Tom Kite | |||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||
Full name | Thomas Oliver Kite Jr. | ||||||||||||||
Born | McKinney, Texas | December 9, 1949||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||
Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) | ||||||||||||||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||||||||||||||
Residence | Austin, Texas | ||||||||||||||
Career | |||||||||||||||
College | University of Texas | ||||||||||||||
Turned professional | 1972 | ||||||||||||||
Current tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions | ||||||||||||||
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour | ||||||||||||||
Professional wins | 37 | ||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | 5 (April 16, 1989) [1] | ||||||||||||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||||||||||||
PGA Tour | 19 | ||||||||||||||
European Tour | 3 | ||||||||||||||
PGA Tour of Australasia | 1 | ||||||||||||||
PGA Tour Champions | 10 | ||||||||||||||
Other | 5 | ||||||||||||||
Best results in major championships (wins: 1) | |||||||||||||||
Masters Tournament | 2nd/T2: 1983, 1986, 1997 | ||||||||||||||
PGA Championship | T4: 1981, 1988 | ||||||||||||||
U.S. Open | Won: 1992 | ||||||||||||||
The Open Championship | T2: 1978 | ||||||||||||||
Achievements and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Thomas Oliver Kite Jr. (born December 9, 1949) is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He won the U.S. Open in 1992 and spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 1989 and 1994. [2]
Kite was born in McKinney, Texas. He began playing golf at age six, and won his first tournament at age 11. Kite attended the University of Texas on a golf scholarship and was coached by Harvey Penick. He turned professional in 1972 and has been a consistent money winner ever since. Known for his innovation, he was the first to add a third wedge to his bag, one of the first players to use a sports psychologist, and one of the first to emphasize physical fitness for game improvement. He also underwent laser eye surgery, due to his partial blindness, [3] in a bid to improve his game late in his career.
He has 19 PGA Tour victories, including the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He competed on seven Ryder Cup squads (1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993) and served as the 1997 captain. Kite holds a unique record of making the cut for the first four U.S. Opens held at Pebble Beach: 1972, 1982, 1992, and 2000. Kite also shares the distinction (with Gene Littler) of playing in the most Masters Tournaments without a win. [4]
In 1989 he was named PGA of America Player of the Year; in 1981 the Golf Writers Association Player of the Year, the Vardon Trophy winner in 1981 and 1982, Bob Jones Award recipient in 1979 and Golf Digest Rookie of the Year in 1973.
Kite was the first in Tour history to reach $6 million, $7 million, $8 million, and $9 million in career earnings. He was the Tour's leading money-winner in 1981 and 1989. In his prime, Kite had few peers with the short irons. In 1993, Johnny Miller referred to Kite as "the greatest short-iron player the game has seen." [5]
In 2005 he led the PGA Tour's Booz Allen Classic by one shot going into the final round at the age of 55. If he had been able to stay ahead he would have beaten Sam Snead's record as the oldest winner on the PGA Tour by three years, but he fell away to finish tied 13th, seven shots behind Sergio García.
Kite currently plays the over 50s Champions Tour, where he has ten victories including one senior major, The Countrywide Tradition. At the 2012 U.S. Senior Open, Kite shot a front nine 28 (seven under par) in the first round. This was the lowest nine-hole score ever recorded in any USGA championship. [6] [7] He finished the tournament tied for 12th.
In 1996, Kite had a cameo in The Simpsons episode "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield", in which he gave Homer Simpson golf tips. [8]
Kite was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. [9]
Legend |
Major championships (1) |
Players Championships (1) |
Tour Championships (1) |
Other PGA Tour (16) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jun 6, 1976 | IVB-Bicentennial Golf Classic | −7 (71-70-70-66=277) | Playoff | ![]() |
2 | Sep 4, 1978 | B.C. Open | −17 (66-65-68-68=267) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Mar 8, 1981 | American Motors Inverrary Classic | −14 (69-68-68-69=274) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
4 | Mar 7, 1982 | Bay Hill Classic | −6 (69-70-70-69=278) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
5 | Feb 6, 1983 | Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | −12 (69-72-62-73=276) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
6 | Mar 11, 1984 | Doral-Eastern Open | −16 (68-69-70-65=272) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
7 | Jun 24, 1984 | Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic | −19 (69-67-66-67=269) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
8 | May 5, 1985 | MONY Tournament of Champions | −13 (64-72-70-69=275) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
9 | Aug 3, 1986 | Western Open | −2 (70-75-73-68=286) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
10 | Jun 7, 1987 | Kemper Open | −14 (64-69-68-69=270) | 7 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
11 | Mar 12, 1989 | Nestle Invitational (2) | −6 (68-72-67-71=278) | Playoff | ![]() |
12 | Mar 19, 1989 | The Players Championship | −9 (69-70-69-71=279) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
13 | Oct 29, 1989 | Nabisco Championship | −8 (69-65-74-68=276) | Playoff | ![]() |
14 | Aug 5, 1990 | Federal Express St. Jude Classic | −15 (72-68-62-67=269) | Playoff | ![]() |
15 | Jan 6, 1991 | Infiniti Tournament of Champions (2) | −16 (68-67-68-69=272) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
16 | May 10, 1992 | BellSouth Classic (2) | −16 (70-65-72-65=272) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
17 | Jun 21, 1992 | U.S. Open | −3 (71-72-70-72=285) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
18 | Feb 14, 1993 | Bob Hope Chrysler Classic | −35 (67-67-64-65-62=325) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
19 | Feb 28, 1993 | Nissan Los Angeles Open | −7 (73-66-67=206)* | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
*Note: The 1993 Nissan Los Angeles Open was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
PGA Tour playoff record (6–4)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1976 | IVB-Bicentennial Golf Classic | ![]() | Won with par on fifth extra hole |
2 | 1982 | Bob Hope Desert Classic | ![]() | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
3 | 1982 | Bay Hill Classic | ![]() ![]() | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
4 | 1986 | Western Open | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
5 | 1988 | Kemper Open | ![]() | Lost to par on second extra hole |
6 | 1988 | Nabisco Championship | ![]() | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
7 | 1989 | Nestle Invitational | ![]() | Won with par on second extra hole |
8 | 1989 | Nabisco Championship | ![]() | Won with par on second extra hole |
9 | 1990 | Federal Express St. Jude Classic | ![]() | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
10 | 1992 | Bob Hope Chrysler Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Cook won with eagle on fourth extra hole Fehr eliminated by birdie on second hole Kite and O'Meara eliminated by birdie on first hole |
Legend |
Major championships (1) |
Other European Tour (2) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sep 7, 1980 | European Open Championship | −8 (71-67-71-75=284) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
2 | Jun 21, 1992 | U.S. Open | −3 (71-72-70-72=285) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Oct 13, 1996 | Oki Pro-Am | −15 (71-68-64-70=273) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nov 17, 1974 | City of Auckland Classic | −16 (66-67-68-67=268) | 7 strokes | ![]() |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dec 6, 1981 | JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with ![]() | −18 (69-67-64-70=270) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
2 | Nov 8, 1987 | Kirin Cup Individual Trophy | −16 (68-69-66-69=272) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
3 | Aug 25, 1992 | Fred Meyer Challenge (with ![]() | −16 (64-64=128) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
4 | Nov 22, 1992 | Franklin Funds Shark Shootout (with ![]() | −25 (65-69-59=191) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
5 | Nov 17, 1996 | Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout (2) (with ![]() | −29 (67-60-60=187) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Other playoff record (0–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1992 | PGA Grand Slam of Golf | ![]() | Lost to par on first extra hole |
Legend |
Champions Tour major championships (1) |
Other Champions Tour (9) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Apr 2, 2000 | The Countrywide Tradition | −8 (68-70-71-71=280) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
2 | Jun 11, 2000 | SBC Senior Open | −9 (71-68-68=207) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Sep 30, 2001 | Gold Rush Classic | −22 (65-62-67=194) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
4 | Jan 20, 2002 | MasterCard Championship | −17 (63-69-67=199) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
5 | Mar 3, 2002 | SBC Senior Classic | −4 (74-69-69=212) | Playoff | ![]() |
6 | Oct 13, 2002 | Napa Valley Championship | −12 (66-66-72=204) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
7 | Aug 8, 2004 | 3M Championship | −13 (65-69-69=203) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
8 | Mar 12, 2006 | AT&T Classic | −12 (70-64-70=204) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
9 | Aug 20, 2006 | Boeing Greater Seattle Classic | −15 (71-64-66=201) | Playoff | ![]() |
10 | Aug 24, 2008 | Boeing Classic (2) | −14 (69-67-66=202) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Champions Tour playoff record (3–2)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2000 | The Countrywide Tradition | ![]() ![]() | Won with birdie on sixth extra hole Nelson eliminated by par on second hole |
2 | 2002 | SBC Senior Classic | ![]() | Won with par on second extra hole |
3 | 2006 | Boeing Greater Seattle Classic | ![]() | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
4 | 2007 | Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf | ![]() | Lost to par on first extra hole |
5 | 2008 | ACE Group Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Hoch won with birdie on first extra hole |
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | U.S. Open | 1 shot deficit | −3 (71-72-70-72=285) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T42 | T27 | T10 | T5 | T3 | T18 | 5 | |||
U.S. Open | CUT | T19 | T8 | CUT | CUT | T27 | T20 | CUT | ||
The Open Championship | T5 | T2 | T30 | |||||||
PGA Championship | T39 | T33 | T13 | T13 | CUT | T35 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T6 | T5 | T5 | T2 | T6 | CUT | T2 | T24 | 44 | T18 |
U.S. Open | CUT | T20 | 29 | T20 | CUT | 13 | T35 | T46 | T36 | T9 |
The Open Championship | T27 | CUT | T29 | T22 | T8 | CUT | T72 | T20 | T19 | |
PGA Championship | T20 | T4 | T9 | T67 | T34 | T12 | T26 | T10 | T4 | T34 |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T14 | 56 | CUT | 4 | CUT | CUT | 2 | 38 | ||
U.S. Open | T56 | T37 | 1 | CUT | T33 | T67 | T82 | T68 | T43 | T60 |
The Open Championship | CUT | T44 | T19 | T14 | T8 | T58 | T27 | T10 | T38 | |
PGA Championship | T40 | T52 | T21 | T56 | T9 | T54 | CUT | 5 | CUT | CUT |
Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | ||||
U.S. Open | T32 | T5 | CUT | CUT | T57 |
The Open Championship | T70 | ||||
PGA Championship | T19 | CUT |
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1982 Open Championship)
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 26 | 21 |
U.S. Open | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 33 | 24 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 19 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 28 | 23 |
Totals | 1 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 27 | 47 | 109 | 87 |
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | The Players Championship | 1 shot deficit | −9 (69-70-69-71=279) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Tournament | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | T19 | T40 | T17 | CUT | T28 | T9 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | T31 | T27 | T27 | T51 | T64 | T4 | T9 | T11 | 1 |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | T5 | CUT | T35 | CUT | T9 | T43 | CUT | CUT | T25 | T77 |
Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | T66 | T44 | T36 |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | The Countrywide Tradition | −8 (66-71-71-72=280) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
Results not in chronological order before 2021.
Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Tradition | 1 | T24 | T7 | T2 | T4 | T36 | T4 | T4 | T18 | T11 |
Senior PGA Championship | T2 | T23 | T15 | T10 | T121 | T10 | T40 | T7 | T13 | T14 |
U.S. Senior Open | 3 | 15 | 3 | T12 | T3 | T37 | T55 | T22 | T12 | CUT |
Senior Players Championship | 6 | T10 | T10 | T2 | T7 | T39 | T9 | T25 | T21 | T47 |
Senior British Open Championship | – | – | – | 4 | T2 | CUT | T10 | T10 | T16 | T8 |
Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Tradition | T54 | 15 | T47 | T60 | T59 | 72 | T69 | T68 | 72 | WD |
Senior PGA Championship | T29 | CUT | CUT | T28 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | |
U.S. Senior Open | T8 | T29 | T12 | T44 | T14 | CUT | CUT | WD | ||
Senior Players Championship | T16 | T17 | 52 | T27 | 79 | WD | 74 | 76 | ||
Senior British Open Championship | T49 | T24 | T14 |
Tournament | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|
The Tradition | NT | 78 |
Senior PGA Championship | NT | CUT |
Senior Players Championship | ||
U.S. Senior Open | NT | |
Senior British Open Championship | NT |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
Note: The Senior British Open was not a Champions Tour major until 2003.
Amateur
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