1. Early Life
Peter Thomson was born in Brunswick, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. He began playing golf at the age of 13. Growing up in Melbourne, he honed his skills on dry, windy courses with firm ground, which helped him develop a distinctive low draw shot. This early training meant he required no "special ability supplement" when playing on the British links courses.
2. Professional Career
Peter Thomson's professional career was characterized by consistent success across various international tours, culminating in five major championship victories and numerous other titles.
2.1. Early Career and Australasian Success
Thomson transitioned to professional golf in the late 1940s, quickly establishing himself as a dominant force on the Australasian circuits. He achieved significant success in his home country of Australia and in New Zealand. Among his early triumphs was a victory at the 1951 Australian Open. He also secured his first New Zealand Open win in 1950 and went on to win it nine times overall.
His notable victories in Australia include:
- 1949 Victorian Close Championship
- 1951 Australian Open, Victorian Close Championship
- 1952 Victorian PGA Championship, Mobilco Tournament
- 1953 Victorian PGA Championship
- 1954 Ampol Tournament (November)
- 1955 Wiseman's Tournament, Pelaco Tournament, Speedo Tournament
- 1956 Pelaco Tournament
- 1958 Victorian Open, Pelaco Tournament
- 1959 Pelaco Tournament, Coles Tournament
- 1960 Wills Classic
- 1961 Adelaide Advertiser Tournament, New South Wales Open
- 1963 Lakes Open
- 1967 Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open
- 1968 South Australian Open, Victorian Open
- 1972 Australian Open
- 1973 Victorian Open
In New Zealand, his triumphs included:
- 1950 New Zealand Open
- 1951 New Zealand Open
- 1953 New Zealand Open, New Zealand PGA Championship
- 1955 New Zealand Open, Caltex Tournament
- 1959 New Zealand Open, Caltex Tournament
- 1960 New Zealand Open
- 1961 New Zealand Open
- 1963 Metalcraft Tournament (shared title with Ted Ball)
- 1964 Forest Products Tournament
- 1965 New Zealand Open, Metalcraft Tournament, Caltex Tournament, BP Tournament (shared title with Kel Nagle)
- 1966 New Zealand Wills Masters (shared title with Tim Woolbank), Caltex Tournament (shared title with Kel Nagle)
- 1967 Caltex Tournament (shared title with Bob Charles)
- 1968 Sax Altman Tournament (shared title with Guy Wolstenholme)
- 1971 New Zealand Open
2.2. European Career and Open Championship Dominance
Thomson's most significant achievements came in Europe, particularly at The Open Championship, which he won five times. His victories occurred in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965. He holds the unique distinction of being the only golfer in the 20th century to win The Open Championship for three consecutive years (1954, 1955, and 1956).
His dominant performances in the 1950s, which also included second-place finishes in 1952, 1953, and 1957, showcased a level of strength at The Open that surpassed even that of Bobby Locke, who won the tournament four times during that decade. His 1955 victory was particularly notable for its score of 281 (71-68-70-72), which was four strokes better than the Open Championship course record held by Bobby Jones for a four-day total. This win also marked the first time the tournament's prize money reached a four-figure sum, at 1.00 K GBP. In 1958, he secured his fourth Open title by defeating Dave Thomas in a 36-hole playoff, with a score of 139 to Thomas's 143.
Early in his career, some critics suggested that Thomson's initial Open victories were facilitated by the infrequent participation of top American professionals, who often found the prize money insufficient to cover their travel expenses to Britain. However, Thomson conclusively demonstrated his ability to compete with and defeat the world's best players with his 1965 Open Championship win. In this victory, he triumphed over a formidable field that included golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus (by nine strokes), Arnold Palmer (by ten strokes), and Tony Lema (by four strokes), effectively silencing any lingering doubts about his caliber.
Beyond The Open, Thomson amassed numerous other wins on the British PGA Circuit, showcasing his consistent performance in Europe:
- 1954 News of the World Match Play
- 1957 Yorkshire Evening News Tournament
- 1958 Dunlop Tournament, Daks Tournament (tied with Harold Henning)
- 1960 Daks Tournament, Yorkshire Evening News Tournament, Bowmaker Tournament
- 1961 Yorkshire Evening News Tournament, Esso Golden Tournament (tied with Dave Thomas), News of the World Match Play, Dunlop Masters
- 1962 Martini International, Piccadilly No. 1 Tournament
- 1965 Daks Tournament
- 1966 News of the World Match Play
- 1967 Esso Golden Tournament (tied with Kel Nagle), News of the World Match Play, Alcan International
- 1968 Dunlop Masters
- 1970 Martini International (tied with Doug Sewell)
- 1972 W.D. & H.O. Wills Tournament
His European success also extended to other national opens:
- 1959 Italian Open, Spanish Open
- 1960 German Open
2.3. PGA Tour and Other International Appearances
Thomson competed on the PGA Tour in 1953 and 1954, finishing 44th and 25th on the money list respectively, with relatively little initial success. Despite being an infrequent competitor thereafter, he made a significant impact in 1956, playing in only eight events. That year, he won the lucrative Texas International Open and achieved his best finish in a US-staged major, placing fourth at the U.S. Open, which propelled him to ninth on the money list for the season.
His PGA Tour wins include:
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 Jul 1954 | The Open Championship | -9 (72-71-69-71=283) | 1 stroke | Bobby Locke, Dai Rees, Syd Scott |
| 2 | 8 Jul 1955 | The Open Championship (2) | -7 (71-68-70-72=281) | 2 strokes | John Fallon |
| 3 | 4 Jun 1956 | Texas International Open | -13 (67-68-69-63=267) | Playoff | Gene Littler, Cary Middlecoff |
| 4 | 6 Jul 1956 | The Open Championship (3) | +2 (70-70-72-74=286) | 3 strokes | Flory Van Donck |
| 5 | 5 Jul 1958 | The Open Championship (4) | -6 (66-72-67-73=278) | Playoff | Dave Thomas |
| 6 | 9 Jul 1965 | The Open Championship (5) | -3 (74-68-72-71=285) | 2 strokes | Brian Huggett, Christy O'Connor Snr |
Thomson also had a strong presence in Asia, particularly on the PGA of Japan Tour and the Asia Golf Circuit.
His Japan Tour wins include:
- 1976 Pepsi-Wilson Tournament (shortened to 54 holes due to rain, won playoff against Brian Jones, Graham Marsh, and Shozo Miyamoto)
Other wins in Japan include:
- 1969 Chunichi Crowns
- 1971 Dunlop Tournament, Wizard Tournament
- 1972 Chunichi Crowns, Pepsi Tournament
His Asia Golf Circuit wins include:
- 1962 Yomiuri International
- 1964 Philippine Open (won playoff against Doug Sanders)
- 1965 Hong Kong Open
- 1967 Hong Kong Open (won playoff against Brian Huggett)
- 1976 Indian Open
Other Asian wins include:
- 1960 Hong Kong Open
- 1964 Indian Open
- 1966 Indian Open
Additionally, Thomson secured victories in South Africa:
- 1952 Mills Round Robin
2.4. Senior Career
Thomson transitioned successfully to senior golf, achieving significant victories on the Senior PGA Tour in the United States. In 1985, he won nine times on the tour and finished as its leading money winner. His single senior major championship victory was the General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship in 1984. His final tournament victory came at the 1988 British PGA Seniors Championship.
His Senior PGA Tour wins include:
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 Sep 1984 | World Seniors Invitational | -7 (69-69-69-74=281) | 1 stroke | Arnold Palmer |
| 2 | 9 Dec 1984 | General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship | -2 (67-73-74-72=286) | 3 strokes | Don January |
| 3 | 17 Mar 1985 | Vintage Invitational | -7 (69-73-69-69=280) | 1 stroke | Billy Casper, Arnold Palmer |
| 4 | 31 Mar 1985 | American Golf Carta Blanca Johnny Mathis Classic | -11 (70-64-71=205) | 1 stroke | Don January |
| 5 | 5 May 1985 | MONY Senior Tournament of Champions | -4 (70-70-71-73=284) | 3 strokes | Don January, Dan Sikes |
| 6 | 9 Jun 1985 | The Champions Classic | -6 (68-72-70=210) | 2 strokes | Billy Casper, Jim Ferree |
| 7 | 16 Jun 1985 | Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am | -14 (68-66-68=202) | 2 strokes | Lee Elder |
| 8 | 21 Jul 1985 | MONY Syracuse Senior's Classic | -9 (70-64-70=203) | 2 strokes | Miller Barber, Gene Littler |
| 9 | 18 Aug 1985 | du Maurier Champions | -13 (64-70-69=203) | 1 stroke | Ben Smith |
| 10 | 15 Sep 1985 | United Virginia Bank Seniors | -9 (69-69-69=207) | 4 strokes | George Lanning |
| 11 | 20 Oct 1985 | Barnett Suntree Senior Classic | -9 (70-68-69=207) | 1 stroke | Charlie Sifford |
His other senior wins include:
- 1988 Trusthouse Forte PGA Seniors Championship
2.5. Team Competitions
Thomson was a prominent figure in international team golf, representing Australia multiple times and later serving as a non-playing captain.
As an amateur, he represented Victoria in the Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches in 1948, which his team won. He also won the Vicars Shield representing Victoria in 1951, 1952, and 1953.
As a professional, he represented Australia in the World Cup in 1953, 1954 (winners), 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 (winners), 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, and 1969. He also participated in the Lakes International Cup (1952) and the Slazenger Trophy (1956), representing the British Commonwealth and Empire. He competed in the Hopkins Trophy in 1952.
In his post-playing career, Thomson served as a non-playing captain for the International team in the Presidents Cup in 1996, 1998, and 2000. He famously led the International team to a historic victory in 1998, their only win in the competition's history.
3. Golf Style and Strategy
Peter Thomson's golf style was particularly well-suited to the demands of links golf, characterized by its dry, firm ground and strong winds. His upbringing on similar courses in Melbourne allowed him to develop a mastery of the low draw shot, which was highly effective in managing challenging wind conditions. He once remarked that he required no "special ability supplement" when playing on British links courses, indicating his natural affinity for them.
Thomson was particularly renowned as a "St. Andrews specialist," having achieved three victories and one second-place finish in tournaments held at the Old Course over an eight-year period. He faithfully followed a strategic approach to the course, imparted to him by Henry Cotton, which emphasized the importance of the first hole: "The first hole is important. Hit your driver shot to the left of the first hole, place the ball on the 18th hole's fairway, and then from there, aim wide at the green for your second shot."
His affection for St. Andrews was evident in his comments; after winning the British PGA Match Play Championship there in September 1954, he described it as "just as I had imagined. Very calm and comfortable. It felt like being in heaven." Ten months later, during the 1955 Open Championship also at St. Andrews, he faced difficulties with the wind and fast greens. On the final day, he found two bunkers on the par-5 14th hole, resulting in a score of seven. However, he recovered immediately by sinking a approximately 16 ft (5 m) birdie putt on the 15th hole, regaining his solo lead. He ultimately won by two strokes, commenting, "The seven on the 14th was a mistake. But from there, I managed to come back without losing courage and carefully." After finishing second to Bobby Locke at the 1957 Open Championship, also at St. Andrews, he reflected that "the difference between the winner and the second place is nothing more than a mental difference." He secured his third victory at St. Andrews in 1962 at the European Tour's Martini International.
4. Post-Playing Career Activities
Beyond his distinguished playing career, Peter Thomson made substantial contributions to the sport of golf through his work as a golf course designer and a respected golf writer.
He designed over a hundred golf courses not only in Australia but also around the world. One notable design is The Dukes Course, the only non-links course at St. Andrews, which opened in 1995.
Thomson was also a prolific golf writer, contributing to The Age, a prominent newspaper in Melbourne, for approximately 50 years, starting in the early 1950s. His insights and analysis from a player's perspective were highly valued. He was also the president of the Australian PGA from 1962 to 1994, a significant tenure during which he helped shape the professional game in Australia. His local club was the Victoria Golf Club, and he was an honorary member of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
5. Personal Life
Peter Thomson married Mary Kelly of Melbourne, Australia, on June 1, 1960. The wedding ceremony took place in London, England.
Thomson passed away in Melbourne on June 20, 2018, at the age of 88, after a four-year battle with Parkinson's disease.
6. Awards and Honors
Peter Thomson received numerous awards and honors throughout his life, recognizing his profound impact and achievements in golf:
- 1955: Selected as ABC Sportsman of the Year.
- 1957: Appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to Australia in the sporting and international sphere.
- 1979: Appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his continued service to the sport of golf.
- 1985: Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
- 1988: Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
- 1997: The Peter Thomson Trophy, an annual competition contested among the eight Melbourne Sandbelt golf clubs, was inaugurated in his honor.
- 2001: Awarded the Centenary Medal.
- 2001: Elected an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
- 2011: Inducted into the Victorian Golf Industry Hall of Fame.
- 2016: Inducted as an inaugural Immortal of the PGA of Australia.
7. Legacy and Impact
Peter Thomson's legacy in golf is multifaceted and enduring, firmly establishing his place among the sport's all-time greats. His five Open Championship victories, particularly his unique achievement of winning three consecutive titles in the 20th century, underscore his exceptional skill and dominance during his era. He proved his ability to compete with the best players globally, highlighted by his 1965 Open win against a field including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
Beyond his playing prowess, Thomson significantly influenced the golfing community through his leadership roles, particularly as the long-serving president of the Australian PGA, and as a successful non-playing captain of the International team in the Presidents Cup. His contributions as a highly respected golf writer for over 50 years provided invaluable insights and shaped public discourse on the game. Furthermore, his extensive work in golf course design, with over a hundred courses to his credit, including the notable Dukes Course at St. Andrews, has left a lasting physical imprint on the sport's landscape. Thomson's mastery of links golf and his strategic approach to iconic courses like St. Andrews cemented his reputation as a thoughtful and adaptable player. His comprehensive involvement in golf, from player to administrator, writer, and designer, reflects a profound and lasting impact on the development and culture of the sport.