Tom Watson Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Early Years and Childhood

Thomas Sturges Watson was born 4th September 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States.

His father introduced him to golf at a young age. Watson studied at Pembroke-Country Day School, and he was on the school’s golfing team. He then went to Stanford University and was on both the golf and table tennis teams. He graduated in 1971 with a degree in psychology.

Watson won four Missouri State Amateur Championships. The wins were in 1967, 1968, 1970, and 1971.

Career

After his graduation from university in 1971, Tom Watson joined the PGA Tour. In 1973, Watson hired Bruce Edwards to be his caddie, and Edwards remained Watson’s caddie for many years afterwards.

Tom Watson's first major championship was the U.S. Open in 1974. After having the 54-hole lead, he faded badly and was very disappointed with his efforts. Just two weeks later, Watson won his first Tour title.

After his loss in the U.S. Open, Watson had been approached by Byron Nelson. Nelson was a retired player of legendary status, and he was broadcasting the event. He offered to help Watson because he was so impressed with him.

Under the tutoring of Nelson, Tom Watson's game improved dramatically very quickly. He won the 1975 Open Championship in Britain, his first major championship. His second major championship was also his first green jacket at the Masters in 1977. In 1978, Watson had five PGA Tour wins, and five again in 1979.

Watson had a stellar year in 1980, winning six PGA tournaments, and had 16 top 10 finishes. He won three titles in 1981, and in 1982 he won both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

Over the next few years, Tom Watson's form declined, and despite several top ten finishes, he never again hit the same form he had earlier in his career.

He continued to play through the 1990s and 2000s. His only success came in 1998 when he won the 1998 MasterCard Colonial, which would be the last of his wins.

Tom Watson's final appearance in the Masters was 2016, where he announced he couldn’t compete anymore.

In 2018, he won the Masters Tournament Par 3 Contest.

Tom Watson had 70 wins in his professional career. 39 were PGA wins, four were on the Japan Golf Tour, and 14 on the PGA Tour Championships.

Awards and Honors

Tom Watson held many records, and he received many awards and honors.

Some of these included being PGA Player of the Year from 1977 to 1980, 1982, and 1984, and being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.

Personal

Tom Watson married Linda Rubin in 1972, but they divorced in 1997. His second marriage was to Hilary Watson in 1999. He has two children, a son, Michael, and a daughter, Meg.

Charitable Works

His long-time caddy, Bruce Edwards, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 2003. Watson, in conjunction with Edwards, spent a considerable amount of time as well as money in 2003 to raise funds for research. Edwards died on 8th April 2004.