Gil Morgan

Last updated

Gil Morgan
GilMorgan.jpg
Morgan in 2009
Personal information
Full nameGilmer Bryan Morgan II
NicknameDoc
Born (1946-09-25) September 25, 1946 (age 78)
Wewoka, Oklahoma
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence Edmond, Oklahoma
Career
College East Central State College
Southern College of Optometry
Turned professional1972
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins41
Highest ranking 22 (February 3, 1991) [1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour7
Japan Golf Tour1
PGA Tour Champions25 (Tied 4th all time)
Other8
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament T3: 1984
PGA Championship 3rd/T3: 1980, 1990
U.S. Open 3rd: 1983
The Open Championship T10: 1980
Achievements and awards
Senior PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year
1997
Senior PGA Tour
Byron Nelson Award
2000, 2001

Gilmer Bryan Morgan II, OD (born September 25, 1946) is an American professional golfer.

Contents

Career

Morgan was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He graduated from East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma in 1968.

In 1972, Morgan earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee before turning professional at golf later that year. He is a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.

Morgan won seven events on the PGA Tour between 1977 and 1990. He was also one of the most consistent top five finishers during this period. He posted 21 2nd place and 21 3rd place finishes on the PGA Tour in his career. [2] The most prestigious tournament he won on the PGA Tour was the 1978 World Series of Golf. He also played on the 1979 and 1983 Ryder Cup teams.

Although he never won a major title during his time on the PGA Tour, Morgan showed signs of brilliance. For example, during the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Morgan became the first player to reach 10-under-par (−10) during U.S. Open competition when he recorded a birdie on the third hole during the third round. He later added two more birdies to reach −12 after the seventh hole. He would later finish badly to finish at −4. This was good enough for the 54-hole lead. However, a final round 81 left him +5, in a tie for 13th place and eight shots behind eventual winner Tom Kite [3] Morgan also led the 1976 PGA Championship after 36 holes but finished T8.

He became eligible to play on the Champions Tour in 1996. He has enjoyed much success on the Champion's Tour notching 25 wins. Three of his wins have come in senior majors, namely The Tradition in 1997 and 1998 and the Senior Players Championship in 1998.

Professional wins (41)

PGA Tour wins (7)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Sep 11, 1977 B.C. Open −14 (67-65-69-69=270)5 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Lee Elder
2Feb 19, 1978 Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open −6 (66-69-73-70=278)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus
3Oct 1, 1978 World Series of Golf −2 (71-72-67-68=278)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Hubert Green
4Jul 1, 1979 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic −10 (72-71-69-66=278)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Larry Nelson
5Jan 9, 1983 Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open −9 (65-71-68-67=271)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Curtis Strange, Flag of the United States.svg Lanny Wadkins
6Jan 16, 1983 Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open (2)−14 (71-68-63-68=270)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Lanny Wadkins
7Jun 3, 1990 Kemper Open −10 (68-67-70-69=274)1 stroke Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Baker-Finch

PGA Tour playoff record (3–4)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1978 World Series of Golf Flag of the United States.svg Hubert Green Won with par on first extra hole
2 1979 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic Flag of the United States.svg Larry Nelson Won with birdie on second extra hole
3 1980 Pleasant Valley Jimmy Fund Classic Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Levi Lost to par on fourth extra hole
4 1981 Buick Open Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Clampett, Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin,
Flag of the United States.svg Peter Jacobsen
Irwin won with birdie on second extra hole
5 1983 Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open Flag of the United States.svg Curtis Strange, Flag of the United States.svg Lanny Wadkins Won with birdie on second extra hole
61983 Kemper Open Flag of the Republic of China.svg Chen Tze-chung, Flag of the United States.svg Fred Couples,
Flag of the United States.svg Barry Jaeckel, Flag of the United States.svg Scott Simpson
Couples won with birdie on second extra hole
Jaeckel eliminated by par on first hole
7 1990 Independent Insurance Agent Open Flag of the United States.svg Tony Sills Lost to par on first extra hole

PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Oct 8, 1978 Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters −11 (68-67-68-70=273)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Pate

Other wins (4)

Champions Tour wins (25)

Legend
Champions Tour major championships (3)
Tour Championships (1)
Other Champions Tour (21)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Oct 6, 1996 Ralphs Senior Classic −11 (68-68-66=202)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jim Colbert, Flag of the United States.svg Chi-Chi Rodríguez
2Apr 6, 1997 The Tradition −22 (66-66-67-67=266)6 strokes Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Isao Aoki
3Jun 1, 1997 Ameritech Senior Open −6 (67-69-74=210)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin
4Jun 8, 1997 BellSouth Senior Classic −14 (69-66-67=202)2 strokes Flag of South Africa.svg John Bland
5Aug 17, 1997 First of America Classic −9 (69-67-71=207)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Bob Duval
6Nov 2, 1997 Ralphs Senior Classic (2)−15 (67-66-65=198)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg George Archer
7Nov 9, 1997 Energizer Senior Tour Championship −16 (69-66-66-71=272)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin
8Jan 18, 1998 MasterCard Championship −21 (65-66-64=195)6 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Gibby Gilbert, Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin
9Feb 8, 1998 LG Championship −6 (69-73-68=210)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Dale Douglass, Flag of the United States.svg Raymond Floyd
10Apr 5, 1998 The Tradition (2)−12 (71-66-69-70=276)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Tom Wargo
11Jul 12, 1998 Ford Senior Players Championship −21 (69-64-68-66=267)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin
12Aug 2, 1998 Utah Showdown −16 (66-67-67=200)4 strokes Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Isao Aoki, Flag of the United States.svg John Mahaffey
13Oct 4, 1998 Vantage Championship −12 (66-67-65=198)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin
14Sep 12, 1999 Comfort Classic −15 (67-65-69=201)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Ed Dougherty
15Sep 26, 1999 Kroger Senior Classic −18 (67-68-63=198)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Ed Dougherty
16Mar 26, 2000 Emerald Coast Classic −13 (65-65-67=197)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Larry Nelson
17Jul 23, 2000 Instinet Classic −17 (67-66-66=199)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Fleisher, Flag of the United States.svg Bob Murphy
18Sep 10, 2000 Comfort Classic (2)−13 (64-67=131)*1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jim Ahern
19Feb 11, 2001 ACE Group Classic (2)−12 (71-67-66=204)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Dana Quigley
20Jun 17, 2001 Instinet Classic (2)−15 (63-69-69=201)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Tom Jenkins, Flag of the United States.svg J. C. Snead
21Jun 16, 2002 BellSouth Senior Classic (2)−14 (67-68-67=202)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Fleisher, Flag of the United States.svg Mike McCullough,
Flag of the United States.svg Dana Quigley
22Sep 7, 2003 Kroger Classic (2)−16 (65-67-68=200)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Doug Tewell
23Mar 14, 2004 SBC Classic (3)−14 (67-66-69=202)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Larry Nelson
24Jun 4, 2006 Allianz Championship −16 (66-64-67=197)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Loren Roberts
25Sep 2, 2007 Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach −14 (70-65-67=202)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin

*Note: The 2000 Comfort Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Champions Tour playoff record (0–6)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1997 Emerald Coast Classic Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Isao Aoki Lost to par on second extra hole
2 2000 Bruno's Memorial Classic Flag of the United States.svg John Jacobs Lost to par on first extra hole
32000 Vantage Championship Flag of the United States.svg Jim Dent, Flag of the United States.svg Larry Nelson Nelson won with birdie on sixth extra hole
Dent eliminated by birdie on first hole
4 2001 Toshiba Senior Classic Flag of Spain.svg José María Cañizares Lost to birdie on ninth extra hole
5 2005 Bayer Advantage Classic Flag of the United States.svg Dana Quigley, Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson Quigley won with birdie on first extra hole
6 2007 Boeing Classic Flag of the United States.svg R. W. Eaks, Flag of the United States.svg David Eger,
Flag of Japan.svg Naomichi Ozaki, Flag of the United States.svg Dana Quigley,
Flag of the United States.svg Craig Stadler, Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Denis Watson
Watson won with eagle on second extra hole
Eger, Ozaki, Morgan and Quigley eliminated by birdie on first hole

Other senior wins (4)

Playoff record

European Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 1978 European Open Flag of Scotland.svg Bernard Gallacher, Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Wadkins Wadkins won with birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships

Tournament19751976197719781979
Masters Tournament CUTT18T31
U.S. Open T41CUTCUT
The Open Championship CUT
PGA Championship T17T8T15T4T28
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Masters Tournament T19T21CUTT8T3CUT
U.S. Open T16CUTT223T21T23T51CUTWD
The Open Championship T10CUTT22
PGA Championship T3T19T22T55CUTT28CUTT21CUTCUT
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996
Masters Tournament CUTT50CUT
U.S. Open T56CUTT13CUTCUT
The Open Championship T64T14CUT
PGA Championship 3T16T21CUTT39T31T41
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1979 and 1982 Open Championships)
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament 001125127
U.S. Open 001116179
The Open Championship 00001374
PGA Championship 00234112217
Totals00458255837

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997
The Players Championship T58CUTT65T40T20T12T31T12T47T23T44CUTT58T6T6CUTCUTCUTT3T68T13T53
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (3)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up
1997 The Tradition −22 (66-66-67-67=266)6 strokes Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Isao Aoki
1998 The Tradition (2)−12 (71-66-69-70=276)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Tom Wargo
1998 Ford Senior Players Championship −21 (69-64-68-66=267)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

References

  1. "Week 5 1991 Ending 3 Feb 1991" (pdf). OWGR . Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  2. "Gil Morgan – Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  3. GOLF; An Ocean of Contenders After Morgan's Cliff Dive
  4. "Gil Morgan wins Brazilian tourney" . The Jackson Sun. Jackson, Tennessee. AP. November 5, 1979. p. 6. Retrieved May 15, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Gil Morgan, EUA, venceu o Heublein Open de Golfe". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). São Paulo, Brazil. November 5, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved May 15, 2020.