By Dr. Tony Parker, World Golf Hall of Fame Historian
The golfing world is saddened by the loss of one of golf’s greatest legends and World Golf Hall of Fame Member Peter Thomson. He was 88 years old when he died on June 20, 2018.
Thomson, born August 23, 1929 in Brunswick, Australia, rose to global prominence throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Statement on Peter Thomson’s Passing from Hall of Fame President Jack Peter
Starting his career in his home country of Australia, Thomson turned professional in 1949 and won his first victory at the New Zealand Open in 1950. He would go on to win more than 70 worldwide victories, including The Open Championship five times (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965). Between the years 1952 and 1958, Thomson tied second place or better in seven consecutive Open Championships and was the only Open champion to win three consecutive times in the 20th century.
It has been said of him that he walked with a “quiet confidence” and had great course management. He said that he loved the pressure of tight competition and being in the thick of things during the final rounds, and he proved that on the golf course. Representing Australia, Thomson played on 11 World Cup teams and he captained the International team in the Presidents Cup three times.
After a successful career as a touring professional, he joined the PGA TOUR Champions for a short time, winning 12 times, including the Seniors PGA Championship and the European Seniors PGA Championship.
Away from competition on the golf course, Thomson served as President of the Australian PGA from 1962 to 1994 and designed numerous golf courses throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe, one of which was the Duke’s Course in St Andrews, Scotland.
I remember something he said at the KPMG Golf Business Forum held in St Andrews in 2013. Thomson was on a panel discussion with Sir Michael Bonallack and one of the topics was about the physical fitness of today’s golfers. When asked by the moderator what he did to keep fit during his career, Thomson replied simply, “I played golf.”
Although he made a tremendous impact on the game of golf both on and off the golf course, what more can be said on this golfing legend than “I played golf.” Indeed he did, and the world watched in awe. Peter Thomson’s life and career will continue to be celebrated and honored in the World Golf Hall of Fame for generations to come.
