Tom Weiskopf, the winner of 16 PGA Tour titles, including the 1973 British Open, has died. He was 79, and had been dealing with pancreatic cancer since late 2020.
Weiskopf experienced all corners of the game, from his time as a PGA Tour player to his broadcast work as a golf commentator as well as a noted golf course designer.
With a noticeably high ball flight and enormous power for his time and control, he won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, and another four times on PGA Tour Champions, notably the 1995 U.S. Senior Open. But he memorably battled his temper on the golf course, earning him the nickname “The Towering Inferno.”
A son of the Buckeye state, Weiskopf was born Nov. 9, 1942 in Masillon, Ohio. He played golf for Ohio State University and was considered to be “the next Nicklaus,” to be produced from that state and golf program. He turned professional in 1964.
“He had a helluva career,” said his good friend Tony Jacklin. “He was unfortunate that he ran into Nicklaus so often. He held Jack in such high regard.”
Weiskopf had a career year in 1973, when he won seven tournaments around the world, including his lone major at Royal Troon. He was blessed with so much talent and had so much ability that he often has been considered an underachiever for his victory total, a topic he discussed with Golfweek in a 2020 interview.
“I didn’t really have the passion or the effort that I wanted to put into it and everyone kept pushing me to put into it. Golf was more a means to an end for me. It was a way to give my family the best possible life they could have. Hunting and fishing and the outdoors was more important to me. Getting the grand slam of sheep was more important. That’s why I gave up a Ryder Cup one year so I could get my grand slam,” he explained.
But in retrospect Weiskopf had regrets for failing to realize his full potential: “I challenge myself all the time: Why couldn’t I have done that? Why couldn’t I have worked out? Why did I drink? Well, I’m 20 years sober. It’s my greatest accomplishment. Because I was a partier, a good time guy. I had so much talent that I could turn it on at times when I wanted to, when I needed to, but it wasn’t important to me,” he said.
Weiskopf’s Hall of Fame credentials have been discussed for years, with several of his contemporaries supporting his candidacy.
“Definitely,” Johnny Miller said when asked if Weiskopf deserved to be enshrined in the World…
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