Gil Morgan

{{about|the golfer|rugby league footballer|Gil Morgan (rugby league)}}

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Gil Morgan

| image = GilMorgan.jpg

| caption = Morgan in 2009

| fullname = Gilmer Bryan Morgan II

| nickname = Doc

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|9|25|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Wewoka, Oklahoma

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{Height|ft=5|in=9}}

| weight = {{convert|170|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{USA}}

| residence = Edmond, Oklahoma

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college = East Central State College
Southern College of Optometry

| yearpro = 1972

| retired =

| tour =

| extour = PGA Tour
Champions Tour

| prowins = 41

| pgawins = 7

| japwins = 1

| champwins = 25 (Tied 4th all time)

| otherwins = 8

| majorwins =

| masters = T3: 1984

| usopen = 3rd: 1983

| open = T10: 1980

| pga = 3rd/T3: 1980, 1990

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 = Senior PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year

| year1 = 1997

| award2 = Senior PGA Tour
Byron Nelson Award

| year2 = 2000, 2001

| awardssection =

}}

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

Early life

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

Professional career

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pgatour.com/players/player.01837.gil-morgan.html |title=Gil Morgan – Profile |publisher=PGA Tour |access-date=2019-04-26 |df=mdy-all}} 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[https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/21/sports/golf-an-ocean-of-contenders-after-morgan-s-cliff-dive.html GOLF; An Ocean of Contenders After Morgan's Cliff Dive] 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)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Sep 11, 1977

|B.C. Open

|−14 (67-65-69-69=270)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Lee Elder

align=center|2

|align=right|Feb 19, 1978

|Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open

|−6 (66-69-73-70=278)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Nicklaus

align=center|3

|align=right|Oct 1, 1978

|World Series of Golf

|−2 (71-72-67-68=278)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hubert Green

align=center|4

|align=right|Jul 1, 1979

|Danny Thomas Memphis Classic

|−10 (72-71-69-66=278)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Nelson

align=center|5

|align=right|Jan 9, 1983

|Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open

|−9 (65-71-68-67=271)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Curtis Strange, {{flagicon|USA}} Lanny Wadkins

align=center|6

|align=right|Jan 16, 1983

|Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open (2)

|−14 (71-68-63-68=270)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Lanny Wadkins

align=center|7

|align=right|Jun 3, 1990

|Kemper Open

|−10 (68-67-70-69=274)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Baker-Finch

PGA Tour playoff record (3–4)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1978

|World Series of Golf

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hubert Green

|Won with par on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|1979

|Danny Thomas Memphis Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Nelson

|Won with birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|3

|1980

|Pleasant Valley Jimmy Fund Classic

{{flagicon|USA}} Wayne Levi

|Lost to par on fourth extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|4

|1981

|Buick Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Clampett, {{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin,
{{flagicon|USA}} Peter Jacobsen

|Irwin won with birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|5

|1983

|Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Curtis Strange, {{flagicon|USA}} Lanny Wadkins

|Won with birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|6

|1983

|Kemper Open

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Chen Tze-chung, {{flagicon|USA}} Fred Couples,
{{flagicon|USA}} Barry Jaeckel, {{flagicon|USA}} Scott Simpson

|Couples won with birdie on second extra hole
Jaeckel eliminated by par on first hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|7

|1990

|Independent Insurance Agent Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Sills

|Lost to par on first extra hole

=PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Oct 8, 1978

|Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters

|−11 (68-67-68-70=273)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Pate

=Other wins (4)=

1979 Heublein Open (Brazil){{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/283058782/ |title=Gil Morgan wins Brazilian tourney |newspaper=The Jackson Sun |location=Jackson, Tennessee |agency=AP |date=November 5, 1979 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=May 15, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://acervo.folha.com.br/leitor.do?numero=7120&anchor=4270353&pd=921991c9577d245d2356515cbec50a6a |title=Gil Morgan, EUA, venceu o Heublein Open de Golfe |newspaper=Folha de S.Paulo |location=São Paulo, Brazil |language=pt |date=November 5, 1979 |page=12 |access-date=May 15, 2020}}
1981 Oklahoma Open
1983 Jerry Ford Invitational (tie with Don Pooley)
1997 Oklahoma Open

=Champions Tour wins (25)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|Champions Tour major championships (3)

style="background:thistle;"

| Tour Championships (1)

Other Champions Tour (21)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Oct 6, 1996

|Ralphs Senior Classic

|−11 (68-68-66=202)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Colbert, {{flagicon|USA}} Chi-Chi Rodríguez

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|2

|align=right|Apr 6, 1997

|The Tradition

|−22 (66-66-67-67=266)

|6 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN|1947}} Isao Aoki

align=center|3

|align=right|Jun 1, 1997

|Ameritech Senior Open

|−6 (67-69-74=210)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

align=center|4

|align=right|Jun 8, 1997

|BellSouth Senior Classic

|−14 (69-66-67=202)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF}} John Bland

align=center|5

|align=right|Aug 17, 1997

|First of America Classic

|−9 (69-67-71=207)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Duval

align=center|6

|align=right|Nov 2, 1997

|Ralphs Senior Classic (2)

|−15 (67-66-65=198)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} George Archer

style="background:thistle;"

|align=center|7

|align=right|Nov 9, 1997

|Energizer Senior Tour Championship

|−16 (69-66-66-71=272)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

align=center|8

|align=right|Jan 18, 1998

|MasterCard Championship

|−21 (65-66-64=195)

|6 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gibby Gilbert, {{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

align=center|9

|align=right|Feb 8, 1998

|LG Championship

|−6 (69-73-68=210)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dale Douglass, {{flagicon|USA}} Raymond Floyd

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|10

|align=right|Apr 5, 1998

|The Tradition (2)

|−12 (71-66-69-70=276)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tom Wargo

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|11

|align=right|Jul 12, 1998

|Ford Senior Players Championship

|−21 (69-64-68-66=267)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

align=center|12

|align=right|Aug 2, 1998

|Utah Showdown

|−16 (66-67-67=200)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN|1947}} Isao Aoki, {{flagicon|USA}} John Mahaffey

align=center|13

|align=right|Oct 4, 1998

|Vantage Championship

|−12 (66-67-65=198)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

align=center|14

|align=right|Sep 12, 1999

|Comfort Classic

|−15 (67-65-69=201)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ed Dougherty

align=center|15

|align=right|Sep 26, 1999

|Kroger Senior Classic

|−18 (67-68-63=198)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ed Dougherty

align=center|16

|align=right|Mar 26, 2000

|Emerald Coast Classic

|−13 (65-65-67=197)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Nelson

align=center|17

|align=right|Jul 23, 2000

|Instinet Classic

|−17 (67-66-66=199)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Fleisher, {{flagicon|USA}} Bob Murphy

align=center|18

|align=right|Sep 10, 2000

|Comfort Classic (2)

|−13 (64-67=131)*

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Ahern

align=center|19

|align=right|Feb 11, 2001

|ACE Group Classic (2)

|−12 (71-67-66=204)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dana Quigley

align=center|20

|align=right|Jun 17, 2001

|Instinet Classic (2)

|−15 (63-69-69=201)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tom Jenkins, {{flagicon|USA}} J. C. Snead

align=center|21

|align=right|Jun 16, 2002

|BellSouth Senior Classic (2)

|−14 (67-68-67=202)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Fleisher, {{flagicon|USA}} Mike McCullough,
{{flagicon|USA}} Dana Quigley

align=center|22

|align=right|Sep 7, 2003

|Kroger Classic (2)

|−16 (65-67-68=200)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Doug Tewell

align=center|23

|align=right|Mar 14, 2004

|SBC Classic (3)

|−14 (67-66-69=202)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Nelson

align=center|24

|align=right|Jun 4, 2006

|Allianz Championship

|−16 (66-64-67=197)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Loren Roberts

align=center|25

|align=right|Sep 2, 2007

|Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach

|−14 (70-65-67=202)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

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

Champions Tour playoff record (0–6)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1997

|Emerald Coast Classic

|{{flagicon|JPN|1947}} Isao Aoki

|Lost to par on second extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|2000

|Bruno's Memorial Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Jacobs

|Lost to par on first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|3

|2000

|Vantage Championship

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Dent, {{flagicon|USA}} Larry Nelson

|Nelson won with birdie on sixth extra hole
Dent eliminated by birdie on first hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|4

|2001

|Toshiba Senior Classic

|{{flagicon|ESP}} José María Cañizares

|Lost to birdie on ninth extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|5

|2005

|Bayer Advantage Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dana Quigley, {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Watson

|Quigley won with birdie on first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|6

|2007

|Boeing Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} R. W. Eaks, {{flagicon|USA}} David Eger,
{{flagicon|JPN}} Naomichi Ozaki, {{flagicon|USA}} Dana Quigley,
{{flagicon|USA}} Craig Stadler, {{flagicon|ZIM}} 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)=

1997 Diners Club Matches (with Jay Sigel)
1998 Senior Slam at Los Cabos,
1999 Senior Slam at Los Cabos, Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Hubert Green)

Playoff record

European Tour playoff record (0–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponents!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1978

|European Open

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Bernard Gallacher, {{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Wadkins

|Wadkins won with birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1975

!1976

!1977

!1978

!1979

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|T18

|T31

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T41

|CUT

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

align=left|PGA Championship

|T17

|style="background:yellow;"|T8

|T15

|style="background:yellow;"|T4

|T28

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1980

!1981

!1982

!1983

!1984

!1985

!1986

!1987

!1988

!1989

align=left|Masters Tournament

|T19

|T21

|CUT

|style="background:yellow;"|T8

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|T16

|CUT

|T22

|style="background:yellow;"|3

|T21

|T23

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T51

|CUT

|WD

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:yellow;"|T10

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T22

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

|T19

|T22

|T55

|CUT

|T28

|CUT

|T21

|CUT

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1990

!1991

!1992

!1993

!1994

!1995

!1996

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T50

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|T56

|CUT

|T13

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T64

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T14

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:yellow;"|3

|T16

|T21

|CUT

|T39

|T31

|T41

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1979 and 1982 Open Championships)

WD = withdrew

"T" = tied

=Summary=

Totals	0	0	4	5	8	25	58	37
class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made
align=left\|Masters Tournament	0	0	1	1	2	5	12	7
align=left\|U.S. Open	0	0	1	1	1	6	17	9
align=left\|The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	1	3	7	4
align=left\|PGA Championship	0	0	2	3	4	11	22	17

Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1982 PGA – 1984 Open Championship)
Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

Results in The Players Championship

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1974

!1975

!1976

!1977

!1978

!1979

!1980

!1981

!1982

!1983

!1984

!1985

!1986

!1987

!1988

!1989

!1990

!1991

!1992

!1993

!1994

!1995

!1996

!1997

align=left|The Players Championship

|T58

|CUT

|T65

|T40

|T20

|T12

|T31

|T12

|T47

|T23

|T44

|CUT

|T58

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|T6

|CUT

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T68

|T13

|T53

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Champions Tour major championships

=Wins (3)=

class="sortable wikitable" !Year!!Championship!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner(s)-up
style="background:#d0f0c0;" \| 1997	The Tradition	−22 (66-66-67-67=266)	6 strokes	{{flagicon\|JPN\|1947}} Isao Aoki
style="background:#d0f0c0;" \| 1998	The Tradition (2)	−12 (71-66-69-70=276)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|USA}} Tom Wargo
style="background:#FFFF99;" \| 1998	Ford Senior Players Championship	−21 (69-64-68-66=267)	3 strokes	{{flagicon\|USA}} Hale Irwin