Tom Purtzer

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Tom Purtzer
Personal information
Full nameThomas Warren Purtzer
Born (1951-12-05) December 5, 1951 (age 71)
Des Moines, Iowa
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight210 lb (95 kg; 15 st)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Residence Scottsdale, Arizona
Career
College Arizona State University
Turned professional1973
Current tour(s) Champions Tour
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Professional wins15
Highest ranking 28 (January 19, 1992) [1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour5
Japan Golf Tour1
PGA Tour Champions4
Other5
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament T24: 1989
PGA Championship T16: 1982
U.S. Open 4th: 1977
The Open Championship T4: 1982

Thomas Warren Purtzer (born December 5, 1951) is an American professional golfer. Purtzer won a number of tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.

Contents

Early life and amateur career

Purtzer was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Arizona State University in Tempe, where he was a member of the school's golf team. He graduated in 1973.

Professional career

In 1973, he turned pro. Purtzer is often described in golf literature as having the "sweetest swing in golf". [2] He won five tournaments on the PGA Tour in three different decades, and won four times on the Champions Tour. His best finishes in major championships were 4th at the 1977 U.S. Open and T4 at the 1982 Open Championship. [3]

Personal life

His brother, Paul Purtzer, was also a professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. Purtzer and his brother operate Purtzer Performance Golf School and Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.

Purtzer lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Professional wins (15)

PGA Tour wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1Feb 20, 1977 Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open −11 (68-67-66-72=273)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Lanny Wadkins
2Jan 22, 1984 Phoenix Open −16 (68-67-68-65=268)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Corey Pavin
3Oct 9, 1988 Gatlin Brothers-Southwest Golf Classic −19 (64-72-69-64=269)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Mark Brooks
4May 26, 1991 Southwestern Bell Colonial −13 (70-66-67-64=267)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg David Edwards, Flag of the United States.svg Scott Hoch,
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Lohr
5Aug 25, 1991 NEC World Series of Golf −1 (72-69-67-71=279)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jim Gallagher Jr., Flag of the United States.svg Davis Love III

PGA Tour playoff record (2–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1988 Gatlin Brothers-Southwest Golf Classic Flag of the United States.svg Mark Brooks Won with par on first extra hole
2 1991 NEC World Series of Golf Flag of the United States.svg Jim Gallagher Jr., Flag of the United States.svg Davis Love III Won with par on second extra hole

PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Nov 11, 1979 ABC Japan vs USA Golf Matches −12 (69-67-68-72=276)10 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Bill Rogers

Other wins (4)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runners-up
1Jul 7, 1981 Jerry Ford Invitational −10 (69-63=132)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg John Cook, Flag of the United States.svg Craig Stadler,
Flag of the United States.svg Curtis Strange
2Dec 7, 1986 JCPenney Classic
(with Flag of the United States.svg Juli Inkster)		−23 (61-69-66-69=265)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Mike Hulbert and Flag of the United States.svg Val Skinner
3Nov 24, 1991 Shark Shootout
(with Flag of the United States.svg Lanny Wadkins)		−27 (61-65-63=189)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus and Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Norman
4Aug 24, 1993 Fred Meyer Challenge
(with Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Elkington)		−16 (63-63=128)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Fred Couples and Flag of the United States.svg Davis Love III,
Flag of the United States.svg Brad Faxon and Flag of the United States.svg Rick Fehr,
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Gallagher Jr. and Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Lietzke

Other playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
11985 Chrysler Team Championship
(with Flag of the United States.svg Jim Colbert)		 Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Bolling and Flag of the United States.svg Brad Fabel,
Flag of the United States.svg Raymond Floyd and Flag of the United States.svg Hal Sutton,
Flag of the United States.svg John Fought and Flag of the United States.svg Pat McGowan,
Flag of the United States.svg Gary Hallberg and Flag of the United States.svg Scott Hoch 		Floyd/Sutton won with birdie on first extra hole

Champions Tour wins (4)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1Mar 16, 2003 SBC Classic −9 (67-68=135)*1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Gil Morgan
2Mar 21, 2004 Toshiba Senior Classic −15 (60-71-67=198)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Morris Hatalsky
3Aug 7, 2005 3M Championship −15 (63-69-69=201)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Lonnie Nielsen, Flag of the United States.svg Craig Stadler
4Mar 18, 2007 AT&T Champions Classic −10 (69-69-68=206)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Loren Roberts

*Note: The 2003 SBC Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Champions Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 2005 Bank of America Championship Flag of Ireland.svg Mark McNulty, Flag of the United States.svg Don Pooley McNulty won with birdie on second extra hole
2 2007 AT&T Champions Classic Flag of the United States.svg Loren Roberts Won with birdie on fourth extra hole

Other senior wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Apr 9, 2005 Titanium Enterprises Australian PGA Seniors Championship −10 (67-68-71=206)*5 strokes Flag of Scotland.svg John Chillas

*Note: The 2005 Titanium Enterprises Australian PGA Seniors Championship was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

Results in major championships

Tournament1976197719781979
Masters Tournament CUTT37
U.S. Open T444T248
The Open Championship
PGA Championship CUTT54CUT
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Masters Tournament 32T25CUTT24
U.S. Open CUTCUTCUTT16T68
The Open Championship T4CUT
PGA Championship CUTT19T16CUTCUTCUTT47CUTT53
Tournament19901991199219931994199519961997
Masters Tournament T45T61
U.S. Open T37T33T32
The Open Championship T22T70T62
PGA Championship T31T32T21CUT
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament 00000286
U.S. Open 000124129
The Open Championship 00011254
PGA Championship 000003168
Totals00023114127

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament197719781979
The Players Championship T59CUTCUT
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
The Players Championship CUTT19CUTT19T41T40T48T9T45T55
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
The Players Championship T3CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTT62T24CUTCUT
Tournament20002001
The Players Championship CUTCUT
  Top 10

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

U.S. national team appearances

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Week 3 1992 Ending 19 Jan 1992" (pdf). OWGR . Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Sweet-Swinging Purtzer Works on Putting". The Golf Channel. March 8, 2005. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Golf Major Championships – Tom Purtzer" . Retrieved October 23, 2013.
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