Who's who: Peter Thomson

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  • Brora GC
  • Cabot Highlands - Castel Stuart course
  • Torrey Pines - South Course 1

Who's who: Peter Thomson

  • Name:

    Peter William Thomson
  • Country:

    Australia
  • Lived:

    [1929-2018]. Born on Aug 23, 1929 in Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. Died on June 20, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia (aged 88).
  • Original/Home Club:

    Royal Park GC, Melbourne
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, course designer and golf writer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1947
  • Website:

    https://www.thomsonperrett.com.au

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (5): The Open Championship (1954, '55, 56, '58, '65). Senior MAJORS (1): PGA Seniors' Ch'ship (1984). Presidents Cup captain (1996, '98, 2000).

Total professional wins (84), including Australasian Tour (33, incl 3 Australian Opens and 9 NZ Opens); European circuit/Tour (29), PGA Tour (1); Champions Tour (11); Asian circuit (7); Japan circuit/Tour (6). US Senior PGA Tour leading money winner (1985). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1988).

Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE (1957); Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (1979) and Officer of the Order of Australia, OA (2001).

Golf course design

Thomson enjoyed a highly successful career as a golf course designer, working under his own name, as well as in collaboration with Mike Wolveridge and/or Ross Perrett. He has been involved in over 100 projects, predominantly in Australasia, Asia and Europe. His best known work includes, but is not limited to:

AUSTRALASIA: Alice Springs; Camden Lakeside; Capital GC; Hamilton Island; Hope Island; Long Reef; Manly GC; Moonah Links (Open course); National (Ocean course); Royal Adelaide (1970 redesign); Royal Canberra (1992 redesign); Royal Sydney (1986 redesign); Sandhurst; Yarrawonga (Lake & Murray courses); Wairakei Intl (NZ).

ASIA: Clearwater Bay (Hong Kong, 2006 redesign); Delhi GC, Lodhi course (1978, redesign); Greenwood (Thai); Karnataka (India); Jagorawi (Indonesia); Lake Malaren (China); Shanghai Binhai (China); Royal Chiangmai (Thai); Singapore Island CC, Millennium course (Singapore); Tanah Merah, Garden course (Singapore); Tianjin Fortune Lake (China); Yin Tao Intl (China).

EUROPE: Carya (Turkey); St Andrews, Duke's course (Scotland).

Did you know?

Thomson is the most successful Australian golfer of all time, with five major championship victories and a host of other wins on the Australasian, European, Asian, Japan, US PGA and US PGA Seniors tours. He was the only golfer in the 20th century to win the Open Championship in three consecutive years (1954-56). He also won The Open in 1958 and 1965. Only four other golfers - Harry Vardon (6), James Braid (5), JH Taylor (5) and Tom Watson (5) - have won as many Open Championships.

Thomson also pursued a highly successful career as a golf course designer, often working with Mike Wolveridge and/or Ross Perrett. As a golf writer, he was a long-time contributor to the Melbourne Age, and for many years was the club professional at the world renowned Royal Melbourne Golf Club. He also became president of the Australian PGA for 32 years and among many other achievements helped establish the Asian Tour.

Always one who held strong opinions about the game he loved, Thomson once said that modern golf course design was driven by the desire to make everything look photogenic. He argued that the fairways were now too good, the greens too pure and the bunkers too easy. "A golf course should be a bit wild, at least in some corners. They (the modern designers) have lost the origin of the game as a cross-country adventure." Here, here to that!

Top tournaments won by Peter Thomson

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

287 (+7)

Prize money

£7,500

Title sponsor

Forte

Played as the Forte PGA Seniors Championship (June 23-26). Second-placed Denis Hutchinson (Zim/RSA) finished 2 shots behind Peter Thomson (Aus). A shot further back in third place was Neil Coles (Eng), chasing his fourth straight win in this event. [North Berwick GC, North Berwick, East Lothian].

1985
America
Vancouver GC
203 (-8)
$23,794
du Maurier

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Vancouver GC

Score

203 (-8)

Prize money

$23,794

Title sponsor

du Maurier

Played as the du Maurier Champions (Aug 16-18; next played in 1996). Second-placed Ben Smith (USA) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus). [The Vancouver GC, Coquitlam, nr Vancouver, BC].

1985
America
Hermitage CC, VA
207 (-9)
$37,500
Utd Virginia Bnk

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Hermitage CC, VA

Score

207 (-9)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

Utd Virginia Bnk

Played as the United Virginia Bank Seniors Classic. Second-placed George Lanning (USA) finished 4 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Hermitage CC, Manikin-Sabot, Virginia].

1985
America
Wildcreek GC, NV
210 (-6)
$30,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Wildcreek GC, NV

Score

210 (-6)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Champions Classic (June 7-9). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) and Jim Ferree (USA) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Wildcreek GC, Sparks, Nevada].

1985
America
Vintage Club, CA
280 (-7)
$40,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Vintage Club, CA

Score

280 (-7)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Vintage Invitational. Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) and Arnold Palmer (USA) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus). [Vintage Club, Palm Desert, California].

1985
America
Lafayette CC, NY
204 (-9)
$30,000
MONY

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Lafayette CC, NY

Score

204 (-9)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

MONY

Played as the MONY Syracuse Senior's Classic. Second-placed Miller Barber (USA) and Gene Littler (USA) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Lafayette CC, Onondaga, Syracuse, NY; this course shut down in 2013].

1985
America
Suntree CC, FL
207 (-9)
$24,750
Barnett

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Suntree CC, FL

Score

207 (-9)

Prize money

$24,750

Title sponsor

Barnett

Played as the Barnett Suntree Senior Classic. Second-placed Charlie Sifford (USA) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus), who recorded the last of his 11 US Snr Tr victories. [Suntree CC, Melbourne, Florida].

1985
America
Bent Tree CC, TX
202 (-14)
$26,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Bent Tree CC, TX

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

$26,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am. Second-placed Lee Elder (USA) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Bent Tree CC, Dallas, Texas].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

MONY

Played as the MONY Senior Tournament of Champions (May 2-5). Second-placed Don January (USA) and Dan Sikes (USA) finished 3 shots behind Peter Thomson (Aus), who recorded his fifth win on the Tour. [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course].

1985
Awards
$386,724
see Score
Snr PGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Score

$386,724

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Snr PGA Tr

Thomson (Aus) won the Arnold Palmer Award as the Senior PGA Tour 1985 leading money winner, with earnings of $386,724 on the Tour. He was the first Australian to win this award. Lee Elder (USA) was second with $307,795; Don January (USA) was third with $247,006.

1985
America
Mountaingate CC
205 (-11)
$37,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Mountaingate CC

Score

205 (-11)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the American Golf Carta Blanca Johnny Mathis Seniors Classic (March 29-31). Second-placed Don January (USA) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus). [Mountaingate CC, Los Angeles, California].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the World Seniors Invitational. Second-placed Arnold Palmer (USA) finished 1 shot behind first-time US Snr Tr winner Thomson (Aus). [Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina].

1984
Majors
286 (-2)
$40,000
General Foods

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

286 (-2)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

General Foods

Played as the General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship (Dec 6-9; Snr PGA Tr season-ending event; second of two PGA Seniors' Championships in 1984). Second-placed Don January (USA) finished 3 shots behind wire-to-wire winner Thomson (Aus), who claimed his only senior major championship title. [Champion course, PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gdns, FL].

1976
Japan
Ube 72 CC
211 (-5)
¥5million
Pepsi / Wilson

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Ube 72 CC

Score

211 (-5)

Prize money

¥5million

Title sponsor

Pepsi / Wilson

Played as the Pepsi-Wilson Tournament (May 20-23). Thomson (Aus) beat Brian Jones (Aus), Graham Marsh (Aus) and Shozo Miyamoto (Jpn) in a playoff. Event reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Mannennike course, Ube 72 CC, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

288 (-4)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Indian Open. Second-placed Brian Jones (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus), who claimed a record third win in the Indian Open. [Royal Calcutta GC, Kolkata, West Bengal, India].

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

266 (-14)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Chunichi Crowns - International Invitation Golf (April 27-30). Won for the second time in four years by Thomson (Aus). [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].

1972
Aus/NZ
281 (-7)
Qantas

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Qantas

Played as the Qantas Australian Open (Oct 26-30). 43-year-old Thomson (Aus) beat 26-year-old David Graham (Aus) in an 18-hole playoff (Thomson 68, Graham 74), to record the last of his three Australian Open wins. [Kooyonga GC, Lockleys, Adelaide, SA].

1972
Europe
270 (-14)
£2,250
WD & HO Wills

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

£2,250

Title sponsor

WD & HO Wills

Played as the W.D. & H.O. Wills Tournament (Sept 20-23). Second-placed Peter Butler (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [East course, Dalmahoy Hotel & CC, nr Edinburgh].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

276 (-8)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Nov 25-28). Second-placed Maurice Bembridge (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who won this title for the ninth (and last) time in 21 years. [Otago GC, Balmacewen, Dunedin, NZ].

1970
Europe
268 (-16)
£1,250
Martini

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

£1,250

Title sponsor

Martini

Played as the Martini International (June 11-13). Peter Thomson (Aus) and Doug Sewell (Eng) finished in a tie for first place. Brian Barnes (Scot) finished 2 shots further back in third place. [Conwy (Caernarvonshire) GC, Conwy, N Wales].

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Chunichi Crowns - International Invitation Golf (April 26-29). Won by Thomson (Aus), who recorded his second win on Japan's professional circuit. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Masters (Sept 12-14). Second-placed Dave Thomas (Wales) finished 5 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Old course, Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

£2,500

Title sponsor

Alcan

Played as the inaugural Alcan International (Oct 5-8; played alongside the Alcan Golfer of the Year Championship). Second-placed Tony Grubb (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Peter Thomson (Aus). [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].

1967
Europe
4 & 3
£1,250
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

4 & 3

Prize money

£1,250

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 7-10). Defending champion Thomson (Aus) beat Dai Rees (Wales) 4 and 3 in the 18-hole final, to record his fourth win in this event. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

20 pts

Prize money

£975

Title sponsor

Esso

Played as the Esso Golden Tournament (July 20-22; 15-player round-robin match play format). Kel Nagle (Aus) and Peter Thomson (Aus) finished in a tie for first place with 20 pts. Neil Coles (Eng) finished 1 point further back in third place. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

273 (-7)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Hong Kong Open. Thomson (Aus) beat Brian Huggett (Wales) with a par at the second playoff hole, to claim the third of his three Hong Kong Open titles. [New course, Hong Kong GC, Fanling; at the time known as Royal Hong Kong GC].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

282

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian PGA Ch'ship. Colin Johnston (Aus) and Frank Phillips (Aus) finished in second place behind Thomson (Aus).

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

281 (-11)

Prize money

A$2,800

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian Open (Oct 25-28). Second-placed Colin Johnston (Aus) finished 7 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who posted the second of his three Australian Open wins. [Commonwealth GC, South Oakleigh, Melbourne, Vic].

1966
Europe
2 & 1
£1,250
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

2 & 1

Prize money

£1,250

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 7-10). Peter Thomson (Aus) beat Neil Coles (Eng) 2 and 1 in the 18-hole final. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Indian Open. Second-placed Guy Wolstenholm (Eng), Hugh Boyle (Ire) and defending champion Prem Gopal "Billoo" Sethi (India) finished 6 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Delhi GC, New Delhi, India].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

278

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Hong Kong Open. Second-placed Ross Newdick (NZ) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus). [New course, Hong Kong GC, Fanling; at the time known as Royal Hong Kong GC].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

278 (-2)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Nov 18-21). Second-placed Bob Charles (NZ) and defending champion Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 8 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who recorded his eighth win in this event. [Royal Auckland & Grange GC, Papatoetoe, Auckland; at the time known as Auckland GC, Middlemore].

1965
Europe
275 (-21)
£1,000
Daks

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

275 (-21)

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

Daks

Played as the Daks Tournament (June 3-5). Second-placed Guy Wolstenholme (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

1965
Majors
285 (-3)
£1,750
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

285 (-3)

Prize money

£1,750

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (94th) (July 7-9). Second-placed Brian Huggett (Wales) and Christy O'Connor (Ire) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus). This was the last of Thomson's five Open Championship wins. [Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

292 (+4)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Indian Open. Second-placed Ralph Moffit (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who was a driving force behind the establishment of the Indian Open. [Delhi GC, New Delhi, India].

1964
Asia
Wack Wack G&CC
285 (-3)
US$5,000
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Wack Wack G&CC

Score

285 (-3)

Prize money

US$5,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Philippine Open. Thomson (Aus) beat Doug Sanders (USA) at the first playoff hole. [East course, Wack Wack G&CC, Manila, Philippines].

1962
Europe
283 (-5)
£2,000
Piccadilly

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

£2,000

Title sponsor

Piccadilly

Played as the inaugural Piccadilly No.1 Tournament (May 17-20; 72-hole stroke-play event). Christy O'Connor (Ire) finished 3 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who won the largest golf prize yet offered in Britain. [Hillside GC, Southport, Merseyside. Earlier rounds also on Southport & Ainsdale GC].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

275

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

Martini

Played as the £6000 Martini International (May 3-5). Second-placed Eric Brown (Scot) finished 4 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

21 pts

Prize money

£995

Title sponsor

Esso

Played as the inaugural Esso Golden Tournament (Aug 24-26; 15-player round-robin match play format). Peter Thomson (Aus) and Dave Thomas (Wales) finished in a tie for first place with 21pts. Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 3 pts further back in third place. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

267

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Oct 11-14). Second-placed Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 9 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who won this event for the third straight year. This was the fifth straight year that Thomson and Nagle finished in the top two positions. [New Plymouth GC, Ngamotu Links, New Plymouth, NZ].

1961
Europe
282
£550
Yorkshire Eve. News

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

282

Prize money

£550

Title sponsor

Yorkshire Eve. News

Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1735 Tournament (June 21-23). Second-placed Dai Rees (Wales) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Peter Thomson (Aus). [Sand Moor GC, Leeds, W Yorks, England].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

284

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Masters (Sept 14-16). Second-placed Christy O'Connor Sr (Ire) finished 8 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Royal Porthcawl GC, Mid Glamorgan, Wales].

1961
Europe
3 & 1
£750
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

3 & 1

Prize money

£750

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 6-9). Thomson (Aus) beat Ralph Moffitt (Eng) 3 and 1 in the 18-hole final. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

281

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the German Open (July 22-24). Second-placed Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) and Jean Garaialde (Fra) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who claimed his fourth tournament win in the space of six weeks. [Golf & Land Club Köln, Refrath, nr Cologne].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

132

Prize money

£350

Title sponsor

Bowmaker

Played as the Bowmaker £3000 Tournament (June 19/20; 36-hole pro-am event). Second-placed Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus), who recorded his third straight win in as many starts. [Old course, Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].

1960
Europe
268
£500
Yorkshire Eve. News

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

268

Prize money

£500

Title sponsor

Yorkshire Eve. News

Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1550 Tournament (June 15-17). Second-placed Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Peter Thomson (Aus). [Moortown GC, nr Leeds, W Yorks, England].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

279

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

Daks

Played as the Daks Tournament (June 9-11). Second-placed Jimmy Hitchcock (Eng) and Tom Haliburton (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

272 (-14)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Hong Kong Open. Second-placed Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 10 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [New course, Hong Kong GC, Fanling; at the time known as Royal Hong Kong GC].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

281 (-3)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Nov 18-19). Second-placed Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Thomson (Aus). [Invercargill GC, Otatara, Invercargill, NZ].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

287 (-5)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Sept 24-27). Thomson (Aus) beat defending champion Kel Nagle (Aus) in an 18-hole playoff (Thomson 67; Nagle 73). On the final hole of regulation play, Nagle holed his approach shot for an eagle-three to force the playoff. [Paraparaumu Beach GC, Paraparaumu, NZ].

1959
Europe
Villa d'Este
269
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Villa d'Este

Score

269

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Italian Open (Oct 8-11). Second-placed Alfonso Angelini (Italy) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus). [GC Villa d'Este, Montorfano, nr Como, Lombardy].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

286

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Spanish Open (Oct 14-17). Second-placed Jean Garaialde (Fra) and Syd Scott (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who recorded back-to-back European circuit wins. [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, El Prat de Llobregat, nr Barcelona Airport. Club now located in Terrassa, nr Barcelona].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

348

Prize money

£500

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Tournament (May 6-9; played over 90 holes). Second-placed Harold Henning (S Africa) finished 3 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

275

Prize money

£700

Title sponsor

Daks

Played as the Daks Tournament (June 11-14). Peter Thomson (Aus) and Harold Henning (S Africa) finished in a tie for first place. Bobby Locke (S Africa) and Bernard Hunt (Eng) were 2 shots further back in joint third place. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

1958
Majors
278 (-10)
£1,000
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (87th) (July 2-5). Thomson (Aus) beat Dave Thomas (Wales) in a 36-hole playoff: Thomson 139 (-3), Thomas 143 (+1). This was the fourth of Thomson's five Open Championship wins. [Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, nr Blackpool, Lancs].

1957
Europe
265
£500
Yorkshire Eve. News

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

265

Prize money

£500

Title sponsor

Yorkshire Eve. News

Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1550 Tournament (June 19-21). Second-placed Harry Bradshaw (Ire) finished 15 shots behind Peter Thomson (Aus), whose rounds of 65, 67, 64 and 68 produced a tournament record aggregate of 264. [Sand Moor GC, Leeds, W Yorks, England].

1956
Majors
286 (-2)
£1,000
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

286 (-2)

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (85th) (July 4-6). Second-placed Flory Van Donck (Belg) finished 3 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who won this title for the third straight year. This was the third of Thomson's five Open Championship wins. [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].

1956
America
Preston Hollow
267 (-13)
$13,478
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Venue

Preston Hollow

Score

267 (-13)

Prize money

$13,478

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas International Open (June 1-4). Thomson (Aus) beat Cary Middlecoff (USA) and Gene Littler (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole. [Preston Hollow CC, Dallas, TX. This club no longer exists].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Oct 6-8). Second-placed Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 10 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Royal Auckland & Grange GC, Papatoetoe, Auckland; at the time known as Auckland GC, Middlemore].

1955
Majors
281 (-7)
£1,000
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (84th) (July 6-8). Second-placed John Fallon (Scot) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Thomson (Aus). This was the second of Thomson's five Open Championship wins. [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].

1954
Majors
283 (-5)
£750
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

£750

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (83rd) (July 7-9). Second-placed Sydney S. Scott (Eng), Bobby Locke (RSA) and Dai Rees (Wales) finished 1 shot behind Thomson (Aus). This was the first of Thomson's five Open Championship wins. [Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].

1954
Europe
38th hole
£750
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

38th hole

Prize money

£750

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 30-Oct 2). Thomson (Aus) beat Johnny Fallon (Eng) at the 38th hole in the final. [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand PGA Championship. Won by Peter Thomson (Aus). [Otago GC, Balmacewen, Dunedin, NZ].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

295 (+7)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Nov 13-15). Second-placed Frank Buckler (NZ) finished 5 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who won this event for the third time in four years. [Otago GC, Balmacewen, Dunedin, NZ].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

283

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian Open (Oct 4-6). Second-placed Norman Von Nida (Aus) finished 4 shots behind 22-year-old Thomson (Aus), who posted the first of his three Australian Open wins. [Metropolitan GC, South Oakleigh, Melbourne, Aus].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

288

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Sept 27-29). Second-placed Frank Buckler (NZ) and Tim Woon (NZ, amateur) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Thomson (Aus). [Titirangi GC, New Lynn, Auckland, NZ].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Thomson, Peter

Score

280

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open. Second-placed Alf Guy (NZ) finished 9 shots behind Thomson (Aus), who recorded the first of his nine NZ Open titles. [Christchurch GC, Shirley Links, Christchurch, NZ].

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Tournaments

The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.

Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.

Who's Who

Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.

Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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