Rocky_Thompson_(golfer)
Rocky Thompson (golfer)
American professional golfer (1939–2021)
Hugh Delane "Rocky" Thompson (October 14, 1939 – March 13, 2021) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
| Rocky Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Hugh Delane Thompson |
| Nickname | Rocky |
| Born | (1939-10-14)October 14, 1939 Shreveport, Louisiana |
| Died | March 13, 2021(2021-03-13) (aged 81) Plano, Texas |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 174 lb (79 kg; 12.4 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Plano, Texas |
| Career | |
| College | University of Houston |
| Turned professional | 1964 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 4 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour Champions | 3 |
| Other | 1 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | DNP |
| PGA Championship | T62: 1979 |
| U.S. Open | T18: 1973 |
| The Open Championship | T52: 1978 |
In 1939, Thompson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended the University of Houston and graduated in 1962.
In 1964, Thompson turned pro. He played on the PGA Tour for many years but never recorded a victory. His best finish was a solo second place at the 1969 Western Open.
Thompson's fortunes changed, however, once he reached the age of 50 and began competing on the Senior PGA Tour in 1990. His first win came at the 1991 MONY Syracuse Senior Classic. Thompson, who had played a combined 611 events on the PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour, without a victory, famously said his impassioned celebratory speech:
"But now if I never, ever win a PGA Tour event, right now, this minute, today, this week—" Thompson paused, his short soliloquy becoming louder with each enunciated syllable. He then hit his crescendo when he thrust his hips a little for effect, threw his fist in the air and yelled—screamed even— "I am the man!"[1]
Later that same year, he won at the Digital Seniors Classic. In 1994, he won the GTE Suncoast Classic. He holds or shares several Champions Tour records.
Thompson was mayor of Toco, Texas, in the 1990s. He died on March 13, 2021, at the age of 81.[1]
Regular wins (1)
Senior PGA Tour wins (3)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 16, 1991 | MONY Syracuse Senior Classic | −17 (62-68-69=199) | 1 stroke |  Jim Dent |
| 2 | Sep 15, 1991 | Digital Seniors Classic | −11 (66-69-70=205) | 1 stroke |  Bruce Crampton |
| 3 | Feb 13, 1994 | GTE Suncoast Classic | −15 (73-67-61=201) | 1 stroke | Raymond Floyd |
- Livsey, Laury (March 29, 2021). "PGA Tour Champions winner Rocky Thompson passes away at 81". PGA Tour.
- "Greater Bangor Open". treeoflifeworkshop.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Rocky Thompson at the PGA Tour official site