Peter Thomson (golfer)

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Peter Thomson
AO CBE

| image = Peter Thomson - Australian golfer.jpg

| caption = Thomson in Tasmania

| fullname = Peter William Thomson

| nickname = The Melbourne Tiger{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.linksmagazine.com/golfs-animal-kingdom-player-nicknames/ |first=David |last=Desmith |title=Golf's Animal Kingdom of Player Nicknames |magazine=Links Magazine |access-date=2020-11-17 |url-access=subscription}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|8|23|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Brunswick, Victoria, Australia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|6|20|1929|8|23|df=yes}}

| death_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

| height = {{Height|m=1.77|precision=0}}

| weight =

| nationality = {{flagu|Australia}}

| residence =

| spouse = {{marriage|Lois Brauer|1952}}
{{marriage|Mary Kelly|1960}}

| children = 4, including Andrew

| college =

| yearpro = 1949{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93335007 |title=Peter Thomson Turns Professional |newspaper=The Chronicle |volume=91 |issue=51,183 |location=South Australia |date=21 April 1949 |access-date=22 February 2017 |page=38 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| extour = PGA Tour
European Tour
Asia Golf Circuit
PGA Tour of Australia
New Zealand Golf Circuit
Senior PGA Tour

| prowins = 99

| pgawins = 6

| auswins = 1

| asiawins =

| eurowins = 1

| japwins = 1

| champwins = 11

| otherwins = 47 (Australia/New Zealand)
28 (Europe)
10 (Asia/Japan)
2 (other regular)
1 (other senior)

| majorwins = 5

| masters = 5th: 1957

| usopen = T4: 1956

| open = Won: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965

| pga = DNP

| wghofid = peter-thomson

| wghofyear = 1988

| award1 = Far East Circuit
Order of Merit winner

| year1 = 1962

| award2 = New Zealand Golf Circuit
money list winner

| year2 = 1965

| award3 = Senior PGA Tour
money list winner

| year3 = 1985

}}

Peter William Thomson {{post-nominals|country=AUS|sep=,|AO|CBE}} (23 August 1929 – 20 June 2018) was an Australian professional golfer, often cited as the greatest and most successful golfer in Australian golf history.

While also successful in academia, in the late 1940s Thomson turned professional and immediately had success on the Australasian circuits; beginning with victories in his home state of Victoria and then his first International victory the 1950 New Zealand Open followed by winning the 1951 Australian Open by 4 shots over one of his heroes Norman Von Nida. He then ventured over to Great Britain, trying his luck in the oldest championship of them all, the British Open where he finished T6th in his first Open championship in 1951.

After playing several events in the USA, Thomson decided to focus on Europe thereafter with extraordinary success, winning dozens of tournaments on the British PGA, including the Open Championship five times and victories all over Europe to be known as one of the most prolific winners on European soil. From 1949-1988 Peter Thomson notched professional victories in Australia, New Zealand, America, Italy, Spain, Germany, India, England, Scotland, Japan, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong and The Philippines...including 27 National Opens.

As a senior, Thomson continued with success, winning 11 times on the Senior PGA Tour, including 9 times in one season (1985) a record he still holds with Hale Irwin. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all-time and more specifically one of the greatest links golfers that has ever lived.

Early life

Thomson was born in Brunswick, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Australia.

Professional career

Thomson's Open Championship wins came in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965. He was the only man to win the tournament for three consecutive years in the 20th century.

Thomson was a prolific tournament champion around the world, winning the national championships of ten countries, including the New Zealand Open nine times. He competed on the PGA Tour in 1953 and 1954 with relatively little success (finishing 44th and 25th on the money list), and after that was an infrequent competitor. However, in 1956, playing in just eight events, he won the rich Texas International Open, and achieved his best finish in one of the three majors staged in the United States (fourth at the U.S. Open), to finish ninth on the money list.

In the era, that Thomson won his first four Open Championships, few of the leading professionals from the United States travelled to Britain to play in that event. At that time, the prize money in the Open was insufficient for an American to cover their expenses. However, Thomson demonstrated with his win in 1965 that he could beat a field of the world's best players, as that victory came against a field that included Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tony Lema, three of the top four American golfers from the 1964 money list. Peter Thomson put on a ball-striking clinic at Royal Birkdale in 1965, where, in the final 18 holes he took 71 shots that included 35 putts.

Thomson enjoyed a successful senior career. In 1985 he won nine times on the Senior PGA Tour in the United States, and finished top of the money list. His last tournament victory came at the 1988 British PGA Seniors Championship. He was president of the Australian PGA from 1962 to 1994 and a victorious non-playing captain of the international team in the 1998 Presidents Cup. He was president of the Australian PGA at the same time he won The British Open in 1965.

Thomson was active as a golf writer, contributing to The Age of Melbourne for some 50 years from the early 1950s. His local club was Victoria Golf Club. He was an honorary member of Royal Melbourne Golf Club and dozens of golf clubs around the world including several in Scotland, Japan and throughout Asia. Thomson designed over a hundred golf courses in Australia and around the world with his business partners Michael Wolveridge and Ross Perrett.

Personal life

On June 1, 1960, Thomson was married to Mary Kelly of Melbourne, Australia. The wedding took place in London, England.{{Cite news |title=Nagle Out; Later Entry – Quiet Wedding |date=June 2, 1960 |page=5 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |agency=AAP |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122735775/?match=1&terms=%22murray%20crafter%22 |access-date=2025-01-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Thomson died in Melbourne on 20 June 2018 after a four-year battle with Parkinson's disease, at the age of 88.{{cite news |title=Golf loses a legend in Peter Thomson |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/golf/golf-loses-a-legend-in-peter-thomson-20180620-p4zmke.html |access-date=20 June 2018 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |first=Martin |last=Blake |date=20 June 2018}}{{cite news |title=Peter Thomson obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jun/20/peter-thomson-obituary |access-date=20 June 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Peter |last=Mason |date=20 June 2018}} Upon his passing, fellow 5 times British Open champion Tom Watson from America said "The golf world has lost arguably the greatest links golfer in history, Australian Peter Thomson. 5 Open Championship titles + top 10 finishes in 18 out of 21 Open Championships (1951-1971) will go down in the annals of golfs greatest achievements. We will miss him."

Awards and honors

In 1955, he was selected as ABC Sportsman of the Year.
In 1957, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his services to Australia in the sporting and international sphere.Australia list: {{London Gazette

| issue = 40961

| date = 28 December 1956

| pages = 44

| supp = y

}}[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1088274 Thomson, Peter William MBE], It's an Honour, 1 January 1957.

In 1979, appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for service to the sport of golf.[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1064507 Thomson, Peter William CBE], It's an Honour, 31 December 1979.
Thomson was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.{{cite web |title=Peter Thomson |url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/peter-thomson/ |access-date=25 September 2020 |publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame}}
Thomson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.
In 1997, The Peter Thomson Trophy, an annual contested between the eight Melbourne Sandbelt golf clubs, was inaugurated.{{cite web |title=Peter Thomson Trophy |url=http://thesandbelt.com/cms/the-peter-thomson-trophy/ |access-date=20 June 2018 |website=Sandbelt website}}
In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal.[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1126183 Thomson, Peter William], It's an Honour, 1 January 2001.
In 2001, he was elected an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO){{Cite news |date=2001-06-11 |title=The Queen's Birthday 2001 Honours |pages=1 |work=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Special (National : 1977 - 2012) |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article240295427 |access-date=2022-07-29}}[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/886657 Thomson, Peter William AO], It's an Honour, 11 June 2001.
In 2011, he was inducted into the Victorian Golf Industry Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Victorian Golf Industry Hall of Fame |url=http://www.golfvic.org.au/hall-of-fame |access-date=20 June 2018 |website=Golf Victoria website}}
In 2016, he was inducted as inaugural Immortal of the PGA of Australia.{{cite web |title=PGA of Australia mourns the loss of inaugural Immortal |url=https://www.pga.org.au/news/industry/pga-of-australia-mourns-the-loss-of-peter-thomson-ao,-cbe |access-date=20 June 2018 |website=PGA of Australia website}}

Amateur wins

1947 Australasian Foursomes Shield (with Dick Payne)
1948 Victorian Amateur Championship

Professional wins (99)

=PGA Tour wins (6)=

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

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|Major championships (5)

Other PGA Tour (1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of victory!!Runner(s)-up
style="background:#e5d1cb;" \| align=center\|1	align=right\|9 Jul 1954	The Open Championship	−9 (72-71-69-71=283)	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|ZAF\|1928}} Bobby Locke, {{flagicon\|WAL\|1953}} Dai Rees, {{flagicon\|ENG}} Syd Scott
style="background:#e5d1cb;" \| align=center\|2	align=right\|8 Jul 1955	The Open Championship (2)	−7 (71-68-70-72=281)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|SCO}} John Fallon
align=center\|3	align=right\|4 Jun 1956	Texas International Open	−13 (67-68-69-63=267)	Playoff	{{flagicon\|USA}} Gene Littler, {{flagicon\|USA}} Cary Middlecoff
style="background:#e5d1cb;" \| align=center\|4	align=right\|6 Jul 1956	The Open Championship (3)	+2 (70-70-72-74=286)	3 strokes	{{flagicon\|BEL}} Flory Van Donck
style="background:#e5d1cb;" \| align=center\|5	align=right\|5 Jul 1958	The Open Championship (4)	−6 (66-72-67-73=278)	Playoff	{{flagicon\|WAL\|1953}} Dave Thomas
style="background:#e5d1cb;" \| align=center\|6	align=right\|9 Jul 1965	The Open Championship (5)	−3 (74-68-72-71=285)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Brian Huggett, {{flagicon\|IRL}} Christy O'Connor Snr

PGA Tour playoff record (2–0)

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

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

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1956

|Texas International Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler, {{flagicon|USA}} Cary Middlecoff

|Won with birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|1958

|The Open Championship

|{{flagicon|WAL|1953}} Dave Thomas

|Won 36-hole playoff;
Thomson: −3 (68-71=139),
Thomas: +1 (69-74=143)

=European Tour wins (1)=

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

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runner-up

align=center|1

align=right|23 Sep 1972

W.D. & H.O. Wills Tournament

−14 (71-69-66-64=270)

3 strokes

{{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Butler

=PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)=

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

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runners-up

align=center|1

|align=right|23 May 1976

|Pepsi-Wilson Tournament

|−5 (71-72-68=211)*

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Brian Jones, {{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Marsh,
{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Shozo Miyamoto

*Note: The 1976 Pepsi-Wilson Tournament was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (1–0)

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

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

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1976

|Pepsi-Wilson Tournament

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Brian Jones, {{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Marsh,
{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Shozo Miyamoto

|Won with par on fourteenth extra hole
Jones eliminated by par on fourth hole
Miyamoto eliminated by par on first hole

=Other Japan wins (5)=

1969 Chunichi Crowns
1971 Dunlop Tournament, Wizard Tournament
1972 Chunichi Crowns, Pepsi Tournament

=Asia Golf Circuit wins (5)=

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

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runner-up

align=center|1

|align=right|11 Mar 1962

|Yomiuri International

|−10 (72-68-64-74=278)

|8 strokes

|{{flagicon|CAN|1957}} Al Balding

align=center|2

|align=right|23 Feb 1964

|Philippine Open

|−3 (74-74-69-68=285)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Doug Sanders

align=center|3

|align=right|28 Mar 1965

|Hong Kong Open

|−2 (75-66-67-70=278)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|NZL}} Ross Newdick

align=center|4

|align=right|26 Mar 1967

|Hong Kong Open (2)

|−7 (68-69-67-69=273)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Brian Huggett

align=center|5

|align=right|4 Apr 1976

|Indian Open

|−4 (74-75-69-70=288)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Brian Jones

Asia Golf Circuit playoff record (2–0)

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

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1964

|Philippine Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Doug Sanders

|Won with bogey on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|1967

|Hong Kong Open

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Brian Huggett

|Won with par on second extra hole

=Other Asian wins (3)=

1960 Hong Kong Open
1964 Indian Open
1966 Indian Open

=PGA Tour of Australia wins (1)=

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

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runners-up

align=center|1

|align=right|11 Feb 1973

|Victorian Open

|−4 (71-73-73-67=284)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Stewart Ginn, {{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Tuohy

=Other Australian wins (24)=

1949 Victorian Close Championship
1951 Australian Open, Victorian Close Championship
1952 Victorian PGA Championship, Mobilco Tournament
1953 Victorian PGA Championship
1954 Ampol Tournament (Nov)
1955 Wiseman's Tournament, Pelaco Tournament, Speedo Tournament
1956 Pelaco Tournament
1958 Victorian Open, Pelaco Tournament
1959 Pelaco Tournament, Coles Tournament
1960 Wills Classic
1961 Adelaide Advertiser Tournament, New South Wales Open
1963 Lakes Open
1967 Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open
1968 South Australian Open, Victorian Open
1972 Australian Open

=New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (11)=

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

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|3 Sep 1963

|Metalcraft Tournament

|−5 (72-69-74-72=287)

|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|AUS}} Ted Ball

align=center|2

|align=right|1 Dec 1964

|Forest Products Tournament

|−11 (69-68-65=202)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Cobie Legrange, {{flagicon|AUS}} Kel Nagle

align=center|3

|align=right|21 Nov 1965

|New Zealand Open

|−2 (70-71-68-69=278)

|8 strokes

|{{flagicon|NZL}} Bob Charles, {{flagicon|AUS}} Kel Nagle

align=center|4

|align=right|23 Nov 1965

|Metalcraft Tournament (2)

|−8 (71-68-69=208)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Barry Coxon, {{flagicon|NZL}} Walter Godfrey,
{{flagicon|AUS}} Alan Murray, {{flagicon|NZL}} Ross Newdick

align=center|5

|align=right|27 Nov 1965

|Caltex Tournament

|−10 (68-70-69-75=282)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Cedric Amm, {{flagicon|AUS}} John Sullivan

align=center|6

|align=right|11 Dec 1965

|BP Tournament

|−10 (68-66-73-71=278)

|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|AUS}} Kel Nagle

align=center|7

|align=right|26 Nov 1966

|New Zealand Wills Masters

|−17 (69-69-70-67=275)

|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|AUS}} Tim Woolbank

align=center|8

|align=right|17 Dec 1966

|Caltex Tournament (2)

|−4 (72-67-70-67=276)

|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|AUS}} Kel Nagle

align=center|9

|align=right|26 Nov 1967

|Caltex Tournament (3)

|−14 (72-70-67-69=278)

|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|NZL}} Bob Charles

align=center|10

|align=right|23 Nov 1968

|Sax Altman Tournament

|−3 (72-71-70-72=285)

|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|ENG}} Guy Wolstenholme

align=center|11

|align=right|28 Nov 1971

|New Zealand Open (2)

|−8 (71-66-69-70=276)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Maurice Bembridge

= Other New Zealand wins (10) =

1950 New Zealand Open
1951 New Zealand Open
1953 New Zealand Open, New Zealand PGA Championship
1955 New Zealand Open, Caltex Tournament
1959 New Zealand Open, Caltex Tournament
1960 New Zealand Open
1961 New Zealand Open

=British PGA Circuit wins (25)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of victory!!Runner(s)-up
align=center\|1	9 Jul 1954	The Open Championship	72-71-69-71=283	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|ZAF\|1928}} Bobby Locke, {{flagicon\|WAL\|1953}} Dai Rees, {{flagicon\|ENG}} Syd Scott
align=center\|2	2 Oct 1954	News of the World Match Play	align=center colspan=2\|38 holes	{{flagicon\|SCO}} John Fallon
align=center\|3	8 Jul 1955	The Open Championship	71-68-70-72=281	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|SCO}} John Fallon
align=center\|4	6 Jul 1956	The Open Championship	70-70-72-74=286	3 strokes	{{flagicon\|BEL}} Flory Van Donck
align=center\|5	21 Jun 1957	Yorkshire Evening News Tournament	65-67-64-68=264	15 strokes	{{flagicon\|IRL}} Harry Bradshaw
align=center\|6	9 May 1958	Dunlop Tournament	70-69-71-71-67=348	3 strokes	{{flagicon\|ZAF\|1928}} Harold Henning
align=center\|7	14 Jun 1958	Daks Tournament	70-67-69-69=275	Tie	{{flagicon\|ZAF\|1928}} Harold Henning
align=center\|8	5 Jul 1958	The Open Championship	33-72-67-73=278	Playoff	{{flagicon\|WAL\|1953}} Dave Thomas
align="center" \|9	11 Jun 1960	Daks Tournament	74-66-67-72=279	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Tom Haliburton, {{flagicon\|ENG}} Jimmy Hitchcock
align="center" \|10	17 Jun 1960	Yorkshire Evening News Tournament	70-66-65-67=268	5 strokes	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Bernard Hunt
align="center" \|11	20 Jun 1960	Bowmaker Tournament	67-65=132	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Bernard Hunt
align="center" \|12	23 Jun 1961	Yorkshire Evening News Tournament	70-69-70-73=262	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Dai Rees
align="center" \|13	26 Aug 1961	Esso Golden Tournament	21 points	Tie	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Dave Thomas
align="center" \|14	9 Sep 1961	News of the World Match Play	colspan="2" align="center" \|3 & 1	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Ralph Moffitt
align="center" \|15	16 Sep 1961	Dunlop Masters	70-71-72-71=284	8 strokes	{{flagicon\|IRL}} Christy O'Connor Snr
align="center" \|16	5 May 1962	Martini International	66-69-72-68=275	4 strokes	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Eric Brown
align="center" \|17	20 May 1962	Piccadilly No. 1 Tournament	72-69-73-69=283	3 strokes	{{flagicon\|IRL}} Christy O'Connor Snr
align="center" \|18	5 Jun 1965	Daks Tournament	70-71-68-66=275	4 strokes	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Guy Wolstenholme
align="center" \|19	9 Jul 1965	The Open Championship	74-68-72-71=285	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Brian Huggett, {{flagicon\|IRL}} Christy O'Connor Snr
align="center" \|20	10 Sep 1966	News of the World Match Play	colspan="2" align="center" \|2 & 1	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Neil Coles
align="center" \|21	22 Jul 1967	Esso Golden Tournament	20 points	Tie	{{flagicon\|AUS}} Kel Nagle
align="center" \|22	10 Sep 1967	News of the World Match Play	colspan="2" align="center" \|4 & 3	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Dai Rees
align="center" \|23	8 Oct 1967	Alcan International	69-71-73-68=281	5 strokes	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Tony Grubb
align="center" \|24	14 Sep 1968	Dunlop Masters	66-69-73-66=274	5 strokes	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Dave Thomas
align="center" \|25	13 Jun 1970	Martini International	65-68-68-67=268	Tie	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Doug Sewell

=Other European wins (3)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No. !Date !Tournament !Winning score !Margin of victory !Runner(s)-up
align="center" \|1	11 Oct 1959	Italian Open	69-67-68-65=269	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|ITA}} Alfonso Angelini
align="center" \|2	17 Oct 1959	Spanish Open	71-73-72-70=286	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Jean Garaïalde, {{flagicon\|ENG}} Syd Scott
3 \|24 Jul 1960 \|German Open \|71-67-72-71=281 \|2 strokes \|{{flagicon\|ARG}} Roberto De Vicenzo, {{flagicon\|FRA}} Jean Garaïalde

=Other wins (2)=

1952 Mills Round Robin (South Africa){{cite news |date=20 February 1952 |title=Thomson Beats Locke |newspaper=Singapore Free Press |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/freepress19520220-1.1.6?ST}}
1954 Canada Cup (with Kel Nagle)

=Senior PGA Tour wins (11)=

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

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|Senior major championships (1)

Other Senior PGA Tour (10)

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

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|16 Sep 1984

|World Seniors Invitational

| −7 (69-69-69-74=281)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|2

|align=right|9 Dec 1984

|General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship

|−2 (67-73-74-72=286)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Don January

align=center|3

|align=right|17 Mar 1985

|Vintage Invitational

|−7 (69-73-69-69=280)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Casper, {{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer

align=center|4

|align=right|31 Mar 1985

|American Golf Carta Blanca Johnny Mathis Classic

|−11 (70-64-71=205)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Don January

align=center|5

|align=right|5 May 1985

|MONY Senior Tournament of Champions

|−4 (70-70-71-73=284)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Don January, {{flagicon|USA}} Dan Sikes

align=center|6

|align=right|9 Jun 1985

|The Champions Classic

|−6 (68-72-70=210)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Casper, {{flagicon|USA}} Jim Ferree

align=center|7

|align=right|16 Jun 1985

|Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am

|−14 (68-66-68=202)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Lee Elder

align=center|8

|align=right|21 Jul 1985

|MONY Syracuse Senior's Classic

|−9 (70-64-70=203)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Miller Barber, {{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler

align=center|9

|align=right|18 Aug 1985

|du Maurier Champions

|−13 (64-70-69=203)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ben Smith

align=center|10

|align=right|15 Sep 1985

|United Virginia Bank Seniors

|−9 (69-69-69=207)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} George Lanning

align=center|11

|align=right|20 Oct 1985

|Barnett Suntree Senior Classic

|−9 (70-68-69=207)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Charlie Sifford

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

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

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1985

|Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am

|{{flagicon|USA}} Lee Elder

|Lost to eagle on first extra hole

=Other senior wins (1)=

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

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner-up

align=center|1

|26 Jun 1988

|Trusthouse Forte PGA Seniors Championship

| +7 (78-67-72-70=287)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Denis Hutchinson

Major championships

=Wins (5)=

class="wikitable" !Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner(s)-up
style="background:#ABCDEF;" \| 1954	The Open Championship	Tied for lead	−9 (72-71-69-71=283)	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|RSA}} Bobby Locke, {{flagicon\|WAL}} Dai Rees, {{flagicon\|ENG}} Syd Scott
style="background:#ABCDEF;" \| 1955	The Open Championship (2)	1 shot lead	−7 (71-68-70-72=281)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|SCO}} John Fallon
style="background:#ABCDEF;" \| 1956	The Open Championship (3)	3 shot lead	−2 (70-70-72-74=286)	3 strokes	{{flagicon\|BEL}} Flory Van Donck
style="background:#ABCDEF;" \| 1958	The Open Championship (4)	2 shot lead	−6 (66-72-67-73=278)	Playoff¹	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Dave Thomas
style="background:#ABCDEF;" \| 1965	The Open Championship (5)	1 shot lead	−7 (74-68-72-71=285)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|Ireland}} Christy O'Connor Snr, {{flagicon\|WAL}} Brian Huggett

¹Defeated Dave Thomas in 36-hole playoff; Thomson (139), Thomas (143)

=Results timeline=

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

!Tournament

!1951

!1952

!1953

!1954

!1955

!1956

!1957

!1958

!1959

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T36

|T16

|T18

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|5

|T23

|DQ

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T26

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|T4

|T22

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:yellow;"|T6

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|style="background:yellow;"|T2

|style="background:lime;"|1

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|style="background:lime;"|1

|T23

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

!Tournament

!1960

!1961

!1962

!1963

!1964

!1965

!1966

!1967

!1968

!1969

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T19

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:yellow;"|T9

|style="background:yellow;"|7

|style="background:yellow;"|T6

|style="background:yellow;"|5

|T24

|style="background:lime;"|1

|style="background:yellow;"|T8

|T24

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

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

!Tournament

!1970

!1971

!1972

!1973

!1974

!1975

!1976

!1977

!1978

!1979

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:yellow;"|T9

|T31

|CUT

|T13

|T24

|T26

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

!Tournament

!1980

!1981

!1982

!1983

!1984

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

Note: Thomson never played in the PGA Championship.

CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1975 and 1984 Open Championships)

DQ = disqualified

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

=Summary=

Totals	5	3	1	12	20	30	43	35
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	0	1	1	5	8	6
align=left\|U.S. Open	0	0	0	1	1	2	5	3
align=left\|The Open Championship	5	3	1	10	18	23	30	26
align=left\|PGA Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1954 Open Championship – 1958 Open Championship)
Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (1955 Open Championship – 1957 Masters)

Champions Tour major championships

=Wins (1)=

class="wikitable"

!Year!!Championship!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up

style="background:#D8BFD8;"

| 1984^a

General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship

−2 (67-73-74-72=286)

3 strokes

{{flagicon|USA}} Don January

^a This was the December edition of the tournament.

Team appearances

Amateur

Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Victoria): 1948 (winners)

Professional

World Cup (representing Australia): 1953, 1954 (winners), 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 (winners), 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1969
Lakes International Cup (representing Australia): 1952
Slazenger Trophy (representing British Commonwealth and Empire): 1956
Presidents Cup (representing International): 1996 (non-playing captain), 1998 (non-playing captain, winners), 2000 (non-playing captain)
Hopkins Trophy (representing Canada): 1952
Vicars Shield (representing Victoria): 1951 (winners), 1952 (winners), 1953 (winners)

References

External links

{{PGATour player|02199|Peter Thomson}}
{{EuroTour player|4062}}
{{JapanTour player|10163|Peter Thomson}}
{{World Golf Hall of Fame|peter-thomson}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060523202953/http://www.golflegends.org/peter-thomson.php Golflegends.org profile]

{{navboxes|title=Peter Thomson in the Presidents Cup

|list1=

}}

Category:Australian male golfers

Category:PGA Tour of Australasia golfers

Category:Golf course architects

Category:European Tour golfers

Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers

Category:Winners of men's major golf championships

Category:Winners of senior major golf championships

Category:World Golf Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees