Tom Kite

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox golfer 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life and amateur career

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.

At Texas, Kite was a first-team All-American in 1972 when he also shared the individual NCAA championship with team mate Ben Crenshaw. He helped the Longhorns win two NCAA Team Championships in 1971 an 1972 and Southwest Conference Championships in 1970 and 1972. He was a second-team All-American in 1970 and 1971 and won nine collegiate tournaments during his four years.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional career

In 1972, Kite turned professional and was a consistent money winner until his retirement. 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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."<ref name="Short Iron Wizard">Template:Cite news</ref>

Senior career

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 played the Champions Tour until 2020, claiming 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He finished the tournament tied for 12th.

In popular culture

• On May 18, 1991, Kite was impersonated by Kevin Nealon as part of the "Carsenio" sketch on Saturday Night Live featuring Dana Carvey impersonating Johnny Carson and Phil Hartman impersonating Ed McMahon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Awards and honors

• In 1970 and 1971, Kite earned second-team All-American honors. In 1972, Kite was a first-team All-American.
• In 1973, Kite was noted as the Golf Digest Rookie of the Year.
• In 1979, he was bestowed the Bob Jones Award.
• in 1981, he was awarded the Golf Writers Association Player of the Year.
• In 1981 and 1982, Kite was bestowed the Byron Nelson Award
• Kite was the Vardon Trophy winner in 1981 and 1982.
• In 1984, Kite was inducted into the University of Texas at Austin's Longhorns Hall of Honor.<ref name=":0" />
• In 1989, he was named PGA of America Player of the Year.
• In 2004, Kite was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Amateur wins

• 1972 NCAA Championship (individual; tie with Ben Crenshaw)

Professional wins (37)

PGA Tour wins (19)

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	Template:Flagicon Terry Diehl
2	Sep 4, 1978	B.C. Open	−17 (66-65-68-68=267)	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Mark Hayes
3	Mar 8, 1981	American Motors Inverrary Classic	−14 (69-68-68-69=274)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus
4	Mar 7, 1982	Bay Hill Classic	−6 (69-70-70-69=278)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus, Template:Flagicon Denis Watson
5	Feb 6, 1983	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	−12 (69-72-62-73=276)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Rex Caldwell, Template:Flagicon Calvin Peete
6	Mar 11, 1984	Doral-Eastern Open	−16 (68-69-70-65=272)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus
7	Jun 24, 1984	Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic	−19 (69-67-66-67=269)	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Don Pooley
8	May 5, 1985	MONY Tournament of Champions	−13 (64-72-70-69=275)	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Mark McCumber
9	Aug 3, 1986	Western Open	−2 (70-75-73-68=286)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Fred Couples, Template:Flagicon David Frost, Template:Flagicon Nick Price
10	Jun 7, 1987	Kemper Open	−14 (64-69-68-69=270)	7 strokes	Template:Flagicon Chris Perry, Template:Flagicon Howard Twitty
11	Mar 12, 1989	Nestle Invitational (2)	−6 (68-72-67-71=278)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Davis Love III
12	Mar 19, 1989	The Players Championship	−9 (69-70-69-71=279)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Chip Beck
13	Oct 29, 1989	Nabisco Championship	−8 (69-65-74-68=276)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Payne Stewart
14	Aug 5, 1990	Federal Express St. Jude Classic	−15 (72-68-62-67=269)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon John Cook
15	Jan 6, 1991	Infiniti Tournament of Champions (2)	−16 (68-67-68-69=272)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins
16	May 10, 1992	BellSouth Classic (2)	−16 (70-65-72-65=272)	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jay Don Blake
17	Jun 21, 1992	U.S. Open	−3 (71-72-70-72=285)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jeff Sluman
18	Feb 14, 1993	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	−35 (67-67-64-65-62=325)	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Rick Fehr
19	Feb 28, 1993	Nissan Los Angeles Open	−7 (73-66-67=206)Template:Efn	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Dave Barr, Template:Flagicon Fred Couples, Template:Flagicon Donnie Hammond, Template:Flagicon Payne Stewart

PGA Tour playoff record (6–4)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1976	IVB-Bicentennial Golf Classic	Template:Flagicon Terry Diehl	Won with par on fifth extra hole
2	1982	Bob Hope Desert Classic	Template:Flagicon Ed Fiori	Lost to birdie on second extra hole
3	1982	Bay Hill Classic	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus, Template:Flagicon Denis Watson	Won with birdie on first extra hole
4	1986	Western Open	Template:Flagicon Fred Couples, Template:Flagicon David Frost, Template:Flagicon Nick Price	Won with birdie on first extra hole
5	1988	Kemper Open	Template:Flagicon Morris Hatalsky	Lost to par on second extra hole
6	1988	Nabisco Championship	Template:Flagicon Curtis Strange	Lost to birdie on second extra hole
7	1989	Nestle Invitational	Template:Flagicon Davis Love III	Won with par on second extra hole
8	1989	Nabisco Championship	Template:Flagicon Payne Stewart	Won with par on second extra hole
9	1990	Federal Express St. Jude Classic	Template:Flagicon John Cook	Won with birdie on first extra hole
10	1992	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	Template:Flagicon John Cook, Template:Flagicon Rick Fehr, Template:Flagicon Mark O'Meara, Template:Flagicon Gene Sauers	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

European Tour wins (3)

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	Template:Flagicon Lon Hinkle, Template:Flagicon Leonard Thompson
2	Jun 21, 1992	U.S. Open	−3 (71-72-70-72=285)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jeff Sluman
3	Oct 13, 1996	Oki Pro-Am	−15 (71-68-64-70=273)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Ángel Cabrera

New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (1)

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	Template:Flagicon Stewart Ginn

Other wins (5)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Dec 6, 1981	JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with Template:Flagicon Beth Daniel)	−18 (69-67-64-70=270)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Vance Heafner and Template:Flagicon Cathy Morse
2	Nov 8, 1987	Kirin Cup Individual Trophy	−16 (68-69-66-69=272)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Payne Stewart
3	Aug 25, 1992	Fred Meyer Challenge (with Template:Flagicon Billy Andrade)	−16 (64-64=128)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Steve Pate and Template:Flagicon Corey Pavin
4	Nov 22, 1992	Franklin Funds Shark Shootout (with Template:Flagicon Davis Love III)	−25 (65-69-59=191)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Billy Ray Brown and Template:Flagicon Nick Price, Template:Flagicon Fred Couples and Template:Flagicon Raymond Floyd, Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin and Template:Flagicon Bruce Lietzke
5	Nov 17, 1996	Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout (2) (with Template:Flagicon Jay Haas)	−29 (67-60-60=187)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin and Template:Flagicon Lee Janzen, Template:Flagicon Craig Stadler and Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins

Other playoff record (0–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1992	PGA Grand Slam of Golf	Template:Flagicon Nick Price	Lost to par on first extra hole

Champions Tour wins (10)

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	Template:Flagicon Larry Nelson, Template:Flagicon Tom Watson
2	Jun 11, 2000	SBC Senior Open	−9 (71-68-68=207)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bruce Fleisher
3	Sep 30, 2001	Gold Rush Classic	−22 (65-62-67=194)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Allen Doyle
4	Jan 20, 2002	MasterCard Championship	−17 (63-69-67=199)	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon John Jacobs
5	Mar 3, 2002	SBC Senior Classic	−4 (74-69-69=212)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Tom Watson
6	Oct 13, 2002	Napa Valley Championship	−12 (66-66-72=204)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Bruce Fleisher, Template:Flagicon Fred Gibson
7	Aug 8, 2004	3M Championship	−13 (65-69-69=203)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Craig Stadler
8	Mar 12, 2006	AT&T Classic	−12 (70-64-70=204)	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Gil Morgan
9	Aug 20, 2006	Boeing Greater Seattle Classic	−15 (71-64-66=201)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Keith Fergus
10	Aug 24, 2008	Boeing Classic (2)	−14 (69-67-66=202)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Scott Simpson

Champions Tour playoff record (3–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	2000	The Countrywide Tradition	Template:Flagicon Larry Nelson, Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	Won with birdie on sixth extra hole Nelson eliminated by par on second hole
2	2002	SBC Senior Classic	Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	Won with par on second extra hole
3	2006	Boeing Greater Seattle Classic	Template:Flagicon Keith Fergus	Won with birdie on first extra hole
4	2007	Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf	Template:Flagicon Jay Haas	Lost to par on first extra hole
5	2008	ACE Group Classic	Template:Flagicon Brad Bryant, Template:Flagicon Scott Hoch, Template:Flagicon Tom Jenkins	Hoch won with birdie on first extra hole

Major championships

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1992	U.S. Open	1 shot deficit	−3 (71-72-70-72=285)	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jeff Sluman

Results timeline

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

Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1982 Open Championship)
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

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

• Most consecutive cuts made – 15 (1986 PGA – 1990 U.S. Open)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (four times)

The Players Championship

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1989	The Players Championship	1 shot deficit	−9 (69-70-69-71=279)	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Chip Beck

Results timeline

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

Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Senior major championships

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runners-up
2000	The Countrywide Tradition	−8 (66-71-71-72=280)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Larry Nelson, Template:Flagicon Tom Watson

Results timeline

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

Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend 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.

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

• Eisenhower Trophy: 1970 (winners)
• Walker Cup: 1971

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 1979 (winners), 1981 (winners), 1983 (winners), 1985, 1987, 1989 (tie), 1993 (winners), 1997 (captain)
• World Cup: 1984, 1985
• Four Tours World Championship: 1987 (winners), 1989 (winners)
• Dunhill Cup: 1989 (winners), 1990, 1992, 1994
• Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing Champions Tour): 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
• UBS Cup: 2002 (winners), 2004 (winners)

See also

• 1972 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
• List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins
• List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins

External links

• Template:PGATour player
• Template:EuroTour player
• Template:OWGR
• Template:Webarchive
• Tom Kite Design