Peter Albert Charles Senior (born 31 July 1959) is an Australian professional golfer who has won more than twenty tournaments around the world.
Senior has competed mainly on the PGA Tour of Australasia, where he has had the most success and won the Order of Merit on four occasions, and the European Tour. He has also played occasionally on the Japan Golf Tour and the United States–based PGA Tour.
Senior has represented Australia in international competitions several times, and was a member of the International Team at the first two stagings of the Presidents Cup. He has also represented Australia twice at the World Cup.
Career In 1959, Senior was born in Singapore.
In 1978, Senior turned professional. He joined the PGA Tour of Australasia shortly thereafter. During his career, he has won 21 tournaments on the tour, including the Australian PGA Championship in 1989, 2003 and 2010, the Australian Open in 1989 and 2012, and the Australian Masters in 1991, 1995, and 2015. Senior has won professional events on the main men's tour in five separate decades, a feat achieved by very few players previously anywhere in the world. He also has the distinction of winning the Australian PGA, Open and Masters tournaments after he turned 50. He also topped the tour's Order of Merit in 1987, 1989 and 1993. Even after reaching the age of fifty, he remained competitive on the tour, through until his retirement from golf in 2016.
Between 1984 and 1992, Senior competed on the European Tour full-time, winning four tournaments and finishing a career best of 7th on the Order of Merit in 1987. He also played regularly on the Japanese Tour, winning three tournaments before rejoining the European Tour in 1998. Through the 2007 season he continued to play in a small number of tournaments on the tour.
In 1985, Senior finished 5th at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament to earn his card for the following season. He did not have much success, making just two cuts in the first half of the season, before he elected to return to Europe. He did play in several PGA Tour events in other seasons, notably finishing tied for second in The International in 1990, but never tried to qualify for the tour again.
Senior made his debut on the over-50 circuit the Champions Tour in February 2010 at The ACE Group Classic. Senior has yet to win on the Champions Tour, but has finished as a runner up on six occasions, with three playoff defeats. One of these came in February 2012 at the Allianz Championship, when Senior birdied the final hole of regulation to make the playoff before losing to Corey Pavin with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
Senior announced his retirement during the second round of the 2016 Australian Open held at The Royal Sydney Golf Club. Senior suffered a hip injury on the sixth hole and announced his retirement from professional golf shortly after.
Personal life He lives in Hope Island, Queensland, with his wife June, whom he married in 1984. They have three children: Krystlle, Jasmine and Mitchell.
Awards and honors Senior won the PGA Tour of Australasia's Order of Merit four times: in 1987, 1989, 1993, and 2012 In 1993, Senior was the PGA Tour of Australasia's Player of the Year In 2024, Senior was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours for his service to golf
Professional wins (67) European Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up110 Aug 1986PLM Open−11 (69-72-64-68=273)2 strokes Mats Lanner227 Jun 1987Johnnie Walker Monte Carlo Open−16 (66-63-65-66=260)1 stroke Rodger Davis39 Sep 1990Panasonic European Open−13 (67-68-66-66=267)1 stroke Ian Woosnam410 May 1992Benson & Hedges International Open−1 (74-73-70-70=287)Playoff Tony Johnstone
European Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11992Benson & Hedges International Open Tony JohnstoneWon with par on first extra hole
PGA of Japan Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up119 Apr 1992Bridgestone Aso Open−7 (70-70-70-71=281)1 stroke Rick Gibson22 May 1993The Crowns−10 (68-67-69-66=270)1 stroke Gary Hallberg, Masashi Ozaki323 Apr 1995Dunlop Open1−9 (69-70-67-73=279)5 strokes Brian Watts 1Co-sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (21) Legend Flagship events (1) Other PGA Tour of Australasia (20) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up125 Feb 1979Dunhill South Australian Open−6 (70-72-70-70=282)Playoff Graham Stevens (a)214 Oct 1984Stefan Queensland Open−6 (68-71-70-73=282)7 strokes Wayne Grady325 Nov 1984Honeywell Classic−18 (71-70-67-66=274)2 strokes Ossie Moore425 Jan 1987U-Bix Classic (2)−19 (67-65-72-69=273)1 stroke Gerry Taylor51 Mar 1987Rich River Classic−15 (62-68-71-72=273)2 strokes Mike Ferguson618 Oct 1987Queensland PGA Championship−10 (67-72-71-68=278)Playoff Jeff Woodland712 Nov 1989Australian PGA Championship−14 (67-68-68-71=274)1 stroke Jim Benepe83 Dec 1989Australian Open−17 (66-66-69-70=271)7 strokes Peter Fowler910 Dec 1989Johnnie Walker Australian Classic−12 (65-72-70-69=276)5 strokes Greg Norman1017 Feb 1991Pyramid Australian Masters−14 (68-71-69-70=278)1 stroke Greg Norman118 Dec 1991Johnnie Walker Australian Classic (2)−10 (66-71-72-73=282)1 stroke Rodger Davis, Frank Nobilo1231 Jan 1993Heineken Classic−13 (65-71-67-72=275)3 strokes Michael Campbell1327 Feb 1994Canon Challenge−12 (68-67-72-69=276)Playoff Chris Gray1419 Feb 1995Australian Masters (2)−12 (69-70-72-69=280)1 stroke Wayne Grady, Lucas Parsons, Tom Watson1525 Feb 1996Canon Challenge (2)−10 (70-72-67-69=278)2 strokes Robert Allenby, Brad King, Robert Willis161 Dec 1996Greg Norman's Holden Classic−7 (69-73-69-70=281)1 stroke Greg Norman1723 Feb 1997Canon Challenge (3)−14 (68-70-66-70=274)Playoff Steven Alker1814 Dec 2003Australian PGA Championship (2)−17 (64-65-69-73=271)1 stroke Rod Pampling1913 Dec 2010Australian PGA Championship1 (3)−12 (70-67-68-71=276)Playoff Geoff Ogilvy209 Dec 2012Emirates Australian Open1 (2)−4 (75-68-69-72=284)1 stroke Brendan Jones2122 Nov 2015Uniqlo Masters (3)−8 (70-70-68-68=276)2 strokes Bryson DeChambeau (a), Andrew Evans, John Senden 1Co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (5–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11979Dunhill South Australian Open Graham Stevens (a)Won with birdie on first extra hole21987Queensland PGA Championship Jeff WoodlandWon with bogey on first extra hole31993Microsoft Australian Masters Bradley HughesLost to par on first extra hole41994Canon Challenge Chris GrayWon with birdie on first extra hole51997Canon Challenge Steven AlkerWon with birdie on fourth extra hole62010Australian PGA Championship Geoff OgilvyWon with par on second extra hole
Von Nida Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up120 Jul 2003Queensland Masters−17 (67-67-70-67=271)Playoff Paul Marantz
Other wins (3) 1985 Western Australia PGA Championship 1987 Victorian PGA Championship (Non-tour event) 1995 Australian Skins Game
European Senior Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up121 Nov 2010(2011 season)Handa Australian Senior Open−9 (65-70-72=207)3 strokes Sandy Lyle
PGA of Australia Legends Tour wins (35) note: this list is probably incomplete No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up120 Dec 2009Australian PGA Seniors Championship−9 (72-63-72=207)9 strokes Larry Canning, Mike Harwood221 Nov 2010Handa Australian Senior Open−9 (65-70-72=207)3 strokes Sandy Lyle320 Dec 2013Australian Legends Nor East Drinks Tour Championship415 Dec 2015Noosa Legends Pro-Am521 Dec 2015Sunshine Coast Masters63 Feb 2017Shepparton BMW Victorian Senior Open723 Aug 2017Ulton, Ken's Plumbing Plus & Lindsay Australia Bargara Legends Pro-Am816 Sep 2017South Pacific Classic New Caledonia924 Oct 2017Bermagui Legends Pro-Am101 Mar 2018The Bruce Green Legends Pro-Am117 Mar 2018Portsea Legends Pro-Am1218 Jul 2018Ulton, Ken's Plumbing Plus & Lindsay Australia Bargara Legends Pro-Am1310 Aug 2018Royal QLD Cup141 Feb 2019Yarrawonga Mulwala Resort Victorian Senior Open155 Mar 2019Legends on the Legends Pro-Am1627 Apr 2019Brookwater Legends Pro-Am1712 Jul 2019Tropical Auto Group Yeppoon Legends Pro-Am186 Aug 2019Bartons / BMD QLD Senior PGA Championship(with Richard Backwell)197 Aug 2019Global Hire Rowes Bay Legends Pro-Am2023 Aug 2019Reside Retirement Living Pacific Legends Pro-Am(with two others)2127 Aug 2019Gold Coast Senior PGA Championship2220 Sep 2019Dumbea Legends Pro-Am232 Nov 2019Australian PGA Seniors Championship (2)−9 (69-67-65=201)1 stroke Peter Fowler, Peter O'Malley2431 Jan 2020Furphy Victorian Open253 Aug 2020onPlatinum RACV Royal Pines Legends Sweepstakes2622 Jul 2021Elgin Valley Beerwah Legends Pro-Am(with Mike Harwood)2726 Jul 2021QLD PGA Senior Foursomes Championship(with Gregory Rix)2817 Dec 2021Sunshine Coast Masters(with Andre Stolz)2917 Dec 2021Sunshine Coast Series301 Apr 2022Advent One Legends Pro-Am3117 Jul 2022Urangan Smash Repairs Fraser Coast Classic323 Sep 2022PNG Senior Open3331 Oct 2022Moss Vale Legends Pro-Am3420 May 2023Vuksich & Borich Fiji Legends Golf Classic3520 Jul 2025Urangan Smash Repairs Fraser Coast Classic Source:
Playoff record Champions Tour playoff record (0–3) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result12011Songdo IBD Championship Jay Don Blake, John Cook, Mark O'MearaBlake won with birdie on fifth extra holeO'Meara and Senior eliminated by par on third hole22011Regions Tradition Tom LehmanLost to par on second extra hole32012Allianz Championship Corey PavinLost to par on first extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament19791980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTT14T44CUTCUT6CUTPGA ChampionshipT58 Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999Masters TournamentT42U.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTT17T25T4T20T58CUTT51CUTPGA Championship62CUTT48T51T71T44CUT Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipT72PGA Championship Tournament2010201120122013Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipT60T79PGA Championship
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1979 Open Championship) "T" = tied
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0The Open Championship 0 0 0 1 2 6 19 12PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 6Totals 0 0 0 1 2 6 29 19 Most consecutive cuts made – 8 (1992 Open Championship – 1995 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (twice)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament1991199219931994The Players ChampionshipCUTCUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011Match PlayChampionshipT42NT1T43T64InvitationalT72Champions 1Cancelled due to 9/11
"T" = Tied NT = No tournament Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.
Team appearances Amateur Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Queensland): 1976, 1977, 1978
Professional Dunhill Cup (representing Australia): 1987, 1993 Four Tours World Championship (representing Australasia): 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 (winners) World Cup (representing Australia): 1988, 1990 Presidents Cup (International Team): 1994, 1996 UBS Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 2004
See also 1985 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
Notes
References
External links
Peter Senior player profile, Golf Australia