Tom Weiskopf, the winner of 16 PGA Tour titles, including the 1973 British Open, died on Aug. 20. He was 79, and had been dealing with pancreatic cancer since late 2020.
Weiskopf experienced all corners of the game, from his time as a PGA Tour player to his broadcast work as a golf commentator as well as a noted golf course designer.
With a noticeably high ball flight and enormous power for his time and control, he won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, and another four times on PGA Tour Champions, notably the 1995 U.S. Senior Open. He also represented the U.S. on two winning Ryder Cup teams and famously turned down being selected for a third. He memorably battled his temper on the golf course, earning the 6-foot, 3-inch tall Weiskopf the nickname “The Towering Inferno.”
A son of the Buckeye state, Weiskopf was born Nov. 9, 1942 in Massillon, Ohio. He played golf for Ohio State University and was considered to be “the next Nicklaus,” to be produced from that state and golf program. He turned professional in 1964.
“He had a helluva career,” said his good friend Tony Jacklin. “He was unfortunate that he ran into Nicklaus so often. He held Jack in such high regard.”
player2
Poor man died in twenty twenty slash, just ampersand days before his birthday.
NDoor_Cat
The first PGA tournament I attended was the 1966(?) Greater Greensboro Open, where rookie Tom Weiskopf lost in a playoff to Doug Sanders. Arnold Palmer famously buzzed the course in his private jet just as Weiskopf was putting on the second playoff hole, which many believe cost him the tournament.
I remember most the teenage girls following him around the course. Arnold had his Army, but Tom was the rock star that year.
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Tom Weiskopf, the winner of 16 PGA Tour titles, including the 1973 British Open, died on Aug. 20. He was 79, and had been dealing with pancreatic cancer since late 2020.
Weiskopf experienced all corners of the game, from his time as a PGA Tour player to his broadcast work as a golf commentator as well as a noted golf course designer.
With a noticeably high ball flight and enormous power for his time and control, he won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, and another four times on PGA Tour Champions, notably the 1995 U.S. Senior Open. He also represented the U.S. on two winning Ryder Cup teams and famously turned down being selected for a third. He memorably battled his temper on the golf course, earning the 6-foot, 3-inch tall Weiskopf the nickname “The Towering Inferno.”
A son of the Buckeye state, Weiskopf was born Nov. 9, 1942 in Massillon, Ohio. He played golf for Ohio State University and was considered to be “the next Nicklaus,” to be produced from that state and golf program. He turned professional in 1964.
“He had a helluva career,” said his good friend Tony Jacklin. “He was unfortunate that he ran into Nicklaus so often. He held Jack in such high regard.”
Poor man died in twenty twenty slash, just ampersand days before his birthday.
The first PGA tournament I attended was the 1966(?) Greater Greensboro Open, where rookie Tom Weiskopf lost in a playoff to Doug Sanders. Arnold Palmer famously buzzed the course in his private jet just as Weiskopf was putting on the second playoff hole, which many believe cost him the tournament.
I remember most the teenage girls following him around the course. Arnold had his Army, but Tom was the rock star that year.