Robert John Toski (né Algustoski; born September 18, 1926) is an American professional golfer and golf instructor.
Early life In 1926, Toski was born in Haydenville, Massachusetts. He is of Polish descent, the eighth of nine children born to Walenty Algustoski and his wife Mary. He learned to play golf at Northampton Country Club, where he caddied and where two of his elder brothers, Jack and Ben, were assistant professionals.
Professional career In 1949, Toski joined the PGA Tour. He broke through for his first win in the Insurance City Open in 1953. He was the leading money winner in 1954, when his four victories included the World Championship of Golf, where first prize was $50,000, by far the richest prize-money golf event in the world. That victory also earned him a $50,000 contract from promoter George S. May to put on 50 exhibitions the following year; he would put on 57 and play in only 14 events in 1955. He scaled back his playing career starting in 1957 after wife Lynn gave birth to three boys in a span of less than four years.
Toski found stardom on the Tour despite weighing only 118 pounds. He was the smallest Tour player throughout his playing career and his combination of his small size and his driving prowess earned him the nickname "Mouse" from Sam Snead, a reference to the cartoon superhero Mighty Mouse popular at that time.
Later career Toski left the tour aged 30 so he could spend more time with his young family and took a series of jobs as a club professional, while still competing occasionally on the Tour.
Later he found renewed fame as a leading golf coach, assisting tour pros such as World Golf Hall of Fame inductees Tom Kite and Judy Rankin as well as Australian star Bruce Crampton. He also wrote several golf instructional books, and made some of the earliest golf instruction videos. In the early 1980s he was a regular on NBC Sports golf telecasts. He worked as color commentator with Hughes Sports Network golf telecasts in the 1970s.
Toski began playing on the Senior PGA Tour upon its formation in 1980. He left the Tour in January 1986 after he became involved in a controversy over how he marked his ball in a tournament in Japan. Fellow senior golfer Gay Brewer stated that Toski improved his lie by marking it away from a spike mark near where his ball had come to rest on the green. Toski said that he had no recollection of any rules infraction. He returned in April 1986. He played several more years on the Tour.
Personal life Toski was married to Lynn. He has three children.
Awards and honors In 1954, Toski won the PGA Tour's money list Toski was the first living instructor inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame. Toski is a member of the National Polish-American Hall of Fame In 2013, Toski was inducted into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame
Professional wins (12)
PGA Tour wins (5) 1953 (1) Insurance City Open 1954 (4) Baton Rouge Open, Azalea Open, Eastern Open, World Championship of Golf Source:
Other wins (5) this list is probably incomplete 1953 Havana Invitational 1958 Massachusetts Open, Jamaica Open, Puerto Rico Open 1959 Maine Open
Other senior wins (2) 1990 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Mike Fetchick) 1992 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Mike Fetchick)
Playoff record Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11982Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am Billy CasperLost to birdie on fourth extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT18T40T22T41CUTU.S. OpenT20CUTT18T17CUTCUTPGA ChampionshipR16R64R64R32R16R128T20CUT
Tournament19601961196219631964196519661967Masters TournamentU.S. OpenPGA ChampionshipCUTT51 Note: Toski never played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
Major works
Find Your Own Fundamentals (with Jim Flick), Golf Digest, 1992
References
External links
GolfOnline bio and guide to Toski's coaching theory Toski Golf - golf equipment company Toski-Battersby Golf Learning Center - Toski's golf school in Florida