Born in Kansas City to humble origins, Thomas Sturges Watson grew up in Stillwell and built a reputation as one of the area’s most promising youth golfers. After honing his game in the area, he went on to play golf at Stanford, one of the nation’s leading collegiate teams. Watson went on to join the PGA Tour in 1972, just a year after turning professional at the age of 21. His youthful passion for the game, careful approach to shot making and diplomacy earned him a wide variety of allies throughout his career.

He played his first golf at the local Kansas City Country Club and won the Missouri State Amateur championship during his collegiate career four straight times. His collegiate career at Stanford gave him the physical and mental tools to prepare him for a successful career in professional golf.

Watson went on to win of 39 PGA tour events, including 8 major championships, making him one of the foremost golfers of the modern era. Continually rated as one of the top players in the world in 1980s, Watson became an icon of the game for decades. Confidently, he went on to place second in the 2009 U.S. Open Championship, years after retiring from the PGA Tour full time. While he lost in the playoff that year to fellow pro Stewart Cink, he solidified his position as one of the game’s all time greats.

The Watson Legacy

As a true professional, Watson continues to play both PGA and Legacy tour events, while also working to design courses and serving as a mentor to aspiring professionals. At 59 years old, he was the oldest golfer to play in a Major playoff and continues to bring energy to the game.

Over the course of his career, he won the Open Championship five times, as well as the Masters Twice and the U.S. Open once, failing to win only the PGA Championship, which eluded his Grand Slam aspirations. Watson competed with legend Jack Nicklaus at many events, with a friendly rivalry that culminated in several major tournaments. His performance on the Senior Open continues to be dominant, three championships in the past decade.

Standing just 5’9″, Watson has an out-sized stature and a confident stride that reflects his Kansas roots. After winning his first major in 1975 (the Open Championship), he quickly rose to the top of the game. Earning multiple Player of the Year honors, he also played on multiple Ryder Cup teams, serving as captain of the winning 1993 U.S. team. A Hall of Fame golfer, he is known for his dedication to civil rights, golfing instruction and course design, where he is actively involved to this day.