Todd Hamilton

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Todd Hamilton

| image = Todd Hamilton.jpg

| imagesize = 200px

| caption =

| fullname = William Todd Hamilton

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|10|18|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Galesburg, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 6 ft 1 in

| weight = {{convert|195|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{USA}}

| residence = Westlake, Texas, U.S.

| spouse =

| partner =

| children = 3

| college = University of Oklahoma

| yearpro = 1987

| retired =

| tour = Champions Tour

| extour = PGA Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Asia Golf Circuit

| prowins = 17

| pgawins = 2

| eurowins = 1

| japwins = 11

| asiawins =

| sunwins =

| auswins =

| nwidewins =

| chalwins =

| champwins =

| seneurowins =

| otherwins = 4

| majorwins = 1

| masters = T15: 2009

| usopen = T36: 2008, 2009

| open = Won: 2004

| pga = T29: 2003

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 = Asia Golf Circuit
Order of Merit winner

| year1 = 1992

| award2 = PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year

| year2 = 2004

| awardssection =

}}

William Todd Hamilton (born October 18, 1965) is an American professional golfer. He is best known for his victory at the 2004 Open Championship.

Early life

Hamilton was born in the small west-central Illinois city of Galesburg. He grew up in an even smaller town, Oquawka, in Henderson County on the Mississippi River. His parents were the owners of a small grocery story called "Hamilton's." He attended Union High School in Biggsville, Illinois (now West Central High School). At the time, the high school did not have a golf team, and Hamilton competed as an individual. He won back to back Class A state titles in 1981–82 and 1982–83.{{cite web |url=https://www.ihsa.org/Sports-Activities/Boys-Golf/Records-History?url=/data/gob/records/index.htm |title=Records & History: Boys Golf Medalists |publisher=Illinois High School Association }} Hamilton then played at the University of Oklahoma, where he was a college All-American.

Professional career

Hamilton turned professional in 1987 but was unable to gain entrance to the PGA Tour. Instead he played internationally for many years, primarily on the Japan Golf Tour after gaining his card as winner of the 1992 Asia Golf Circuit Order of Merit winner.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XIei0t62ldIC |title=Heineken World of Golf 93 |first=Nick |last=Edmund |publisher=Stanley Paul |date=1993 |isbn=0091781000 |page=170}} When he left the Japan Golf Tour after 12 seasons, he was the tour's 2nd all-time leading non-Japanese money winner (to USA's David Ishii), with earnings of over 630 million yen (about $6.18 million in 2014 US dollars) with 11 tour wins.

After eight tries, at the age of 38, Hamilton went back to Qualifying School in 2003, where he finally earned his first PGA Tour card.

Hamilton captured his first PGA Tour win at the 2004 Honda Classic. He birdied the final two holes to beat Davis Love III by one stroke at 12 under par. Later that year, Hamilton won a major championship in one of golf's all-time upsets when he defeated Ernie Els in a four-hole playoff to win The Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club. After shooting an opening round 71, Hamilton fired a second round 67 to move to -4 and a fifth-place tie with future World Golf Hall of Famers Els, Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie as well as Michael Campbell. Hamilton again shot a 67 in the third round to take a one-shot lead over Els. Entering the tournament's 72nd hole, Hamilton held a one-shot lead over Els, but Hamilton bogeyed the 18th hole, leaving Els with a 12-foot birdie putt for the win, which he missed. Els and Hamilton headed for the four-hole aggregate playoff, in which Hamilton carded four pars while Els managed three pars and a bogey, and Hamilton took the win.{{cite web |url=http://www.theopen.com/en/History/PreviousOpens.aspx?venue=Royal+Liverpool¤tyear=2006&view=year&eventid=2004041 |title=Troon – 2004 Results |publisher=The Open |access-date=April 15, 2014}}

These two victories in his first season on the PGA Tour led to Hamilton being named the 2004 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and reaching a peak world ranking of 16.{{cite web|url=https://www.golfrankingstats.com/player/Todd-Hamilton|title=Todd Hamilton - Advanced Statistics}} In his 187 subsequent tour starts, he missed the cut 111 times and had just three top-10 finishes.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2013-07/gwar-todd-hamilton-rosaforte-report-0729 |title=The Anonymous Champion |magazine=Golf Digest |first=Tim |last=Rosaforte |date=July 29, 2013}} In 2006, Hamilton captained the American team in ITV's celebrity golf tournament, the All*Star Cup.

He lost his full exempt status on the PGA Tour in 2010. Hamilton played on the Web.com Tour in 2014 and 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/player/results/_/id/1090/todd-hamilton |title=Todd Hamilton Tournament Results – 2014 |work=ESPN |access-date=April 15, 2014}} Hamilton became eligible to play on the Champions Tour after turning fifty years of age in October 2015.

Personal life

Hamilton lives in Westlake, Texas.

Professional wins (17)

=PGA Tour wins (2)=

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

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

| Major championships (1)

Other PGA Tour (1)

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

style="background:#eeeeee;"

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

align=center|1

|align=right|Mar 14, 2004

|The Honda Classic

|−12 (68-66-68-74=276)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Davis Love III

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|2

|align=right|Jul 18, 2004

|The Open Championship

|−10 (71-67-67-69=274)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|ZAF}} Ernie Els

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

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

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

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|2004

|The Open Championship

|{{flagicon|ZAF}} Ernie Els

|Won four-hole aggregate playoff;
Hamilton: E (4-4-3-4=15),
Els: +1 (4-4-4-4=16)

=Japan Golf Tour wins (11)=

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

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

align=center|1

|align=right|Aug 23, 1992

|Maruman Open

|−16 (65-67-67-73=272)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Masashi Ozaki

align=center|2

|align=right|Aug 15, 1993

|Acom International

|40 pts (7-15-3-15=40)

|2 points

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Craig Warren

align=center|3

|align=right|Jul 3, 1994

|PGA Philanthropy Tournament

|−10 (74-69-68-67=278)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Eiji Mizoguchi

align=center|4

|align=right|Sep 4, 1994

|Japan PGA Match-Play Championship Promise Cup

|colspan=2 align=center|8 and 7

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Ikuo Shirahama

align=center|5

|align=right|Mar 12, 1995

|Token Corporation Cup

|−7 (70-71-68-72=281)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Peter Senior

align=center|6

|align=right|Jun 30, 1996

|PGA Philanthropy Tournament (2)

|−13 (69-69-68-69=275)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Kazuhiro Takami

align=center|7

|align=right|Sep 27, 1998

|Gene Sarazen Jun Classic

|−18 (71-66-68-65=270)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Craig Parry

align=center|8

|align=right|May 11, 2003

|Fujisankei Classic

|−17 (67-67-65-68=267)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN}} Tetsuji Hiratsuka, {{flagicon|JPN}} Shigeru Nonaka

align=center|9

|align=right|Jun 1, 2003

|Diamond Cup Tournament

|−12 (67-72-72-65=276)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Steven Conran

align=center|10

|align=right|Jun 29, 2003

|Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open

|−10 (67-72-72-65=278)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Brendan Jones

align=center|11

|align=right|Sep 7, 2003

|Japan PGA Match-Play Championship (2)

|colspan=2 align=center|3 and 2

|{{flagicon|NZL}} David Smail

Japan Golf Tour playoff record (1–4)

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

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

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1994

|PGA Philanthropy Tournament

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Eiji Mizoguchi

|Won with birdie on first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|1996

|Fujisankei Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} Brian Watts

|Lost to par on first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|3

|1996

|Mitsubishi Galant Tournament

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Masashi Ozaki

|Lost to par on first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|4

|1996

|Pocari Sweat Yomiuri Open

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Kazuhiro Fukunaga

|Lost to birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|4

|2002

|Munsingwear Open KSB Cup

|{{flagicon|JPN}} Yoshimitsu Fukuzawa, {{flagicon|JPN}} Kenichi Kuboya

|Kuboya won with birdie on fourth extra hole
Fukuzawa eliminated by birdie on second hole

=Asia Golf Circuit wins (2)=

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

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

align=center|1

|align=right|Apr 19, 1992

|Maekyung Open

|−8 (68-70-69-73=280)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Lin Chie-hsiang

align=center|2

|align=right|Feb 5, 1995

|Thai Airways Thailand Open

|−17 (68-68-70-65=271)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Steve Veriato

Asia Golf Circuit playoff record (2–1)

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

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

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1992

|Sanyang Republic of China Open

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Lin Chie-hsiang, {{flagicon|USA}} Craig McClellan

|Lin won with birdie on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|1992

|Maekyung Open

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Lin Chie-hsiang

|Won with par on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|3

|1995

|Thai Airways Thailand Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Steve Veriato

|Won with par on second extra hole

=Other wins (2)=

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

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

align=center|1

|align=right|Mar 22, 1992

|Rolex Masters

|−10 (70-67-66-71=274)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gerry Norquist, {{flagicon|USA}} Lee Porter

align=center|2

|align=right|Aug 29, 1999

|Oklahoma Open

|−12 (66-68-64=198)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Gregory

Major championships

=Wins (1)=

class="wikitable"

!Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up

style="background:#ABCDEF;"

| 2004

The Open Championship

1 shot lead

−10 (71-67-67-69=274)

Playoff¹

{{flagicon|RSA}} Ernie Els

¹Defeated Ernie Els in 4-hole playoff; Hamilton (4-4-3-4=15), Els (4-4-4-4=16).

=Results timeline=

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

!Tournament

!1988

!1989

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

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

!Tournament

!1990

!1991

!1992

!1993

!1994

!1995

!1996

!1997

!1998

!1999

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T45

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

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

!Tournament

!2000

!2001

!2002

!2003

!2004

!2005

!2006

!2007

!2008

!2009

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|40

|T39

|CUT

|T36

|T15

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|T36

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:lime;"|1

|CUT

|T68

|CUT

|T32

|CUT

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T29

|T37

|T47

|CUT

|T66

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

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

!Tournament

!2010

!2011

!2012

!2013

!2014

!2015

!2016

!2017

!2018

align=left|Masters Tournament

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T60

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|CUT

|T73

|CUT

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

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

!Tournament

!2019

!2020

!2021

!2022

!2023

!2024

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

CUT = missed the half way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

NT = no tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic

=Summary=

Totals	1	0	0	1	1	2	40	16
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	0	0	1	7	4
align=left\|U.S. Open	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	3
align=left\|The Open Championship	1	0	0	1	1	1	19	5
align=left\|PGA Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	4

Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (2007 PGA – 2008 Open Championship)
Longest streak of top-10s – 1

Results in The Players Championship

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

!Tournament

!2004!!2005!!2006!!2007!!2008!!2009

align=left|The Players Championship

|T58

|CUT

|T75

|T54

|CUT

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Tournament!!2003!!2004!!2005

align="left"|Match Play

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|R64

align="left"|Championship

|72

|style="background:yellow;"|T6

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align="left"|Invitational

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|21

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play

"T" = Tied

Results in senior major championships

Results not in chronological order before 2017.

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

!Tournament!!2016!!2017!!2018!!2019!!2020!!2021!!2022!!2023!!2024

align=left|The Tradition

|T23

|T40

|T48

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|Senior PGA Championship

|CUT

|T33

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|CUT

align=left|U.S. Senior Open

|T37

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T40

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|Senior Players Championship

|T61

|T63

|49

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|Senior British Open Championship

|CUT

|T61

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

"T" indicates a tie for a place

CUT = missed the halfway cut

NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

References

External links

{{PGATour player|01473}}
{{JapanTour player|10218}}
{{OWGR|915}}
[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/theopen/2317376/Ben-Curtis-and-Todd-Hamilton-aces-for-one-day.html Article about "outsider" Open Winners]

Category:American male golfers

Category:Oklahoma Sooners men's golfers

Category:PGA Tour golfers

Category:Japan Golf Tour golfers

Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers

Category:Winners of men's major golf championships

Category:Golfers from Illinois

Category:Golfers from Texas

Category:Sportspeople from Galesburg, Illinois

Category:People from Westlake, Texas

Category:1965 births

Category:Living people