Tom Watson Popular Books

Tom Watson Biography & Facts

Thomas Sturges Watson (born September 4, 1949) is an American retired professional golfer on the PGA Tour Champions, formerly on the PGA Tour. In the 1970s and 1980s, Watson was one of the leading golf players in the world, winning eight major championships and heading the PGA Tour money list five times. He was the number one player in the world according to McCormack's World Golf Rankings from 1978 until 1982; in both 1983 and 1984, he was ranked second behind Seve Ballesteros. He also spent 32 weeks in the top 10 of the successor Sony Rankings in their debut in 1986.Watson is also notable for his longevity: at nearly sixty years of age, and 26 years after his last major championship victory, he led after the second and third rounds of The Open Championship in 2009, but lost in a four-hole playoff. With a chance to win the tournament with par on the 72nd hole, he missed an 8-foot (2.4 m) putt, then lost to Stewart Cink in the playoff. Several of Watson's major victories came at the expense of Jack Nicklaus, the man he replaced as number one, most notably the 1977 Masters, 1977 Open Championship, and the 1982 U.S. Open. Though his rivalry with Nicklaus was intense, their friendly competitiveness served to increase golf's popularity at the time. In Watson's illustrious career, his eight major championships include five Open Championships, two Masters titles, and one U.S. Open title. The only major that has eluded him is the PGA Championship; if he had won it would have put him in an elite group of golfing "career grand slam" winners that includes Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. In all, Watson's eight majors ranks sixth on the list of total major championship victories, behind only Nicklaus, Woods, Walter Hagen, Hogan, and Player. Watson is also regarded as one of the greatest links players of all time, a claim backed up by his five Open Championship victories, his runner-up finishes at the 1984 Open Championship and 2009 Open Championship, and his three Senior British Open Championship titles in his mid-50s (2003, 2005, and 2007). Watson played on four Ryder Cup teams and captained the American side to victory in 1993 at The Belfry in England. More than twenty years later, Watson again captained the U.S. Team in 2014 in Scotland, this time in a loss. Personal life Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Watson was introduced to the game by his father Ray. His early coach was Stan Thirsk at the Kansas City Country Club. Watson first gained local renown while on his high school team at The Pembroke-Country Day School in Kansas City. Watson won four Missouri State Amateur championships, 1967, 1968, 1970, and 1971. He attended Stanford University, playing on the golf and table tennis teams, joining Alpha Sigma Phi, and graduating with a degree in psychology in 1971. Today he has a home in Overland Park, Kansas, after fighting a prominent legal battle to prevent annexation by the city.Although he voted for George McGovern in his first presidential election, Watson later became a Republican. He has donated to the National Rifle Association.Watson was a member of Kansas City Country Club from the beginning of his professional career. However, in 1990 he was unsettled by the idea that the leaders of the club rejected an applicant due to his Jewish faith. Watson, whose wife at the time and two children were Jewish, stated, "It was a very personal decision. I just didn't feel my family was welcome. It was time to say, 'Hey, let's be fair to people. Let's not judge people on the basis of race or faith.'" Watson abruptly resigned in 1990. However the Jewish applicant, H&R Block founder Henry W. Bloch, was ultimately admitted to the club as were other minorities. Disarmed by these overtures, Watson rejoined the club.After residing for many years in Mission Hills, Kansas, Watson moved to Stilwell, Kansas with his second wife, two children, and three stepchildren. His house has since been annexed by the city of Overland Park. He designed the National Golf Club of Kansas City golf course. PGA Tour 1970s Watson joined the PGA Tour in 1971. He hired Bruce Edwards to be his caddie for the first time at the 1973 St. Louis tournament held at Norwood Hills Country Club, and the two connected, with Edwards caddying for Watson at most events after that for a period of many years.Watson contended in a major championship for the first time at the U.S. Open in 1974 at Winged Foot, but he faded badly in the final round after having the 54-hole lead. Following this disappointment, Watson was approached in the locker room by legendary retired player Byron Nelson, a broadcaster at the event, who offered encouragement, insight and assistance. Nelson and Watson spoke briefly at that time, with Nelson saying he liked Watson's game and aggressiveness, and offered to help him improve. Watson, although disappointed by his weak finish, was flattered to receive Nelson's interest. However, the two men did not manage to get together to work on golf in depth until several months later, when Watson played in the Tour's Byron Nelson Classic in the Dallas area, and visited Nelson's nearby home. The two men would eventually develop a close and productive teacher-student relationship and friendship; Nelson had similarly mentored the young rising star Ken Venturi during the 1950s.Only two weeks after the Winged Foot collapse in 1974, Watson won his first Tour title at the Western Open near Chicago, coming from six shots back in the final round at Butler National. With Nelson's guidance on swing mechanics and course management, and determined hard work, Watson's game advanced quickly, and he won his first major championship, the 1975 Open Championship, on his first appearance in the event in Britain. Watson holed a 20-foot putt for a birdie on the 72nd hole to tie Jack Newton. The following day Watson won an 18-hole playoff at Carnoustie by a stroke, carding a 71 to Newton's 72. Watson was able to gain the upper hand in the playoff after chipping in for an eagle at the 14th hole. Watson is one of only four players since World War II to have won the Open Championship on their debut, the others being Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Lema (1964) and Ben Curtis (2003).Watson won his second major championship and his first green jacket as Masters champion in 1977 after a duel with Jack Nicklaus. During the final round, Watson stood on the 17th green tied with Nicklaus for the lead. Watson holed a 20-foot putt for a birdie to go one stroke ahead of Nicklaus. Watson's par on the 18th hole won him the Masters title by two strokes after Nicklaus had a bogey on the 18th. Watson's 1977 Open Championship victory, at Turnberry in Scotland, was especially memorable, and is considered by many to be the finest tournament played in the second half of the 20th century. After two rounds, he and Jack Nicklaus were one shot out of the lead and paired for the third round. Both shot 65, ending the third round th.... Discover the Tom Watson popular books. 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Best Seller Tom Watson Books of 2024

  • Understanding the Golf Swing synopsis, comments

    Understanding the Golf Swing

    Carol Mann & Gary D'Amato

    This modern classic of golf instruction by renowned teacher Manuel de la Torre (the 1986 PGA Teacher of the Year and the #11 teacher in America as ranked by the editors of Golf Dig...

  • The Happy Pear synopsis, comments

    The Happy Pear

    David Flynn & Stephen Flynn

    THE IRISH NO.1 BESTSELLING COOKBOOK! DELICIOUS PLANTBASED, RECIPES LOVED BY VEGETARIAN AND MEATEATERS ALIKE!'These lovely boys always create incredibly tasty food' Jamie Oliver Let...

  • Proper Healthy Food synopsis, comments

    Proper Healthy Food

    Nick Knowles

    In 2015 Nick Knowles felt overweight, unhealthy and was feeling every one of his 53 years. He travelled to Thailand for a retreat and after fasting for a week, and then adopting a ...

  • Lose Weight 4 Life synopsis, comments

    Lose Weight 4 Life

    Tom Watson

    'An honest and fascinating account of the journey that Tom made from discovering he was a type 2 diabetic to doing something about it. This book will change lives.' Michael Mosley,...

  • Path of Needles synopsis, comments

    Path of Needles

    Alison Littlewood

    Some fairy tales are born of dreams . . . and some are born of nightmares.'I loved Path of Needles. Dark but satisfying like the best chocolate' ELLY GRIFFITHS, bestselling author ...

  • Golfing with Dad synopsis, comments

    Golfing with Dad

    David Barrett

    Golfing With Dad is a heartwarming collection of golf’s best players’ favorite memories with their fathers and how those memories shaped them not only as players, but the men they ...

  • Duel in the Sun synopsis, comments

    Duel in the Sun

    Michael Corcoran

    In the rest of the world, they call it the Open Championship. Americans call it the British Open, but if any tournament is considered the battle for the world championship of golf,...

  • The Anatomy of Liverpool synopsis, comments

    The Anatomy of Liverpool

    Jonathan Wilson, Jonathan Wilson Ltd & Scott Murray

    Jonathan Wilson and Scott Murray provide a forensic analysis of ten key Liverpool games that have shaped the club's fortunes over the last century: from the longlost triumphs of To...

  • Mastering the Metal synopsis, comments

    Mastering the Metal

    Zack Moore, Eddie Bravo & James Watson

    Over the last two decades, Eddie Bravo has been at the forefront of revolutions we’ve seen in the arts of fighting, comedy, and podcasting. But he wasn’t alone in his journey.For j...

  • When Cows Fly synopsis, comments

    When Cows Fly

    Tom Watson

    The Michigan woods are beautiful and peaceful until something bad happens. A giant pile of filthy garbage is being dumped. Jacob decides to do something about it attaching some...

  • The 21-Day Immunity Plan synopsis, comments

    The 21-Day Immunity Plan

    Aseem Malhotra

    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Brilliant! It's hard to change your life but this book gives you all the reasons it's possible. From the first page to the last, one revelation after a...

  • Men in Green synopsis, comments

    Men in Green

    Michael Bamberger

    The instant New York Times bestseller from acclaimed Sports Illustrated writer Michael Bambergera warm, nostalgic, intimately reported account of golf’s greatest generation, and “m...

  • Two Good Rounds Titans synopsis, comments

    Two Good Rounds Titans

    Elisa Gaudet & Andrew Sharpless

    Two Good Rounds Titans: Leaders in Industry & Golf is the third book in the Two Good Rounds series. This book continues the exploration of golf and the feelgood golf lifestyle...

  • Tom Watson Weaver v. Dr. Raymond Witt synopsis, comments

    Tom Watson Weaver v. Dr. Raymond Witt

    Supreme Court of Texas

    This is a malpractice case involving an alleged negligent surgical operation. Dr. Raymond Witt performed a hemorrhoidectomy on Tom Weaver on February 1, 1971. In this action for da...

  • The Wettest County in the World synopsis, comments

    The Wettest County in the World

    Matt Bondurant

    The inspiration for the major motion picture LawlessBased on the true story of Matt Bondurant’s grandfather and two granduncles, The Wettest County in the World is a gripping and g...

  • Tom Watson Weaver v. Dr. Raymond Witt synopsis, comments

    Tom Watson Weaver v. Dr. Raymond Witt

    Supreme Court of Texas No. B-6923

    This is a malpractice case involving an alleged negligent surgical operation. Dr. Raymond Witt performed a hemorrhoidectomy on Tom Weaver on February 1, 1971. In this action for da...

  • Easy One Pot Without the Calories synopsis, comments

    Easy One Pot Without the Calories

    Justine Pattison

    Part of a brand new series of low calorie cookbooks devised by bestselling author and the UK's favourite diet recipe writer, Justine Pattison.ONE POT WITHOUT THE CALORIES takes all...

  • Vampire Bass synopsis, comments

    Vampire Bass

    Tom Watson

    When a new power plant pollutes a nearby lake, there are strange and unusual consequences. The friendly fish begin to mutate and then seek revenge against the power plant. Autho...

  • The Diabetes Weight-Loss Cookbook synopsis, comments

    The Diabetes Weight-Loss Cookbook

    Katie Caldesi, Giancarlo Caldesi & Dr David Unwin

    As seen on ITV's Save Money: Lose Weight'I've got this book and it's fantastic' Tom Watson, former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party'an inspiring recipe book' Daily Mail'The food h...

  • Taking Tom Murray Home synopsis, comments

    Taking Tom Murray Home

    Tim Slee

    The winner of the inaugural Banjo Prize, Taking Tom Murray Home is a funny, moving, bittersweet Australian story of fires, families and the restorative power of community. Bankrupt...

  • The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived synopsis, comments

    The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived

    Ralph Watson McElvenny & Marc Wortman

    “A compelling new biography… [The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived] spins the Watsons into nearShakespearean figures, as if ‘Succession’ were set in the era of ‘Mad Men’.”​ ―The ...

  • Takeaway Favourites Without the Calories synopsis, comments

    Takeaway Favourites Without the Calories

    Justine Pattison

    Your favourite takeaway recipes that will make losing weight as easy as 123Packed with easytofollow, delicious recipes Takeaway Favourites: Without The Calories takes all the hassl...

  • Calling Major Tom synopsis, comments

    Calling Major Tom

    David M Barnett

    'I loved everything about it.' Goodreads 'This book made me laugh, cry, giggle and gasp.' Goodreads'One of my favourite books of the year. Charming and very sweet.' Goodreads He...

  • Play Away Please synopsis, comments

    Play Away Please

    John P. Hagen

    The St Andrews Old Course Starter's Box was sold in a controversial international auction on 10 September 2001, the day before the infamy of the Twin Towers attack. 'Play Away Plea...

  • Stop Gaining Weight The Easy Way synopsis, comments

    Stop Gaining Weight The Easy Way

    Mike Dilkes & Alexander Adams

    The world does not need another diet book. But what it does need, is a book that explains how to achieve and maintain a stable, healthy weight.With easytounderstand chapters, focus...

  • Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes synopsis, comments

    Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes

    Professor Roy Taylor

    The Sunday Times BestsellerIn this pocket version of his bestselling Life Without Diabetes, Professor Roy Taylor offers a brilliantly concise explanation of what happens to us when...

  • Quick Keto Kitchen synopsis, comments

    Quick Keto Kitchen

    Monya Kilian Palmer

    You might think that cooking keto is complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Here, bestselling Keto cookbook author Monya Kilian Palmer shares a stunning collection of recipes that...

  • Hot Mess synopsis, comments

    Hot Mess

    Matt Winning

    'A very funny, important and only moderately terrifying clarion call of a book' Adam Kay'HOT MESS provides loads of laughs about "the climate situation" and will position you at...

  • Four Days in July synopsis, comments

    Four Days in July

    Jim Huber

    Awardwinning golf reporter Jim Huber delivers the dramatic insider's account of golf legend Tom Watson's inspiring run at the British Open with Four Days in July.In July 2009, the ...

  • The Food Medic synopsis, comments

    The Food Medic

    Hazel Wallace

    Junior Doctor, personal trainer and Instagram hit Dr Hazel Wallace's first book brings you over 70 nutritional recipes to look and feel amazing whilst debunking the diet myths. 'I'...

  • After Me, The Deluge synopsis, comments

    After Me, The Deluge

    David Forrest

    This is the story of a young priest in the tiny French village of St. PierredesMonts who receives a telephone call from God warning that he is about to destroy mankind with a secon...

  • A Way Through the Wood synopsis, comments

    A Way Through the Wood

    Nigel Balchin

    A psychological study of marriage, loyalty and justice, A WAY THROUGH THE WOOD is a remarkable postwar novel.'A superb storyteller' SUNDAY TIMES 'I'd place him up there with Graha...

  • Downsizing synopsis, comments

    Downsizing

    Tom Watson

    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'An honest and fascinating account of the journey that Tom made from discovering he was a type 2 diabetic to doing something about it. This book will cha...

  • The Secret of Golf synopsis, comments

    The Secret of Golf

    Joe Posnanski

    From “one of the best sportswriters in America” (The Washington Times)the New York Times bestselling story of the friendship and rivalry between golf legends Tom Watson and Jack Ni...

  • The Little Swedish Kitchen synopsis, comments

    The Little Swedish Kitchen

    Rachel Khoo

    'A joy to behold' Yotam OttolenghiLearn how to cook the Swedish way with this beautiful book of over 100 delicious recipes. Spring picnics on the archipelago; barbecues at the summ...

  • Understanding the Golf Swing synopsis, comments

    Understanding the Golf Swing

    Manuel de la Torre

    For the first time in paperback, this modern classic of golf instruction by renowned teacher Manuel de la Torre (the 1986 PGA Teacher of the Year and the #11 teacher in America as ...

  • Keto Kitchen synopsis, comments

    Keto Kitchen

    Monya Kilian Palmer

    BEST OVERALL KETO COOKBOOK BBC GOOD FOOD Following a lowcarb, highfat ketogenic diet helps you lose weight, feel great and enjoy better energy and mental clarity. More and more pe...

  • Lawless synopsis, comments

    Lawless

    Matt Bondurant

    With a Foreword by Director John HillcoatBased on the true story of Matt Bondurant’s grandfather and two granduncles, Lawless is a gripping tale of brotherhood, greed, and murder. ...

  • The Good Food Cook Book synopsis, comments

    The Good Food Cook Book

    Good Food Guides

    In this authoritative cookbook from Britain's favourite cookery magazine, you will discover over 650 recipes divided by ingredient and occasion to help you find the perfect recipe ...