Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tom Watson (golfer)

How Tom Watson (golfer) built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Tom Watson is a highly accomplished American professional golfer, renowned for his dominance in the 1970s and 1980s. He secured eight major championships and topped the PGA Tour money list five times, solidifying his position as a leading figure in the sport. Watson held the number one position in McCormack's World Golf Rankings from 1978 to 1982 and maintained a top ranking in subsequent years, demonstrating sustained excellence throughout his career.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1967: Missouri State Amateur Championship

In 1967, Tom Watson won the Missouri State Amateur championship.

1968: Missouri State Amateur Championship

In 1968, Tom Watson won the Missouri State Amateur championship.

1970: Missouri State Amateur Championship

In 1970, Tom Watson won the Missouri State Amateur championship.

1971: Joins PGA Tour

In 1971, Tom Watson joined the PGA Tour.

1971: Missouri State Amateur Championship and Graduation

In 1971, Tom Watson won the Missouri State Amateur championship and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in psychology.

1973: Bruce Edwards becomes caddie

In 1973, Tom Watson hired Bruce Edwards as his caddie for the first time at the St. Louis tournament.

1974: U.S. Open Disappointment and Byron Nelson's Offer

In 1974, Tom Watson contended in the U.S. Open but faded in the final round after holding the 54-hole lead. Byron Nelson offered encouragement and assistance afterwards.

1974: First Tour Title at the Western Open

In 1974, just weeks after the Winged Foot collapse, Tom Watson secured his first Tour title at the Western Open near Chicago, making a comeback from six shots behind in the final round.

1975: First Open Championship Victory

In 1975, Tom Watson won his first major championship, the Open Championship, on his first appearance in the event in Britain, defeating Jack Newton in a playoff.

1977: Victories over Jack Nicklaus

In 1977, Tom Watson notably defeated Jack Nicklaus at the Masters and the Open Championship.

1977: Masters Victory

In 1977, Tom Watson won the Masters, securing his first green jacket after a final-round duel with Jack Nicklaus.

1977: Open Championship Victory at Turnberry

In 1977, Tom Watson's Open Championship victory at Turnberry in Scotland is regarded as one of the finest tournaments played in the second half of the 20th century, where he duelled with Jack Nicklaus, ultimately winning with a record score of 268.

1977: Top-10 of The Masters

Tom Watson began a period of high performance at the Masters, beginning in 1977, leading to finishing in the top-10 of the Masters in 13 of the 15 years between 1977 and 1991.

1978: Missed Playoff at Masters and PGA Championship Loss

In 1978, Tom Watson missed a playoff at the Masters and lost the PGA Championship in a 3-way sudden-death playoff to John Mahaffey, his closest attempt at the title.

1978: Ranked Number One

In 1978, Tom Watson was ranked as the number one player in the world according to McCormack's World Golf Rankings.

1979: Sea Pines Heritage Classic and Masters Runner-Up

In 1979, Tom Watson had five PGA Tour victories, including the Sea Pines Heritage Classic, and finished runner-up at the Masters, losing in a 3-way sudden-death playoff to Fuzzy Zoeller.

1981: Second Masters Title

In 1981, Tom Watson won his second Masters title at Augusta, finishing two strokes ahead of Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller.

July 1982: Open Championship Victory

In July 1982, Tom Watson won The Open Championship at Royal Troon, becoming only the third golfer since World War II to win the U.S. Open and Open Championship in the same year.

1982: Victory over Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Open

In 1982, Tom Watson achieved victory over Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Open.

1982: U.S. Open Victory at Pebble Beach

In 1982, Tom Watson won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach after a memorable duel with Jack Nicklaus, including a miraculous chip-in birdie on the 17th hole.

1982: Continued Number One Ranking

Tom Watson maintained his position as the number one player in the world according to McCormack's World Golf Rankings until 1982.

July 1983: Fifth Open Championship Victory

In July 1983, Tom Watson won his fifth Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, marking his last major victory.

1983: Ranked Second

In 1983, Tom Watson was ranked second behind Seve Ballesteros according to McCormack's World Golf Rankings.

July 1984: Winless Streak Continues

As of July 1984, Tom Watson had not won a PGA Tour event.

1984: Runner-Up Finish in British Open

After his runner-up finish in the 1984 British Open, Watson's performance began to decline.

1984: Runner-up Finish at The Open Championship

In 1984, Tom Watson finished as runner-up at The Open Championship.

1984: Runner-Up at The Masters and Open Championship

In 1984, Tom Watson finished runner-up at The Masters and was in contention at The Open Championship but bogeyed the 17th, resulting in a tie for 2nd place.

1984: Second Ranking Continues

In 1984, Tom Watson was again ranked second behind Seve Ballesteros according to McCormack's World Golf Rankings.

1985: Decline in Form

In 1985, Tom Watson's form declined, causing him to miss out on a place in the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

1986: Hawaiian Open

In 1986, Tom Watson led the Hawaiian Open after the third round, but finished in a tie for 3rd place after bogeying the 71st and 72nd holes.

1986: Top 10 Sony Ranking

In 1986, Tom Watson spent 32 weeks in the top 10 of the successor Sony Rankings.

1987: U.S. Open

In 1987, Tom Watson held a one-shot lead entering the final round of the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club, but lost to Scott Simpson by one stroke.

1987: Nabisco Championship Victory

In 1987, Tom Watson won the Nabisco Championship, ending a three-year winless streak on the PGA Tour.

1988: Second Place at NEC World Series of Golf

In 1988, Tom Watson finished 2nd at the NEC World Series of Golf after missing a 3-foot putt in a playoff against Mike Reid.

1989: Fourth Place at the Open Championship

In 1989, Tom Watson contended at the Open Championship at Royal Troon, ultimately finishing in 4th place, two strokes outside the playoff between Mark Calcavecchia, Wayne Grady, and Greg Norman.

1991: Third Place Finish at the Masters Tournament

At the 1991 Masters Tournament, Tom Watson held a share of the lead on the 18th tee in the final round at Augusta but finished with a double-bogey 6 to tie for 3rd place, two strokes behind the champion Ian Woosnam.

1993: Ryder Cup Victory as Captain

In 1993, Tom Watson captained the American side to victory in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England.

1994: The Open Championship returns to Turnberry

In 1994, the Open Championship returned to Turnberry, the site of Tom Watson's 1977 victory, where he tied for 11th place.

1996: Victory at the Memorial Tournament

In 1996, Tom Watson had a revival in his career, winning the Memorial Tournament.

1997: Second Dunlop Phoenix Tournament Win

In 1997, Tom Watson won the Japan Golf Tour's Dunlop Phoenix tournament for the second time, marking the last of his four victories in Japan.

1998: Last PGA Tour Victory at MasterCard Colonial

In 1998, Tom Watson secured the last of his 39 wins on the PGA Tour at the MasterCard Colonial at 48 years old.

1999: Joins Champions Tour

In 1999, Tom Watson joined the Champions Tour.

2003: Senior Open Championship Win at Turnberry

In 2003, Tom Watson revisited his 1977 Open Championship win at Turnberry with another win there in the Senior Open Championship.

2003: Senior British Open Championship Title

In 2003, Tom Watson won a Senior British Open Championship title.

2003: Shared Lead at U.S. Open

In 2003, at age 53, Tom Watson shared the opening-round lead at the U.S. Open by shooting a 65, with his caddy Bruce Edwards.

2005: Senior Open Championship Victory

In 2005, Tom Watson had a victory in the Senior Open Championship.

2005: Senior British Open Championship Title

In 2005, Tom Watson won a Senior British Open Championship title.

2007: Senior Open Championship Victory

In 2007, Tom Watson had a victory in the Senior Open Championship.

2007: Senior British Open Championship Title

In 2007, Tom Watson won a Senior British Open Championship title.

2009: Runner-up Finish at The Open Championship

In 2009, Tom Watson finished as runner-up at The Open Championship.

2010: Competed in the Masters Tournament

In April 2010, Tom Watson competed in the Masters Tournament, finishing with a share of eighteenth place.

2014: Ryder Cup Captaincy

In 2014, Tom Watson captained the U.S. Team in Scotland during the Ryder Cup, but this time the team lost.

2015: Final Open Appearance at St. Andrews

In 2015, Tom Watson's exemption for his 2009 Open finish was extended, allowing him a final Open appearance at St. Andrews, where he missed the cut.

April 2016: Final Masters Appearance

In April 2016, Tom Watson played in his final Masters Tournament, missing the cut by two strokes.

2018: Won Masters Tournament Par-3 contest

In 2018, Tom Watson won the Masters Tournament Par-3 contest at the age of 68, becoming the oldest ever to win the event.

July 2019: Final Competitive Event on British Soil

In July 2019, Tom Watson played his final competitive event on British soil, participating in the Senior British Open for the final time.

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