Who's who: David Graham

  • 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: David Graham

  • Name:

    Anthony David Graham
  • Country:

    Australia
  • Born:

    May 23, 1946 in Windsor, Tasmania, Australia.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1962 (aged 16)

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2): US Open (1981); US PGA Ch'ship (1979). Presidents Cup captain (1994). Total professional wins (38), including Australasian Tour (8), PGA Tour (8), European Tour (2), Japan Tour (1) and Champions Tour (5). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2015).

Golf course design

From 1988 to 1997, David Graham teamed up with course architect Gary Panks, to produce several excellent designs, including (but not limited to): Talon course, Grayhawk (AZ); Raven at South Mountain (AZ); Burapha (Thailand); Turtle Point course, Laguna Whitsundays (Aus).

Did you know?

David Graham is one of the best Australian golfers of the modern era. With wins on six different continents during his career, he was victorious in two major championships and secured eight PGA Tour titles. He played on the Champions Tour, but was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004, aged 58, after which he gave up competitive golf. Working with Gary Panks between 1988 and 1997, Graham contributed to the design of several top-quality golf courses.

Top tournaments won by David Graham

1999
America
Serrano CC
199 (-17)
$165,000
Raley

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Serrano CC

Score

199 (-17)

Prize money

$165,000

Title sponsor

Raley

Played as the Raley's Gold Rush Classic (Oct 15-17). Second-placed Larry Mowry (USA) finished 4 shots behind Graham (Aus), who recorded the last of his five Snr PGA Tour wins. [Serrano CC, El Dorado Hills, nr Sacramento, CA].

1998
America
202 (-11)
$127,500
Royal Caribbn

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

202 (-11)

Prize money

$127,500

Title sponsor

Royal Caribbn

Played as the Royal Caribbean Classic (Jan 29-Feb 1). Graham (Aus) beat Dave Stockton (USA) with a birdie at the tenth playoff hole, the longest sudden-death playoff in Snr PGA Tour history. [Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne, nr Miami, FL; at the time known as Crandon Pk GC].

1997
America
204 (-9)
$135,000
GTE

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

204 (-9)

Prize money

$135,000

Title sponsor

GTE

Played as the GTE Classic (Feb 14-16). Second-placed Bob Dickson (USA) finished 3 shots behind first-time Snr PGA Tour winner Graham (Aus). [TPC Tampa Bay, Lutz, nr Tampa, FL].

1997
America
200 (-16)
$157,500
Comfort Inn

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

200 (-16)

Prize money

$157,500

Title sponsor

Comfort Inn

Played as the Comfort Classic at the Brickyard (Sept 19-21; formerly Brickyard Crossing Championship). Second-placed Larry Nelson (USA) and Bud Allin (USA) finished 1 shot behind Graham (Aus). [Brickyard Crossing GC, Indianapolis, IN].

1997
America
Dominion CC
206 (-10)
$120,000
Southwestern Bell

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Dominion CC

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

$120,000

Title sponsor

Southwestern Bell

Played as the Southwestern Bell Dominion (March 28-30). Second-placed John Jacobs (USA) finished 1 shot behind Graham (Aus). [Dominion CC, San Antonio, Texas].

1983
America
275 (-9)
$72,000
Coca-Cola

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

Coca-Cola

Played as the Houston Coca-Cola Open (May 5-8). Second-placed Lee Elder (USA), Lee Trevino (USA) and Jim Thorpe (USA) finished 5 shots behind David Graham (Aus), who recorded the last of his eight PGA Tour wins. [The Woodlands CC, nr Houston, TX].

1982
Europe
Saint-Nom-La-Breteche
276
£13,272
Lancome

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Saint-Nom-La-Breteche

Score

276

Prize money

£13,272

Title sponsor

Lancome

Played as the Trophee Lancome. Won by David Graham (Aus). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].

1981
Europe
Saint-Nom-La-Breteche
280
Lancome

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Saint-Nom-La-Breteche

Score

280

Prize money

Title sponsor

Lancome

Played as the Trophee Lancome. Won by David Graham (Aus). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].

1981
America
Phoenix CC, AZ
268 (-16)
$54,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Phoenix CC, AZ

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$54,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Phoenix Open (Jan 22-25). Second-placed Lon Hinkle (USA) finished 1 shot behind Graham (Aus). [Phoenix CC, Phoenix, AZ].

1981
Majors
273 (-7)
$55,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Merion

Score

273 (-7)

Prize money

$55,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (81st) (June 18-21). Second-placed Bill Rogers (USA) and George Burns (USA) finished 3 shots behind Graham (Aus), who recorded the second of his two major championship wins. [East Course, Merion GC, Ardmore, nr Philadelphia, PA].

1980
America
Bellavista GC, Mex
279
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Bellavista GC, Mex

Score

279

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Mexican Open (Abierto Mexicano de Golf) (for the first time since 1977). Jerry Pate (USA) finished in second place behind Graham (Aus). [GC Bellavista, Ciudad López Mateos, nr Mexico City].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

$54,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Memorial Tournament (May 22-25). Second-placed and defending champion Tom Watson (USA) finished 1 shot behind Graham (Aus), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, nr Columbus, OH].

1979
Majors
272 (-8)
$60,000
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

272 (-8)

Prize money

$60,000

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (61st) (Aug 2-5). First-time major championship winner Graham (Aus) beat Ben Crenshaw (USA) with a birdie at the third playoff hole (par-3 3rd). [South course, Oakland Hills CC, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

279 (-5)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Air NZ/Shell

Played as the Air New Zealand Shell Open (Nov 29-Dec 2). Second-placed Rodger Davis (Aus) finished 8 shots behind Graham (Aus). [Wellington GC, Heretaunga, Upper Hutt, nr Wellington, NZ; from 2004 Royal Wellington GC].

1977
Aus/NZ
284 (-4)
A$39,600
x

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

A$39,600

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian Open (Nov 17-20). Second-placed Don January (USA), Bruce Lietzke (USA) and John Lister (NZ) finished 3 shots behind Graham (Aus). [The Australian GC, Rosebery, Sydney, Aus].

1976
America
272 (-12)
$60,000
American Express

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

$60,000

Title sponsor

American Express

Played for the first time as the American Express Westchester Classic (July 15-18). Second-placed Ben Crenshaw (USA), Tom Watson (USA) and Fuzzy Zoeller (USA) finished 3 shots behind Graham (Aus), who claimed his second PGA Tour win. [West course, Westchester CC, Rye, NY].

1976
Europe
38th hole
£25,000
Piccadilly

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

38th hole

Prize money

£25,000

Title sponsor

Piccadilly

Played as the Piccadilly World Match Play Championship (Oct 7-9; field of eight players). Graham (Aus) beat defending champion Hale Irwin (USA) at the 38th hole in the final. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Chunichi Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 29-May 2; Japan Tr event). Won by Graham (Aus), who recorded his first and only Japan Tour victory. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].

1976
America
274 (-14)
$40,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the (last) American Golf Classic (Aug 26-29). Second-placed Lou Graham (USA) finished 4 shots behind David Graham (Aus). [North course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

1972
America
Tanglewood Club, OH
278 (-6)
$30,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Tanglewood Club, OH

Score

278 (-6)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Cleveland Open (Jun 30-Jul 4). 26-year-old tour rookie David Graham (Aus) beat fellow countryman Bruce Devlin (Aus) with a birdie at the second playoff hole. Monday finish required following earlier rain delays. [Tanglewood Club, Chagrin Falls, Ohio].

1971
America
Valle Arriba GC
272 (-8)
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Valle Arriba GC

Score

272 (-8)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Caracas Open. Second-placed Tommy Bolt (USA) finished 1 shot behind Graham (Aus). [Valle Arriba GC, Caracas, Venezuela].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Score

268

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the French Open. Florentino Molina (Arg) and defending champion Jean Garaïalde (Fra) finished in second place behind Graham (Aus). [Chantaco GC, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, nr Biarritz].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Graham, David

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Thailand Open. Won by Graham (Aus).

Find a 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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Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

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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