Who's who: Tony Johnstone

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Who's who: Tony Johnstone

  • Name:

    Anthony Alastair "Tony" Johnstone
  • Country:

    Zimbabwe
  • Born:

    May 2, 1956 in Bulawayo, Matabeleland, Zimbabwe.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; television commentator; "bushman".
  • Turned Pro:

    1979

Roll of Honour

Total professional wins (25), including European Tour (6), Sunshine Tour (17) and European Senior Tour (2). Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner (1988/89; 1993/94).

Did you know?

Growing up in what was then Rhodesia, the ever-amiable Johnstone developed a phenomenal short game, that would serve him well on the Sunshine and European Tours. He turned professional in 1979, and subsequently won six times on the European Tour and 17 times on the Sunshine Tour. Only his contemporary Mark McNulty has recorded more wins on the Sunshine Tour as a Zimbabwean.

After battling multiple sclerosis with a revolutionary drug treatment, Johnstone launched into a career on the European Senior Tour when he turned 50 in 2006. He also became a key contributor on Sky Sports golf coverage. He is much respected for his "David Attenborough-like" knowledge of the natural world around him - whether listening to bird calls in Europe or musing on the dung disposal capabilities of beetles in his native southern Africa.

Top tournaments won by Tony Johnstone

2009
Europe
206 (-10)
€42,782
Travis Perkins

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

€42,782

Title sponsor

Travis Perkins

Played as the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters (Sept 4-6). Second-placed Peter Senior (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Tony Johnstone (Zim), who recorded the second of his two European Senior Tour wins. [Duke's course, Woburn GC, nr Milton Keynes, Bucks].

2008
Europe
213 (-3)
€26,713
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Venue

La Moye

Score

213 (-3)

Prize money

€26,713

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Jersey Seniors Classic (June 6-8). Second-placed Gordon Brand Jr (Eng), Ross Drummond (Scot) and Ángel Franco (Par) finished 2 shots behind 52-year-old Tony Johnstone (Zim), who recorded the first of his two European Senior Tour wins. [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].

2001
Europe
274 (-14)
€133,832
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Venue

Doha GC

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

€133,832

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Qatar Masters (March 8-11; European Tour event). Second-placed Robert Karlsson (Swe) finished 2 shots behind Tony Johnstone (Zim), who recorded the last of his six European Tour wins. [Doha GC, Qatar].

1998
Africa
271 (-17)
R516,567
Alfred Dunhill

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

R516,567

Title sponsor

Alfred Dunhill

Played as the Alfred Dunhill PGA Championship (Feb 12-15; S African/Eurpn Trs event; S African Tr 1997/98 season). Second-placed Ernie Els (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Johnstone (Zim), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Houghton GC, Johannesburg, RSA].

1993
Africa
267 (-21)
R90,850
Philips

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

R90,850

Title sponsor

Philips

Played as the Philips South African Open (Dec 9-12; S African Tr 1993/94 season). Second-placed Ernie Els (RSA) finished 7 shots behind Johnstone (Zim). [Durban CC, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa].

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

R86,900

Title sponsor

EVS

Played as the EVS South African Masters (Feb 25-28; S African Tr 1992/93 season-ending event). Second-placed Roger Wessels (RSA) finished 1 shot behind Johnstone (Zim). [Wingate Park CC, Pretoria, RSA].

1993
Awards
R297,358
see Score
FNB

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Venue

Score

R297,358

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

FNB

1993/94 South Africa Tour Order of Merit (and associated Sid Brews Trophy). Won for the second time in his career by Johnstone (Zim) with season earnings of R297,358. Bruce Vaughan (USA) was second with R189,452; Ernie Els (RSA) was third with R160,410. Known as the FNB Summer Tour.

1992
Europe
272 (-16)
£100,000
Volvo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

£100,000

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo PGA Championship (May 22-25). Second-placed José María Olazábal (Esp) and Gordon Brand Jr (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Johnstone (Zim), who became the first player from Africa to win the PGA Championship. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

1991
Europe
40 pts
£58,330
Murphy's

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Venue

Fulford

Score

40 pts

Prize money

£58,330

Title sponsor

Murphy's

Played as Murphy's Cup (June 6-9; based on a modified stableford scoring format). Defending champion Johnstone (Zim) beat Eamonn Darcy (Ire) with an eagle at the second playoff hole. [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].

1990
Europe
50 pts
£41,660
Murphy's

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Venue

Fulford

Score

50 pts

Prize money

£41,660

Title sponsor

Murphy's

Played as Murphy's Cup (Aug 9-12; based on a modified stableford scoring format). Second-placed Malcolm MacKenzie (Eng) finished 2 pts behind Johnstone (RSA), who recorded his second European Tour win. [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

269

Prize money

Title sponsor

Lexington

Played as the Lexington PGA Championship. Chris Williams (Eng) finished in second place behind Johnstone (Zim). [The Wanderers GC, Ilovo, Johannesburg, RSA].

1988
Awards
R254,950
see Score
S Africa Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Venue

Score

R254,950

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

S Africa Tr

1988/89 South Africa Tour Order of Merit. Won by Johnstone (Zim) with season earnings of R254,950. John Bland (RSA) was second with R143,448; Jeff Hawkes (RSA) was third with R141,677.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

£9,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Portuguese Open (Nov 1-4; European Tr season-ending event). Second-placed Michael King (Eng) finished 3 shots behind 28-year-old Tony Johnstone (Zim), who recorded the first of his six European Tour wins. [South course, Quinta do Lago GC, nr Almancil, Algarve, Portugal].

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

274

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the South African Open. Fulton Allem (RSA) finished in second place behind Johnstone (Zim). [Houghton GC, Johannesburg, RSA].

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Johnstone, Tony

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Safmarine

Played as the Safmarine South African Masters. Won by Johnstone (Zim). [Milnerton GC, nr Cape Town, Western Cape, RSA].

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