-70-71-73=284) 3 strokes United States Don January, United States Dan Sikes
6 9 Jun 1985 The Champions Classic −6 (68-72-70=210) 2 strokes United States Billy Casper, United States Jim Ferree
7 16 Jun 1985 Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am −14 (68-66-68=202) 2 strokes United States Lee Elder
8 21 Jul 1985 MONY Syracuse Senior's Classic −9 (70-64-70=203) 2 strokes United States Miller Barber, United States Gene Littler
9 18 Aug 1985 du Maurier Champions −13 (64-70-69=203) 1 stroke United States Ben Smith
10 15 Sep 1985 United Virginia Bank Seniors −9 (69-69-69=207) 4 strokes United States George Lanning
11 20 Oct 1985 Barnett Suntree Senior Classic −9 (70-68-69=207) 1 stroke United States Charlie Sifford

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 1985 Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am United States Lee Elder Lost to eagle on first extra hole

Other senior wins (1)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 26 Jun 1988 Trusthouse Forte PGA Seniors Championship +7 (78-67-72-70=287) 2 strokes South Africa Denis Hutchinson

Major championships

Wins (5)

Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner(s)-up
1954 The Open Championship Tied for lead −9 (72-71-69-71=283) 1 stroke South Africa Bobby Locke, Wales Dai Rees,
England Syd Scott
1955 The Open Championship (2) 1 shot lead −7 (71-68-70-72=281) 2 strokes Scotland John Fallon
1956 The Open Championship (3) 3 shot lead −2 (70-70-72-74=286) 3 strokes Belgium Flory Van Donck
1958 The Open Championship (4) 2 shot lead −6 (66-72-67-73=278) Playoff1 Wales Dave Thomas
1965 The Open Championship (5) 1 shot lead −7 (74-68-72-71=285) 2 strokes Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Snr, Wales Brian Huggett

1Defeated Dave Thomas in 36-hole playoff; Thomson (139), Thomas (143)

Results timeline

Tournament 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T36 T16 T18 5 T23 DQ
U.S. Open T26 CUT T4 T22
The Open Championship T6 2 T2 1 1 1 2 1 T23
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament T19 CUT
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship T9 7 T6 5 T24 1 T8 T8 T24 T3
Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship T9 T9 T31 T31 CUT CUT CUT T13 T24 T26
Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT

Note: Thomson never played in the PGA Championship.      Win      Top 10      Did not play CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1975 and 1984 Open Championships)
DQ = disqualified
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 0 1 1 5 8 6
U.S. Open 0 0 0 1 1 2 5 3
The Open Championship 5 3 1 10 18 23 30 26
PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 5 3 1 12 20 30 43 35
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1954 Open Championship – 1958 Open Championship)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (1955 Open Championship – 1957 Masters)

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (1)

Year Championship Winning score Margin Runner-up
1984a General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship −2 (67-73-74-72=286) 3 strokes United States Don January

a This was the December edition of the tournament.

Team appearances

Amateur

  • Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Victoria): 1948 (winners)

Professional

  • World Cup (representing Australia): 1953, 1954 (winners), 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 (winners), 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1969
  • Lakes International Cup (representing Australia): 1952
  • Slazenger Trophy (representing British Commonwealth and Empire): 1956
  • Presidents Cup (representing International): 1996 (non-playing captain), 1998 (non-playing captain, winners), 2000 (non-playing captain)
  • Hopkins Trophy (representing Canada): 1952
  • Vicars Shield (representing Victoria): 1951 (winners), 1952 (winners), 1953 (winners)

Honours

  • 1955 – ABC Sportsman of the Year
  • 1 January 1957 – Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his services to Australia in the sporting and international sphere.
  • 31 December 1979 – Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for service to the sport of golf
  • 10 December 1985 – inaugural member of Sport Australia Hall of Fame
  • 1988 – elected to World Golf Hall of Fame
  • 1997 – the inaugural Peter Thomson Trophy, an annual contested between the eight Melbourne Sandbelt golf clubs
  • 1 January 2001 – Awarded the Centenary Medal
  • 2001 – elevated to Legend in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
  • 11 June 2001 – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
  • 2011 – Victorian Golf Industry Hall of Fame 2
  • 2016 – inducted as inaugural Immortal of the PGA of Australia

See also

  • List of golfers with most PGA Tour Champions wins
  • List of golfers with most wins in one PGA Tour event
  • List of men's major championships winning golfers
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