Who's who: Retief Goosen

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Retief Goosen

  • Name:

    Retief Goosen
  • Also known as:

    The Goose
  • Country:

    South Africa
  • Born:

    Feb 3, 1969 in Pietersburg (now called Polokwane), Limpopo, S Africa.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Pietersburg, S Africa
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; golf course designer; wine producer (Goose wines).
  • Turned Pro:

    1990
  • Website:

    https://www.retiefgoosen.com

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2): US Open (2001, '04). Senior MAJORS (1): Snr Players Championship (2019). Presidents Cup player (2000, '03, '05, '07, '09, '11). South African Amateur champion (1990). Multiple wins on the world's major professional tours: PGA Tour (7), European Tour (14), Sunshine Tour (9) and Asian Tour (5). European Tour Order of Merit winner (2001, 2002). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2019).

Golf course design

Goosen-designed golf courses have been included in the masterplans for Lagoon Bay and Lizard Point in South Africa, and Dayi Smokey Mouuntain in China.

Did you know?

"The Goose" is a South African golfer who now plays mainly on the PGA Tour Champions and European Senior tours. His wins in major championships ensured his place among the golfing greats of the modern era. As an amateur, Goosen had to cope with a few health problems after being struck by lightning. Many attribute his calm demeanor to the impact of the lightning strike.

Top tournaments won by Retief Goosen

2022
America
Newport Beach, CA
198 (-15)
$300,000
Hoag

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Newport Beach, CA

Score

198 (-15)

Prize money

$300,000

Title sponsor

Hoag

Played as the Hoag Classic (Mar 4-6). Second-placed Kyoung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor) finished 4 shots behind Retief Goosen (RSA), who recorded his second PGA Tour Champions win. [Newport Beach CC, Newport Beach, CA].

2019
Awards
$1,859,085
see Score
PGA Tr Chmpns

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Score

$1,859,085

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

PGA Tr Chmpns

Retief Goosen (RSA) won the PGA Tour Champions 2019 Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player, based on the votes of his peers. Goosen finished 3rd on the Tour's money list, with earnings of $1,859,085.

2019
Majors
274 (-6)
$420,000
Bridgestone

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Score

274 (-6)

Prize money

$420,000

Title sponsor

Bridgestone

The Bridgestone Senior Players Championship (37th) (July 11-14). Second-placed Jay Haas (USA) and Tim Petrovic (USA) finished 2 shots behind 50-year-old Goosen (RSA), who recorded his first PGA Tour Champions win and first senior major championship title. [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

2019
Awards
69.14
n/a
Champions Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Score

69.14

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Champions Tr

Goosen (RSA) won the Byron Nelson Award, recording the season's lowest scoring average (69.14) on the PGA Tour Champions. Bernhard Langer (Ger) was second with 69.26; Jerry Kelly (USA) was third with 69.31.

2009
Africa
267 (-21)
R792,500
x

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

R792,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Africa Open Golf Challenge (Jan 15-18; Sunshine Tr event). Second-placed Branden Grace (RSA), Darren Fichardt (RSA), Darren Clarke (N.Ire) and Michael Hoey (N.Ire) finished 1 shot behind Retief Goosen (RSA), who recorded the last of his nine Sunshine Tour wins. [East London GC, Eastern Cape, RSA].

2009
America
276 (-8)
$972,000
Transitions

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

276 (-8)

Prize money

$972,000

Title sponsor

Transitions

Played as the Transitions Championship (March 19-22; formerly the PODS Championship). Second-placed Brett Quigley (USA) and Charles Howell III (USA) finished 1 shot behind Retief Goosen (RSA), who recorded the last of his seven PGA Tour wins. [Copperhead course, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, nr Tampa, FL].

2008
Asia
276 (-12)
US$79,250
Iskandar

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

US$79,250

Title sponsor

Iskandar

Played as the Iskandar Johor Open (Oct 30-Nov 2; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai) finished 2 shots behind Goosen (RSA). [Johor G&CC, Johor, Malaysia; at the time known as Royal Johor CC].

2007
Europe
273 (-15)
€282,743
Commercialbank

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Doha GC

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

€282,743

Title sponsor

Commercialbank

Played as the Commercialbank Qatar Masters (Jan 25-28; Eurpn/Asian Tours event). Second-placed Nick O'Hern (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Retief Goosen (RSA), who recorded the last of his 14 European Tour wins. [Doha GC, Qatar].

2006
Asia
267 (-21)
US$47,550
VW

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

US$47,550

Title sponsor

VW

Played as the Volkswagen Masters China (Oct 12-15; Asian Tour event). Second-placed Michael Campbell (NZ) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Goosen (RSA). [Yalong Bay GC, Sanya, Hainan Island, China].

2005
Asia
266 (-22)
US$47,250
VW

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Jinghua

Score

266 (-22)

Prize money

US$47,250

Title sponsor

VW

Played as the Volkswagen Masters China (Sept 1-4; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Michael Campbell (NZ) finished 6 shots behind Goosen (RSA), who recorded his first win in Asia. [Jinghua GC, Beijing, China].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

32 pts

Prize money

$900,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The International (Aug 4-7; modified stableford format). Second-placed Brandt Jobe (USA) finished 1 point behind Goosen (RSA). [Castle Pines GC, Castle Rock, nr Denver, Colorado].

2005
Europe
268 (-20)
€500,000
Linde

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

€500,000

Title sponsor

Linde

Played as the Linde German Masters (Sept 8-11). Second-placed Nick Dougherty (Eng), David Lynn (Eng), Henrik Stenson (Swe) and José María Olazábal (Esp) finished 1 shot behind Goosen (RSA). [GC Gut Lärchenhof, Pulheim, nr Cologne, Germany].

2005
Africa
282 (-10)
€158,579
SA Airways

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

282 (-10)

Prize money

€158,579

Title sponsor

SA Airways

Played as the South African Airways Open (Dec 15-18; Eurpn/Sunshine Trs event; Eurpn Tr 2006 season). Second-placed Ernie Els (RSA) finished 1 shot behind Goosen (RSA). [Links course, Fancourt, George, Western Cape, RSA].

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

$1,200,000

Title sponsor

Nedbank

Played as the Nedbank Golf Challenge (Dec 2-5; unofficial event; limited field of 12 top tour professionals). Second-placed Ernie Els (RSA) and Stuart Appleby (Aus) finished 6 shots behind Goosen (RSA). [Gary Player CC, Sun City Resort, North West Prov, South Africa].

2004
Majors
276 (-4)
$1,125,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

276 (-4)

Prize money

$1,125,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (104th) (June 17-20). Second-placed Phil Mickelson (USA) finished 2 shots behind Goosen (RSA). Only Goosen and Mickelson finished under par, on a final day that saw the highest scoring average (78.9) since 1935; wind, unforgiving rough and billiard-table greens were all factors. [Shinnecock Hills GC, Southampton, Long Island, NY].

2004
Europe
275 (-13)
€550,000
Smurfit

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

€550,000

Title sponsor

Smurfit

Played as the Smurfit European Open (July 1-4). Second-placed Lee Westwood (Eng), Richard Green (Aus) and Peter O'Malley (Aus) finished 5 shots behind Retief Goosen (RSA). [Palmer North course, K Club, Straffan, nr Dublin].

2004
America
269 (-11)
$1,080,000
Coca-Cola

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

269 (-11)

Prize money

$1,080,000

Title sponsor

Coca-Cola

Played as the Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola (Nov 4-7). Second-placed Tiger Woods (USA) finished 4 shots behind Goosen (RSA), who claimed his fifth PGA Tour win. [East Lake GC, Atlanta, GA].

2003
America
272 (-12)
$864,000
Chrysler

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

$864,000

Title sponsor

Chrysler

Played as the Chrysler Championship (Oct 30-Nov 2; formerly the Tampa Bay Classic). Second-placed Vijay Singh (Fiji) finished 3 shots behind Retief Goosen (RSA). [Copperhead course, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, nr Tampa, FL].

2003
Europe
Saint-Nom-La-Breteche
266 (-18)
€300,000
Lancôme

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Saint-Nom-La-Breteche

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

€300,000

Title sponsor

Lancôme

Played as the Trophée Lancôme (Sept 11-14). Second-placed Paul McGinley (Ire) finished 4 shots behind Goosen (RSA). This was the last Trophée Lancôme, the French perfumes and cosmetics company ending their 34-year sponsorship of this iconic European Tour event. [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].

2002
Awards
€2,360,128
see Score
Volvo

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Score

€2,360,128

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Volvo

Goosen (RSA) won his second straight Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 2002 Volvo Order of Merit winner, with earnings of €2,360,128 on the Tour. Padraig Harrington (Ire) was second with €2,334,655; Ernie Els (RSA) was third with €2,251,708.

2002
Africa
268 (-20)
R317,000
Dimension Data

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

R317,000

Title sponsor

Dimension Data

Played as the Dimension Data Pro-Am (Jan 31-Feb 3; Sunshine Tr 2001/02 season). Second-placed Scott Drummond (Scot) finished 3 shots behind Goosen (RSA). [Gary Player CC, Sun City Resort, North West Prov, RSA].

2002
America
272 (-16)
$684,000
BellSouth

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$684,000

Title sponsor

BellSouth

Played as the BellSouth Classic (April 4-7). Second-placed Jesper Parnevik (Swe) finished 4 shots behind Goosen (RSA). [TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia].

2002
Aus/NZ
274 (-14)
€243,641
Johnnie Walker

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

€243,641

Title sponsor

Johnnie Walker

Played as the Johnnie Walker Classic (Jan 24-27; Asian/Eurpn/Aus Trs event). Second-placed Pierre Fulke (Swe) finished 8 shots behind Goosen (RSA). [Lake Karrinyup CC, Perth, WA, Aus].

2001
Majors
276 (-4)
$900,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

276 (-4)

Prize money

$900,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (101st) (June 14-18). Retief Goosen (RSA) beat Mark Brooks (USA) in an 18-hole playoff: Goosen 70 (E); Brooks 72 (+2). This was Goosen's first major championship win, and his first victory on the PGA Tour. [Southern Hills CC, Tulsa, Oklahoma].

2001
Europe
268 (-16)
€610,999
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

€610,999

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond (July 12-15). Second-placed Thomas Bjørn (Den) finished 3 shots behind Retief Goosen (RSA). [Loch Lomond GC, Luss, Dunbartonshire].

2001
Awards
€2,862,806
see Score
Volvo

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Score

€2,862,806

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Volvo

Goosen (RSA) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 2001 Volvo Order of Merit winner, with earnings of €2,862,806 on the Tour. Padraig Harrington (Ire) was second with €2,090,166; Darren Clarke (N.Ire) was third with €1,988,055.

2001
Awards
x
n/a
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Goosen (RSA) won the European Tour Golfer of the Year Award, determined by a panel of representatives from the European Tour, golf writers, and TV and radio commentators.

2001
Europe
264 (-20)
€233,330
Telefonica

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

264 (-20)

Prize money

€233,330

Title sponsor

Telefonica

Played as the Telefonica Open de Madrid (Oct 25-28; played for the first time since 1993). Goosen (RSA) beat Steven Webster (Eng) with a birdie at the third playoff hole. The win also confirmed Goosen as the European Tour's 2001 Order of Merit winner. [Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, Spain].

2000
Europe
Saint-Nom-La-Breteche
271 (-13)
€218,461
Lancôme

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Venue

Saint-Nom-La-Breteche

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

€218,461

Title sponsor

Lancôme

Played as the Trophée Lancôme (Sept 14-17). Second-placed Michael Campbell (NZ) and Darren Clarke (N.Ire) finished 1 shot behind Goosen (RSA). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].

1999
Europe
272 (-12)
€141,660
Novotel Perrier

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

€141,660

Title sponsor

Novotel Perrier

Played as the Novotel Perrier Open de France (May 6-9). Goosen (RSA) beat Greg Turner (NZ) with a par at the second playoff hole. [Châteaux course, Golf du Médoc, nr Bordeaux].

1997
Europe
271 (-17)
£100,000
Peugeot

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

£100,000

Title sponsor

Peugeot

Played as the Peugeot Open de France. Second-placed Jamie Spence (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Goosen (RSA). [Albatros course, Golf National, Guyancourt, nr Paris].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

£50,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Slaley Hall Northumberland Challenge (June 13-16). Second-placed Ross Drummond (Scot) finished 2 shots behind first-time European Tour winner Goosen (RSA). [Hunting course, Slaley Hall Resort, Hexham, Northumberland].

1995
Africa
275 (-13)
R106,650
Philips

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Goosen, Retief

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

R106,650

Title sponsor

Philips

Played as the Philips South African Open (Feb 9-12; S African Tr 1994/95 season). Second-placed Ernie Els (RSA) finished 5 shots behind Goosen (RSA). [Firethorn course, Randpark GC, Johannesburg, RSA; known at the time as the Randpark course].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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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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