Who's who in golf - Tom Kite
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| Name: |
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Thomas Oliver "Tom" Kite Jr |
| Country: |
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USA
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| Born : |
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December 9th, 1949 in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. |
| Original Home/Club: |
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Austin, Texas |
| Occupation: |
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Professional golfer, course designer. |
| Turned Pro: |
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1972 |
| Web Address: |
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http://www.tomkitedesign.com
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Roll of Honour
Majors (1). Senior majors (1). Walker Cup player (1971). Ryder Cup player (1979, '81, '83, '85, '87, '89, '93). Ryder Cup captain (1997). Total professional wins (38), of which US PGA Tour (19), European Tr (2) and Champions Tour (10). US PGA Tour leading money winner (1981, 1989). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2004).
Golf course design
Tom Kite Design have been responsible for designing and building several top-quality courses, which include (but are not limited to): Liberty National (NJ, with Bob Cupp); Trump International (Puerto Rico); Vanderbilt Legends (Tenn, with Bob Cupp); Gaillardia CC (Oklahoma); Somersett CC (NV); Comanche Trace (TX).
Did you know?
Kite attended the University of Texas on a golf scholarship and while there was coached by Harvey Penick (as was fellow Hall of Famer and Texas alumni Ben Crenshaw). Kite turned professional in 1972 and has been a consistent money winner on the US PGA and Champions Tours ever since.
Top tournaments won by Tom Kite
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| 2008 | Snr America | Boeing Classic | Snoqualmie Ridge | 202 (-14) | $255,000 |
| Played as the Boeing Classic. Second-placed Scott Simpson (USA) finished 2 shots behind Kite (USA), who recorded the last of his ten Champions Tour victories. [Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, nr Seattle, Washington; at the time TPC Snoqualmie Ridge]. |
| 2006 | Snr America | AT&T Champions Classic | Valencia CC | 204 (-12) | $240,000 |
| Played as the AT&T Classic (formerly SBC Classic). Second-placed Gil Morgan (USA) finished 5 shots behind Kite (USA). [Valencia CC, nr Santa Clarita, California]. |
| 2006 | Snr America | Boeing Classic | Snoqualmie Ridge | 201 (-15) | $240,000 |
| Played as the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic. Kite (USA) beat Keith Fergus (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, nr Seattle, Washington; at the time TPC Snoqualmie Ridge]. |
| 2004 | Snr America | 3M Championship | TPC Twin Cities | 203 (-13) | $262,500 |
| Played as the 3M Championship. Second-placed Craig Stadler (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kite (USA). [TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, nr Minneapolis, Minn.]. |
| 2002 | Snr America | AT&T Champions Classic | Valencia CC | 212 (-4) | $217,500 |
| Played as the SBC Senior Classic. Kite (USA) beat Tom Watson (USA) with a par at the second playoff hole. [Valencia CC, nr Santa Clarita, California]. |
| 2002 | Snr America | Mitsubishi Championship | Hualalai Resort | 199 (-17) | $258,000 |
| Played as the MasterCard Championship (Jan 17-20; Snr PGA Tour season-opener). Second-placed John Jacobs (USA) finished 6 shots behind Kite (USA). [Hualālai course, Hualālai Resort, Big Island, Hawaii]. |
| 2002 | Snr America | Transamerica Ch'ship | Silverado | 204 (-12) | $195,000 |
| Played as the Napa Valley Championship presented by Beringer Vineyards. Second-placed Bruce Fleisher (USA) and Fred Gibson (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kite (USA). [South course, Silverado Resort, Napa, California]. |
| 2001 | Snr America | Gold Rush Classic | Serrano CC | 194 (-22) | $195,000 |
| Played as the Gold Rush Classic. Second-placed Allen Doyle (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kite (USA). [Serrano CC, El Dorado Hills, nr Sacramento, CA]. |
| 2000 | Snr America | Ameritech Snr Open | Kemper Lakes | 207 (-9) | $210,000 |
| Played as the SBC Senior Open. Second-placed Bruce Fleisher (USA) finished 2 shots behind Kite (USA). [Kemper Lakes GC, Kildeer, nr Chicago, Illinois]. |
| 2000 | Snr Majors | The Tradition | Desert Mountain | 280 (-8) | $240,000 |
| Played as the Countrywide Tradition. First-time US Snr Tr winner Kite (USA) beat Tom Watson (USA) with a birdie at the sixth playoff hole; Larry Nelson (USA) was eliminated at the second playoff hole. [Cochise course, Desert Mountain GC, Scottsdale, AZ]. |
| 1996 | Men Europe | Oki Pro-Am | La Moraleja | x | £74,500 |
| Played as the Oki Pro-Am. Won by Tom Kite (USA). |
| 1996 | Men America | Shootout, The | Sherwood CC | 187 | $150,000 |
| Played as the Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout. Second-placed team of Craig Stadler & Lanny Wadkins finished 2 shots behind the winning team of Jay Haas & Tom Kite. |
| 1993 | Men America | CareerBuilder Challenge | PGA West | 325 (-35) | $198,000 |
| Played as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (Feb 10-14). Second-placed Rick Fehr (USA) finished 6 shots behind Kite (USA). [PGA West (Palmer), La Quinta, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Bermuda Dunes CC; Indian Wells CC; Tamarisk CC]. |
| 1993 | Men America | Los Angeles Open | Riviera CC, Calif. | 206 (-7) | $180,000 |
| Played as the Nissan Los Angeles Open (Feb 25-28). Second-placed Dave Barr (Can), Fred Couples (USA), Donnie Hammond (USA) and Payne Stewart (USA) finished 3 shots behind Kite (USA), who recorded the last of his 19 PGA Tour wins. Event reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA]. |
| 1992 | Men America | Atlanta Classic | Atlanta CC | 272 (-16) | $180,000 |
| Played as the BellSouth Classic. Second-placed Jay Don Blake (USA) finished 3 shots behind Kite (USA), who claimed his 16th PGA Tour win. [Atlanta CC, Marietta, Georgia]. |
| 1992 | Men America | Shootout, The | Sherwood CC | 191 | $150,000 |
| Played as the Franklin Funds Shark Shootout. Second-placed team of Fred Couples & Ray Floyd finished 1 shot behind the winning team of Tom Kite & Davis Love III. |
| 1992 | Men Majors | US Open | Pebble Beach | 285 (-3) | $275,000 |
| The US Open (92nd) (June 18-21). Second-placed Jeff Sluman (USA) finished 2 shots behind first-time major championship winner Kite (USA). [Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA]. |
| 1991 | Men America | Tourmnt of Chmpns (PGA Tr) | La Costa Resort | 272 (-16) | $144,000 |
| Played as the Infiniti Tournament of Champions (Jan 3-6; PGA Tour season opener). Second-placed Lanny Wadkins (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kite (USA). [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course]. |
| 1990 | Men America | St Jude Classic | TPC Southwind | 269 (-15) | $180,000 |
| Played as the Federal Express St Jude Classic. Kite (USA) beat John Cook (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [TPC Southwind, Memphis, TN]. |
| 1989 | Men America | Arnold Palmer Invtl | Bay Hill Club | 278 (-6) | $144,000 |
| Played as The Nestle Invitational. Kite (USA) beat Davis Love III (USA) with a par at the second playoff hole. [Bay Hill Club, Orlando, FL]. |
| 1989 | Men Awards | Money Winner - PGA Tr | | $1,395,278 | see Score |
| Kite (USA) won his second Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour 1989 leading money winner, with earnings of $1,395,278 on the Tour. Payne Stewart (USA) was second with $1,201,301; Paul Azinger (USA) was third with $951,649. |
| 1989 | Men America | Players Ch'ship (PGA Tr) | TPC Sawgrass | 279 (-9) | $243,000 |
| Played as The Players Championship. Second-placed Chip Beck (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kite (USA). [Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL]. |
| 1989 | Men Awards | Plyr of Yr - PGA of Am | | x | n/a |
| Kite (USA) won the PGA of America Player of the Year Award (based on points allocated for PGA Tour wins, money-list position and scoring average). |
| 1989 | Men America | Tour Championship (PGA Tr) | Harbour Town | 276 (-8) | $450,000 |
| Played as the Nabisco Championship (Oct 26-29). Kite (USA) beat Payne Stewart (USA) with a par at the second playoff hole (par-3 17th). [Harbour Town Links, Hilton Head, SC]. |
| 1987 | Men America | Kemper Open | TPC Potomac | 270 (-14) | $126,000 |
| Played as the Kemper Open. Second-placed Chris Perry (USA) and Howard Twitty (USA) finished 7 shots behind Kite (USA). [TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Potomac, nr Washington DC. At the time known as TPC Avenel]. |
| 1986 | Men America | BMW Ch'ship (US) | Butler Natl. | 286 (-2) | $90,000 |
| Played as the Western Open. Kite (USA) beat Fred Couples (USA), David Frost (RSA) and Nick Price (Zim) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Butler National GC, Oak Brook, IL]. |
| 1985 | Men America | Tourmnt of Chmpns (PGA Tr) | La Costa Resort | 275 (-13) | $72,000 |
| Played as the MONY Tournament of Champions (May 2-5). Second-placed Mark McCumber (USA) finished 6 shots behind Kite (USA). [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course]. |
| 1984 | Men America | Atlanta Classic | Atlanta CC | 269 (-19) | $72,000 |
| Played as the Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic. Second-placed Don Pooley (USA) finished 5 shots behind Kite (USA). [Atlanta CC, Marietta, Georgia]. |
| 1984 | Men America | Doral Open | Doral Golf Resort | 272 | $72,000 |
| Played as the Doral-Eastern Open Invitational |
| 1983 | Men America | Pebble Beach Pro-Am | Pebble Beach | 276 (-12) | $58,500 |
| Played as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (Feb 3-6). Second-placed Rex Caldwell (USA) and Calvin Peete (USA) finished 2 shots behind Kite (USA), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Cypress Point Club and Spyglass Hill GC]. |
| 1982 | Men America | Arnold Palmer Invtl | Bay Hill Club | 278 (-6) | $54,000 |
| Played as the Bay Hill Classic. Kite (USA) beat Jack Nicklaus (USA) and Denis Watson (Zim) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Bay Hill Club, Orlando, FL]. |
| 1982 | Men Awards | Low Stroke Ave - PGA of Am | | 70.21 | n/a |
| Kite (USA) won his second straight PGA of America Vardon Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour (over a minimum of 80 rounds). Calvin Peete (USA) was second with 70.33; Curtis Strange (USA) was third with 70.39. |
| 1982 | Men Awards | Low Stroke Ave - PGA Tr | | 70.21 | n/a |
| Kite (USA) won his second straight PGA Tour Byron Nelson Award, recording the season's lowest scoring average (over a minimum of 50 rounds). Calvin Peete (USA) was second with 70.33; Curtis Strange (USA) was third with 70.39. |
| 1981 | Men America | Honda Classic | Inverrary CC | 274 (-14) | $54,000 |
| Played as the American Motors Inverrary Classic (March 5-8). Second-placed Jack Nicklaus (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kite (USA). [East course, Inverrary CC, Ft Lauderdale, FL]. |
| 1981 | Men America | JCPenney Classic | Bardmoor CC | 270 (-18) | $50,000 |
| Played as the JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (two-person team event; one PGA Tr, one LPGA Tr). Winning team: Tom Kite (USA) & Beth Daniel (USA). Second place: Vance Heafner (USA) & Cathy Morse (USA). [Bardmoor CC, Largo, FL]. |
| 1981 | Men Awards | Low Stroke Ave - PGA of Am | | 69.80 | n/a |
| Kite (USA) won the PGA of America Vardon Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour (over a minimum of 80 rounds). Bruce Lietzke (USA) was second with 70.01; Ray Floyd (USA) was third with 70.20. |
| 1981 | Men Awards | Low Stroke Ave - PGA Tr | | 69.80 | n/a |
| Kite (USA) won the PGA Tour Byron Nelson Award, recording the season's lowest scoring average (over a minimum of 50 rounds). Bruce Lietzke (USA) was second with 70.01; Ray Floyd (USA) was third with 70.20. |
| 1981 | Men Awards | Money Winner - PGA Tr | | $375,699 | see Score |
| Kite (USA) won the inaugural Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour leading money winner, with 1981 season earnings of $375,699 on the Tour. Ray Floyd (USA) was second with $359,360; Tom Watson (USA) was third with $347,660. |
| 1980 | Men Europe | European Open | Walton Heath | 284 (-8) | £17,500 |
| Played as the European Open Championship. Second-placed Lon Hinkle (USA) and Leonard Thompson (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kite (USA). [Composite course (predominantly based on the Old course), Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey]. |
| 1978 | Men America | B.C. Open | En-Joie GC | 267 | $45,000 |
| Played as the B.C. Open. [En-Joie GC, Endicott, NY]. |
| 1976 | Men America | Bicentennial Classic | | x | x |
| Played as the IVB Bicentennial Golf Classic. |
| 1974 | Men Aus/NZ | Air New Zealand Open | | 268 (-16) | NZ$6,500 |
| Played as the City of Auckland Classic (Nov 14-17). Second-placed Stewart Ginn (Aus) finished 7 shots behind Kite (USA). |
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