Tommy Horton
Name:
Thomas Alfred "Tommy" HortonCountry:
EnglandLived:
[1942-2017]. Born on June 16, 1942 in St Helens, Lancashire, England. Died on Dec 7, 2017 in Jersey, Channel Islands, aged 76.Original/Home Club:
Royal Jersey GC, Grouville, Jersey.Occupation:
Professional golfer, golf coach, course designer, golf writer and broadcaster.Turned Pro:
1957Ryder Cup player (1975, '77). Total professional wins (42), including European circuit/Tour (8) and European Snr Tour (23). European Snr Tour Order of Merit winner (1993, '96, '97, '98, '99). Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE (2000).
Known throughout the golfing world as a true gentleman of the game, Horton was born on Merseyside, but moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands when he was aged five. He was a cornerstone of the European professional circuit in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, making Ryder Cup appearances in 1975 and 1977.
During Horton's playing days on the European Tour (1971-94), fifth was his best finish on the Tour's Order of Merit. However, Horton enjoyed much greater success on the European Senior Tour, winning the Order of Merit on a record five occasions in the 1990s.
Europe
Royal Westmoreland
Played as the inaugural Royal Westmoreland Barbados Open (March 30-April 1; Eurpn Snr Tr season opener). Second-placed Jerry Bruner (USA) finished 2 shots behind Horton (Eng), who won the Tour's season-opening event for the fourth straight year, and recorded the last of his 23 wins on the European Snr Tour. [Royal Westmoreland, St James, Barbados].
Awards
Eurpn Snr Tr
Horton (Eng) won his fifth (and fourth straight) Eurpn Snr Tr Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with 1999 season earnings of €138,943 on the Tour. Eddie Polland (N.Ire) was second with €106,977; Jerry Bruner (USA) was third with €105,243.
Europe
x
Played as the inaugural Monte Carlo Invitational (Sept 9-11). Second-placed Bill Brask (USA), Ray Carrasco (USA) and Jerry Bruner (USA) finished 1 shot behind Horton (Eng), whose late charge included five birdies in the final six holes. [Monte-Carlo GC, Mont Agel, La Turbie, French Riviera].
Europe
Beko
Played as the Beko Classic (May 7-9; Eurpn Snr Tr season opener). Second-placed Alan Tapie (USA) finished 1 shot behind Tommy Horton (Eng), who won this event for the second time in three years. [Marmara Golf, Silivri, nr Istanbul, Turkey; at the time called Klassis G&CC].
Europe
De Vere
Played as the De Vere Hotels Seniors Classic (June 12-14). Second-placed Ian Richardson (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Horton (Eng). [Belton Woods Htl & GC, nr Grantham, Lincs, England].
Awards
Eurpn Snr Tr
Horton (Eng) won his fourth (and third straight) Eurpn Snr Tr Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with 1998 season earnings of £127,656 on the Tour. Brian Huggett (Wales) was second with £102,382; Eddie Polland (N.Ire) was third with £92,145.
Europe
x
Played as the inaugural (and only) El Bosque Seniors Open (May 1-3; Eurpn Snr Tr season opener). Second-placed Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) finished 9 shots behind Horton (Eng). [El Bosque GC, Chiva, nr Valencia, Spain].
Europe
The Belfry
Played as The Belfry PGA Seniors Championship (Aug 28-31). Second-placed Renato Campagnoli (Italy) and Jim Rhodes (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Tommy Horton (Eng), who recorded his 20th European Senior Tour win. [PGA National course, The Belfry, Wishaw, nr Birmingham].
Europe
x
Played as the Snr Tournament of Champions (Eurpn Snr Tr season-ending event). Second-placed Jose Maria Canizares (Esp) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Horton (Eng). [Buckinghamshire GC, Denham, Bucks].
Awards
Eurpn Snr Tr
Horton (Eng) won his third (and second straight) Eurpn Snrs Tr Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with 1997 season earnings of £158,427 on the Tour. Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) was second with £86,060; Antonio Garrido (Esp) was third with £62,671.
Europe
Beko/Oger
Played as the Beko Turkish Seniors Open (May 8-10; Eurpn Snr Tr season opener). Second-placed Maurice Bembridge (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Horton (Eng). [National GC, Belek, nr Antalya, Turkey].
Europe
AIB
Played as the inaugural AIB Irish Seniors Open (May 16-18). Second-placed Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Tommy Horton (Eng), who took the title with three birdies in the last four holes. [St Margaret's G&CC, St Margaret's, Co. Dublin].
Europe
Clubhaus
Played as the Clubhaus Seniors' Classic. Second-placed David Jones (N.Ire) finished 2 shots behind Horton (Eng). [Benton Hall G&CC, Witham, Essex, England].
Europe
x
Played as the Scottish Seniors Open (Sept 5-7). Second-placed J.R. "Jim" Delich (USA) finished 9 shots behind Tommy Horton (Eng). Reduced to 36 holes due to bad weather. [Hawkshill course, Newmachar GC, nr Aberdeen, Scotland].
Europe
x
Played as the Jersey Seniors Open (June 6-8). Second-placed Craig Defoy (Wales) finished 6 shots behind Tommy Horton (Eng). [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].
Europe
x
Played as the Stella Senior Open. Second-placed Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Horton (Eng). [Idstein G&CC, nr Frankfurt, Germany].
Awards
Eurpn Snr Tr
Horton (Eng) won his second Eurpn Snrs Tr Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with 1996 season earnings of £133,195 on the Tour. John Morgan (Eng) was second with £69,346; Malcolm Gregson (Eng) was third with £60,090.
Europe
Castle Royle
Played as the Castle Royle European Seniors Classic. Horton (Eng) beat Brian Huggett (Wales) in a playoff. [Castle Royle G&CC, nr Maidenhead, Berks, England].
Europe
Northern Electric
Played as the Northern Electric Snrs Open. Second-placed Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) and Antonio Garrido (Esp) finished 4 shots behind Horton (Eng). [Slaley Hall Resort, Hexham, Northumberland].
Europe
x
Played as The Senior Players Championship (Eurpn Snr Tr season-ending event). Second-placed Gary Player (RSA) and Malcolm Gregson (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Horton (Eng). [Buckinghamshire GC, Denham, Bucks].
Europe
De Vere
Played as the De Vere Hotels Classic. Second-placed Antonio Garrido (Esp) finished 1 shot behind Horton (Eng). [Belton Woods Htl & GC, nr Grantham, Lincs, England].
Europe
x
Played as the St Pierre Seniors Classic. Second-placed Brian Huggett (Wales) finished 3 shots behind Horton (Eng). [Old course, St Pierre Hotel & CC, Chepstow, South Wales].
Europe
Belfast Telegraph
Played as the Belfast Telegraph Irish Seniors Masters. Horton (Eng) beat Renato Campagnoli (Italy) in a playoff. [Malone GC, Dunmurry, Belfast, N. Ireland].
Europe
Shell
Played as the inaugural Shell Scottish Seniors Open (July 2-4). Second-placed Neil Coles (Eng) and Brian Huggett (Wales) finished 5 shots behind Tommy Horton (Eng), who recorded his second European Snr Tour win. [Royal Aberdeen GC, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen].
Awards
Eurpn Snr Tr
Horton (Eng) won the Eurpn Snrs Tr 1993 Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with earnings of £56,935 on the Tour. Brian Huggett (Wales) was second with £43,865; Bobby Verwey (RSA) was third with £25,885.
Europe
Lexus
Played as the inaugural Senior Zurich Pro-Am Lexus Trophy (Oct 7-9). Horton (Eng) beat David Jimenez (USA) and John Fourie (RSA) in a playoff. [GC Breitenloo, Nürensdorf, nr Zurich, Switzerland].
Europe
x
Played as the Collingtree Park Seniors Classic. Second-placed Roger Fidler (Eng) and Brian Huggett (Wales) finished 3 shots behind Horton (Eng). [Collingtree Park GC, Northampton, Northants].
Europe
Forte
Played as the Forte PGA Seniors Championship (Aug 6-9). Tommy Horton (Eng) beat Tony Grubb (Eng) and Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire) in a playoff, to win the first of his 23 European Senior Tour wins. [Royal Dublin GC, Dollymount, Dublin].
Europe
PLM
Played as the PLM Open (June 27-30; Sweden Tour event, not sanctioned as a European Tour event). Second-placed Denis Durnian (Eng) and Anders Starkman (Swe) finished 4 shots behind Horton (Eng). [Ljunghusens GC, Höllviken, nr Malmo, Sweden].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (Oct 4-7). Second-placed Dale Hayes (RSA), Graham Marsh (Aus) and Brian Waites (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Horton (Eng), who recorded the last of his four European Tour wins. [Old course, St Pierre Hotel & CC, Chepstow, S Wales].
Europe
Uniroyal
Played as the Uniroyal International (June 23-26). Second-placed Martin Foster (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Horton (Eng). [Combination of holes from High & West courses, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
Penfold
Played as the Penfold Tournament. Second-placed Peter Tupling (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Horton (Eng). [Hill Barn GC, Worthing, W Sussex].
Europe
Piccadilly
Played as the Piccadilly Medal (April 26-29; medal match play format). Horton (Eng) beat Guy Hunt (Eng) by 1 shot in the 36-hole final (Horton 80, 77; Hunt 80, 78). [Hillside GC, Southport, Merseyside].
Africa
x
Played as the South African Open. Second-placed Terry Westbrook (Zim) finished 3 shots behind Tommy Horton (Eng). Horton became the first overseas player (i.e. not based in South Africa at the time of winning) to claim the SA Open title. [Royal Durban GC, KwaZulu-Natal, RSA].
Europe
Long John Whisky
Played as the Long John Scotch Whisky Match Play Championship (Aug 26-29). Horton (Eng) beat Ronnie Shade (Scot) 3 and 2 in the 18-hole final. [Combination of holes from High & West courses, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
R.T.V. Rentals
Played as the R.T.V. International Trophy (Aug 22-25; first year as an individual event; in 1967 played as a team event between the four "home nations"). Second-placed Peter Townsend (Eng) finished 3 shots behind 27-year-old Tommy Horton (Eng), who recorded his first top flight professional win. [Cork GC, Co. Cork. Also known as "Little Island"].
124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.
79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).
Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.
Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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