Tom Watson Career Highlights

1 of 19 Chris Carlson / AP

Golf.com takes a look back at the career of eight-time major champion -- and World Golf Hall of Famer -- Tom Watson.

2 of 19 Courtesy of Stanford University

After growing up in Kansas City, Watson -- pictured here in 1969 -- went on to play collegiate golf at Stanford, where he was named a second team All-American in 1969, 1970 and 1971.

3 of 19 Courtesy of Stanford University

Watson graduated from Stanford in 1971 with a degree in psychology. He turned pro later that year, wrapping an amateur career that included four straight Missouri Amateur titles.

4 of 19 AP

Watson with his first wife, Linda, after winning his first British Open at Carnoustie in 1975, where he beat Australian Jack Newton in an 18-hole playoff, 71-72.

5 of 19 SI

Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by two shots to win the 1977 Masters, his first of two green jackets.

6 of 19 Stephen Green Armytage / SI

Later that summer, Watson once again took on Nicklaus in the 1977 British Open at Turnberry. The "Duel in the Sun" found Watson and Nicklaus 10 shots clear of the third place finisher. In the end, Watson birdied 17 and 18 to clip Jack by one, and claim his second Open title.

7 of 19 SI

Watson was named player of the year six times, including four straight seasons between 1977 and 1980. He also won the honor in '82 and '84.

8 of 19 Graham Finlayson / SI

At Muirfield in 1980, Watson won his third Open Championship, beating Lee Trevino by four.

9 of 19 SI

In 1981, Watson won his second Masters, beating Nicklaus (again), and Johnny Miller by two.

10 of 19 George Tiedemann / SI

Watson is one of sixteen golfers to win multiple Masters titles.

11 of 19 SI

Watson took on Nicklaus again in the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Watson birdied the last two holes to hold off the Golden Bear by two strokes. It was Watson's first and only U.S. Open.

12 of 19 Richard Mackson / SI

Watson's chip-in for birdie from deep rough at Pebble's par-3 17th remains one of golf's iconic shots.

13 of 19 Bob Thomas / Getty Images

Watson won his fourth British Open at Royal Troon later that summer, edging Peter Oosterhuis and Nick Price by one stroke.

14 of 19 SI

The next year, he claimed his fifth British -- and eighth and final major -- at Royal Birkdale. With five Open titles, Watson is tied for the second most all time, trailing only Harry Vardon's six.

15 of 19 Tony Duffy / SI

Watson with Jack Nicklaus at the 1981 Ryder Cup. Watson also played for the U.S. in 1977, 1983 and 1989, and served as U.S. captain in 1993. His teams went 4-1.

16 of 19 Robert Beck / SI

Watson's last PGA Tour win came at age 48, when he won the 1998 Colonial. In his career, Watson tallied 39 wins between 1974 and 1998.

17 of 19 David Cannon / Getty Images

In 2003, Watson returned to Turnberry, this time to win the first of his three Senior British Opens. In all, Watson has won six majors on the Champions Tour, and 14 tournaments in all.

18 of 19 Bob Martin / SI

In 2009, at age 59, and less than a year after hip replacement surgery, Watson became the oldest player to lead a major during the British Open at Turnberry. Leading through 71 holes, he bogeyed the 18th to fall into a tie with Stewart Cink. Watson eventually lost in a four-hole playoff.

19 of 19 Robert Beck / SI

Watson, pictured here at St. Andrews in 2010, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988. His total of eight major championships (won in a span of nine years) ranks him sixth on golf's all-time list.

Tom Watson Career Highlights

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Tom Watson Career Highlights

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