Who's who: Peter Oosterhuis

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Who's who: Peter Oosterhuis

  • Name:

    Peter Oosterhuis
  • Also known as:

    Oostie
  • Country:

    England
  • Born:

    May 3, 1948 in Lambeth, London.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Dulwich & Sydenham Hill GC, South London.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; TV commentator.
  • Turned Pro:

    1968

Roll of Honour

Walker Cup player (1967). Ryder Cup player (1971, '73, '75, '77, '79, '81). Multiple wins on the European and PGA Tours. British PGA Rookie of the Year (1969). European Tour Order of Merit winner for four straight years (1971, '72, '73, '74).

Did you know?

Before the emergence of Nick Faldo in the 1980s, "Oostie" was the most successful English golfer of the modern era. His great achievement of winning four successive European Order of Merit titles (1971-74), was eventually overhauled by the seven back-to-back titles won by Colin Montgomerie (1993-99).

Top tournaments won by Peter Oosterhuis

1981
America
280 (-4)
$76,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Score

280 (-4)

Prize money

$76,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (July 30-Aug 2). Second-placed Bruce Lietzke (USA), Jack Nicklaus (USA) and Andy North (USA) finished 1 shot behind Peter Oosterhuis (Eng), who recorded his first and only PGA Tour win. [Glen Abbey GC, Oakville, nr Toronto, Ont.].

1974
Europe
Chantilly (Veneuil)
284 (+4)
£2,175
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Chantilly (Veneuil)

Score

284 (+4)

Prize money

£2,175

Title sponsor

x

Played as the French Open. Second-placed Peter Townsend (Eng) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Oosterhuis (Eng). [Vineuil course, Golf de Chantilly, nr Paris].

1974
Awards
2,964 pts
£32,127
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

2,964 pts

Prize money

£32,127

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Oosterhuis (Eng) won his fourth straight Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1974 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Oosterhuis accumulated 2,964.99 pts; Dale Hayes (RSA) was second with 2,378.83 pts; Bernard Gallacher (Scot) was third with 2,148.40 points. Oosterhuis also topped the Tour's 1974 Prize Money List with £32,127; Tony Jacklin (Eng) was second with £19,546; Bernard Gallacher (Scot) was third with £18,514.

1974
Awards
70.76
n/a
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

70.76

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Oosterhuis (Eng) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the European Tour. Dale Hayes (RSA) was second with 71.47; Neil Coles (Eng) was third with 71.73. Gary Player (RSA) averaged 71.00, but played in only five tournaments (14 rounds).

1974
Europe
El Paraiso GC
212 (-4)
£3,000
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

El Paraiso GC

Score

212 (-4)

Prize money

£3,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the El Paraiso Open (Oct 24-26; one-off European Tour event). Peter Oosterhuis (Eng) beat Manuel Ballesteros (Esp) with a birdie-4 at the first playoff hole, to record the last of his seven European Tour wins. Reduced to 54 holes and a Saturday finish due to bad weather. [El Paraiso GC, nr Estepona, Costa del Sol, Spain].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Venezia

Score

249

Prize money

£6,660

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Italian Open. Second-placed Dale Hayes (RSA) and Johnny Miller (USA) finished 2 shots behind Oosterhuis (Eng). Tournament played over 63 holes. [Venezia GC, Lido di Venezia, Veneto].

1973
Awards
71.12
n/a
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

71.12

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Oosterhuis (Eng) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the European Tour. Tony Jacklin (Eng) was second with 71.51; Valentin Barrios (Esp) was third with 71.92.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

£2,194

Title sponsor

Viyella

Played as the Viyella PGA Championship (Aug 22-25). Second-placed Dale Hayes (RSA) and Donald Swaelens (Belg) finished 3 shots behind Oosterhuis (Eng). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Score

280 (-4)

Prize money

£2,293

Title sponsor

x

Played as the French Open. Second-placed Tony Jacklin (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Oosterhuis (Eng). [Vallée course, Racing Club de France (RCF), La Boulie GC, Versailles, nr Paris].

1973
Europe
67 (-6)
£2,500
Piccadilly

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Score

67 (-6)

Prize money

£2,500

Title sponsor

Piccadilly

Played as the Piccadilly Medal (April 25-28; medal match play format). Oosterhuis (Eng) beat Terry Westerbrook (USA) by 5 shots in the 18-hole final (Oosterhuis 67; Westerbrook 73). [Coventry GC, Finham, Coventry, Warwicks].

1973
Awards
3,440 pts
£17,454
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

3,440 pts

Prize money

£17,454

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Oosterhuis (Eng) won his third straight Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1973 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Oosterhuis accumulated 3440.42 pts; Maurice Bembridge (Eng) was second with 2980.14 pts; Hugh Baiocchi (RSA) was third with 2904.35 pts. Tony Jacklin (Eng) topped the Tour's 1973 Prize Money List with £24,839; Peter Oosterhuis (Eng) was second with £17,454; Neil Coles (Eng) was third with £14,747.

1973
America
Maracaibo CC
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Maracaibo CC

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Maracaibo Open (Caribbean tour event). Second-placed Tony Jacklin (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Oosterhuis (Eng). [Maracaibo CC, Maracaibo, Venezuela].

1972
Awards
70.66
n/a
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

70.66

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Oosterhuis (Eng) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the European Tour, with 70.66. Guy Hunt (Eng) was second with 71.54; Brian Huggett (Wales) was third with 71.73. All three played c.60 rounds. Amongst those playing less than 40 rounds on the Tour, Graham Marsh (Aus) averaged 70.35 over 20 rounds; Tony Jacklin (Eng) 70.38 over 26 rounds, and Bob Charles (NZ) 71.00 over 19 rounds.

1972
Europe
Queen's Park GC
285 (+1)
£1,500
Penfold

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Queen's Park GC

Score

285 (+1)

Prize money

£1,500

Title sponsor

Penfold

Played as the Penfold Bournemouth Tournament. Oosterhuis (Eng) beat Christy O'Connor Jr (Ire) with a birdie 3 at the first playoff hole. [Queen's Park GC, Bournemouth, Dorset].

1972
Awards
1,751 pts
£18,525
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

1,751 pts

Prize money

£18,525

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Oosterhuis (Eng) won his second straight Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1972 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Oosterhuis accumulated 1751 pts; Guy Hunt (Eng) was second with 1710 pts; Brian Huggett (Wales) was third with 1702 pts. Oosterhuis also topped the Tour's 1972 Prize Money List with £18,525; Brian Huggett (Wales) was second with £10,166; Guy Hunt (Eng) was third with £9,808.

1971
Awards
70.50
n/a
British PGA

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

70.50

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

British PGA

Oosterhuis (Eng) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the GB&I PGA Tour, with 70.50. Ramon Sota (Esp) was second with 71.14; Maurice Bembridge (Eng) was third with 71.59. Amongst those playing less than 40 rounds on the Tour, Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) averaged 69.89 over 29 rounds; Tony Jacklin (Eng) 69.94 over 17 rounds, and David Graham (Aus) 70.11 over 18 rounds.

1971
Europe
276 (-8)
£1,000
Agfa-Gevaert

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Score

276 (-8)

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

Agfa-Gevaert

Played as the Agfa-Gevaert Tournament (May 20-22). Second-placed David Huish (Scot) and Brian Barnes (Scot) finished 2 shots behind 23-year-old Peter Oosterhuis (Eng), who recorded his first win on the European professional circuit. [Stoke Park CC, Stoke Poges, Bucks].

1971
Awards
1,292 pts
9269
British PGA

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

1,292 pts

Prize money

9269

Title sponsor

British PGA

Oosterhuis (Eng) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1971 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Oosterhuis accumulated 1292.5 pts; Neil Coles (Eng) was second with 1285.5 pts; Maurice Bembridge (Eng) was third with 1222.5 pts. Gary Player (RSA) topped the Tour's 1971 Prize Money List with £11,281; Neil Coles (Eng) was second with £10,479; Peter Oosterhuis (Eng) was third with £9,269.

1971
Europe
129
£1,500
Piccadilly

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Score

129

Prize money

£1,500

Title sponsor

Piccadilly

Played as the Piccadilly Medal (Aug 11-14; medal match play format). Oosterhuis (Eng) beat Eric Brown (Scot) by 6 shots in the 36-hole final (Oosterhuis 73, 56; Brown 73, 62 retired after 34 holes). [Southerndown GC, Ogmore by Sea, nr Bridgend, S Wales].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Score

132

Prize money

£600

Title sponsor

Sunbeam

Played as the Sunbeam Electric Tournament (a 36-hole pro-am event; formerly the Bowmaker Tournament). Second-placed Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 4 shots behind Oosterhuis (Eng). [Outer course, Royal Mid-Surrey GC, Richmond, Surrey. Now called the J.H. Taylor course.].

1969
Awards
815 pts
£854
British PGA

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Oosterhuis, Peter

Venue

Score

815 pts

Prize money

£854

Title sponsor

British PGA

Oosterhuis (Eng) won the British PGA 1969 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season tour player. Oosterhuis finished 16th on the PGA's (points-based) Order of Merit; he won £854 in prize money during the season.

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