Thomas Daniel Weiskopf (November 9, 1942 – August 20, 2022) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. His most successful decade was the 1970s. He won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, including the 1973 Open Championship. He was the runner-up at The Masters four times. After winding down his career playing golf, Weiskopf became a noted golf course architect. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2023 and will be inducted in 2024.^[1]

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Tom Weiskopf
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Daniel Weiskopf
Born	(1942-11-09)November 9, 1942 Massillon, Ohio, U.S.
Died	August 20, 2022(2022-08-20) (aged 79) Big Sky, Montana, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Sporting nationality	United States
Spouse	Laurie
Career
College	Ohio State University
Turned professional	1964
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Senior PGA Tour
Professional wins	28
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	16
European Tour	2
Sunshine Tour	1
PGA Tour Champions	4
Other	6
Best results in major championships (wins: 1)
Masters Tournament	T2: 1969, 1972, 1974, 1975
PGA Championship	3rd: 1975
U.S. Open	T2: 1976
The Open Championship	Won: 1973
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 2023

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Weiskopf was born in Massillon, Ohio. He attended Benedictine High School in Cleveland and Ohio State University, where he played on the golf team. He turned professional in 1964.

Weiskopf's first win on the PGA Tour came at the Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational in 1968 and 15 more followed by 1982. His best career season was 1973, when he won seven tournaments around the world, including The Open Championship at Royal Troon,^[2][3] and he would finish that year ranked second in the world according to Mark McCormack's world golf rankings. This was to remain his only major championship victory but he was runner-up at The Masters in 1969, 1972, 1974, and 1975, and had a T2 finish at the 1976 U.S. Open.^[4]

Weiskopf won the Canadian Open in 1973 and 1975, the latter win was achieved in dramatic fashion with a one-hole playoff win over archrival Jack Nicklaus when Weiskopf nearly holed his approach on the 15th hole at the Royal Montreal Golf Club's Blue Course. Weiskopf was a member of the United States team in the 1973 and 1975 Ryder Cups. He also qualified for the 1977 team but decided to skip the competition in order to go big-game hunting.^[2]

Weiskopf's swing was much admired in the golf world. He hit the ball high, generated enormous power and had very good control as well which is a rare combination. Weiskopf's height and displays of his temper on the golf course earned him the nickname of "The Towering Inferno".

Weiskopf joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1993 and won several senior tournaments, including one senior major: the 1995 U.S. Senior Open.^[2][5]

He also worked as a golf analyst for CBS Sports^[2] covering the 1981 and 1985–1995 Masters Tournament. After 2008, he contributed to ABC's and ESPN's coverage of The Open Championship.^{[citation needed]}

In 2020, Weiskopf was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.^[6] He died at his home in Big Sky, Montana on August 20, 2022, aged 79.^[7] His death was first announced by fellow golfer Tom Watson, who extended his condolences to the Weiskopf family in a tweet.^[6]

Weiskopf got into golf course design working initially with Jay Morrish but later established his own practice.^[2] He has at least 40 courses to his credit in many parts of the world, including the Monument and Pinnacle courses at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona;^[8] and Loch Lomond, the venue of the Scottish Open from 1995 to 2010.^[2] A drivable par-4 hole is a common element in most of Weiskopf's designs. Many of the courses have received considerable praise by being ranked highly in lists of top courses around the world.^[8]

In January 2016, it was announced that Weiskopf would lead a renovation of the Torrey Pines North Course in San Diego, California. ^[9]

The following is a (partial) list of courses that Weiskopf either designed by himself or co-designed:

• Troon North Golf Club (Monument and Pinnacle courses), Scottsdale, Arizona
• Loch Lomond Golf Club, Luss, Argyll & Bute, Scotland
• Catamount Ranch & Club, Steamboat Springs, Colorado^[10]
• Double Eagle, Galena, Ohio
• Mira Vista Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
• Forest Highlands (Canyon and Meadow courses), Flagstaff, Arizona^[11]
• Lahontan Golf Club, Truckee, California^[12]
• The Olympic Club (Ocean and Cliffs courses), San Francisco, California
• The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Colorado
• Shanty Creek Resort — Cedar River,^[13] Bellaire, Michigan
• Quail Hollow Country Club, Concord Township, Ohio
• Snake River Sporting Club, Jackson, Wyoming
• Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany, Italy
• The Rim Golf Club, Payson, Arizona
• Silverleaf Club, Scottsdale, Arizona
• Estancia El Terrón Mendiolaza, Córdoba, Argentina
• Frost Creek, Eagle, Colorado
• Bloody Point, Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
• Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah^[14]
• Marbella Country Club, San Juan Capistrano, California, 1989

• 1963 Western Amateur

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 1973 (winners), 1975 (winners)
• World Cup: 1972