Tom Weiskopf: A Golf Legend Still Going Strong

Thomas Daniel Weiskopf, born on November 9, 1942, in Massillon, Ohio, was an American golfer who played on the PGA Tour from 1968 to 1982. He won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, including the 1973 Open Championship. Weiskopf passed away on August 20, 2022, at the age of 79, from pancreatic cancer. So, is golfer Tom Weiskopf still alive?

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Tom Weiskopf died aged 79 on 20 August 2022

Tom Weiskopf, the American golfer, died aged 79 on 20 August 2022. Weiskopf was born in Massillon, Ohio, in 1942, and his career on the PGA Tour spanned from 1968 to 1982. During this time, he won 16 PGA Tour titles, including the 1973 Open Championship, and was the runner-up at The Masters four times.

Weiskopf's swing was admired in the golf world, and he hit the ball high with enormous power and control, a rare combination. His temper on the golf course earned him the nickname "The Towering Inferno". Outside of golf, Weiskopf struggled with alcohol for decades, and his relationship with his father was challenging.

Following his career as a golfer, Weiskopf became a golf course architect, working with the late golf course designer Jay Morrish. He designed 73 courses, including TPC Scottsdale, Loch Lomond in Scotland, and the Yellowstone Club in Montana. He is credited with bringing back the drivable par four, now a standard on most new courses.

Weiskopf also worked as a broadcaster for CBS Sports, covering the Masters Tournament from 1985 to 1995. He was part of the CBS team that called Nicklaus' historic victory in the 1986 Masters. In addition, he joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1993 and won several senior tournaments, including the 1995 US Senior Open, defeating Nicklaus by four strokes.

He had 28 professional wins, including 16 PGA Tour titles

Tom Weiskopf had 28 professional wins, 16 of which were PGA Tour titles. His first PGA Tour win came at the 1968 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational, and his last in 1982, with 15 wins in between.

Weiskopf's most successful decade was the 1970s, and his best season was in 1973, when he won seven tournaments around the world, including the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland. He also won the Canadian Open in 1973 and 1975, the latter of which was achieved by defeating his arch-rival Jack Nicklaus with a one-hole playoff win. Weiskopf was also a member of the United States team in the 1973 and 1975 Ryder Cups.

Following his PGA Tour career, Weiskopf joined the PGA Tour Champions in 1993, adding four more victories to his tally, including the 1995 U.S. Senior Open, where he beat Nicklaus by four strokes.

Weiskopf was famous for his classic golf swing, which was described by renowned golf professional and instructor Bob Toski as "about the best swing in the game". Weiskopf's swing was high, powerful, and had very good control—a rare combination.

Weiskopf's swing was admired, but he had a temper

Tom Weiskopf, an American professional golfer, passed away on 20 August 2022 at the age of 79. He had a full golf life, including a career as a successful golf course designer and television broadcaster, in addition to being a major champion.

Weiskopf's swing was admired across the golf world. He hit the ball high, generated enormous power, and had excellent control—a rare combination. His swing was described as "rhythmic and picturesque," and "smooth." It was considered a blessing and a burden.

However, Weiskopf had a fiery temper, which, combined with his height, earned him the nickname "The Towering Inferno." This temperament was directed at himself, as he was often his own worst critic, and also at others, as he was known to berate fellow players and even caddies.

Despite his temper, Weiskopf's swing produced impressive results. In 71 major starts, he posted 21 top-10 finishes and 12 in the top five. He won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, including the 1973 Open Championship, and was the runner-up at The Masters four times.

He was a golf course architect and broadcaster after his playing career

Tom Weiskopf passed away in 2022, aged 79. However, his legacy in the world of golf continues. After his playing career, Weiskopf became a golf course architect and broadcaster, continuing to shape the sport and its future.

Weiskopf's swing was admired in the golf world. His swing was a rare combination of height, power, and control, earning him the nickname "The Towering Inferno". This nickname also alluded to his displays of temper on the golf course, though Weiskopf refuted the notion that he was a temperamental person.

Following his PGA Tour career, Weiskopf transitioned into golf course design, initially partnering with renowned architect Jay Morrish. Together, they designed dozens of courses across the United States, particularly in the West and Mountain States regions. Their most notable collaboration is the Stadium course at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona, which has hosted the PGA Tour's Waste Management Phoenix tournament.

Weiskopf also ventured into international projects, including the Castiglion del Bosco course in Tuscany, Italy, and the 36-hole Dunes of Shenzhou Peninsula course in Hainan, China. He has over 40 courses to his credit, with some sources citing 70 or 73 designs. Notable courses include the Double Eagle Club in Galena, Ohio, the original Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, Michigan, and the Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland.

In addition to his design work, Weiskopf pursued a career in broadcasting. He worked as a broadcaster for CBS Sports, covering the Masters Tournament from 1981 and then from 1985 to 1995. He later returned to broadcasting with ESPN and ABC, covering The Open Championship from 2008 to 2013.

Tom Weiskopf's impact on golf extended beyond his playing career. His contributions as a golf course architect and broadcaster ensured that his expertise and passion for the sport continued to shape and influence the game for years to come.

Weiskopf struggled with alcohol and had a strained relationship with his father

Thomas Daniel Weiskopf, born on November 9, 1942, in Massilon, Ohio, was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour from 1968 to 1982. He won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, including the 1973 Open Championship. He was also a member of two winning Ryder Cup teams.

Weiskopf struggled with alcohol abuse for decades, which he finally got under control in 2000. He admitted that alcohol cost him a marriage and many friends. In a 2014 interview, he told golf writer Jeff Rude: "If liquor wasn't involved, as good as my game was, I had 10 more good years left, my best years without question. I lost a lot by drinking. Every bad mistake I made related to alcohol."

Weiskopf's drinking problem was also mentioned by a friend in a golf.com article, who recalled a day when they were driving around with Weiskopf and he suddenly asked them to stop the car so he could go to the bathroom. The friend laughed under their breath, knowing that Weiskopf's request was due to his drinking.

In addition to his alcohol struggles, Weiskopf had a challenging relationship with his father, Thomas Weiskopf, a railroad worker. Weiskopf's immense talent was muffled by his emotional instability and alcohol abuse. Despite his talent, he lacked the interest and discipline to pursue golf, instead preferring fishing and hunting.

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