Thomas Warren Purtzer (born December 5, 1951) is an American professional golfer. Purtzer won a number of tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.

Early life and amateur career Purtzer was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Arizona State University in Tempe, where he was a member of the school's golf team. He graduated in 1973.

Professional career In 1973, he turned pro. Purtzer is often described in golf literature as having the "sweetest swing in golf". He won five tournaments on the PGA Tour in three different decades, and won four times on the Champions Tour. His best finishes in major championships were 4th at the 1977 U.S. Open and T4 at the 1982 Open Championship.

Personal life His brother, Paul Purtzer, was also a professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. Purtzer and his brother operate Purtzer Performance Golf School and Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.

Purtzer lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Professional wins (15) PGA Tour wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Feb 20, 1977Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open−11 (68-67-66-72=273)1 stroke Lanny Wadkins2Jan 22, 1984Phoenix Open−16 (68-67-68-65=268)1 stroke Corey Pavin3Oct 9, 1988Gatlin Brothers-Southwest Golf Classic−19 (64-72-69-64=269)Playoff Mark Brooks4May 26, 1991Southwestern Bell Colonial−13 (70-66-67-64=267)3 strokes David Edwards, Scott Hoch, Bob Lohr5Aug 25, 1991NEC World Series of Golf−1 (72-69-67-71=279)Playoff Jim Gallagher Jr., Davis Love III

PGA Tour playoff record (2–0) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11988Gatlin Brothers-Southwest Golf Classic Mark BrooksWon with par on first extra hole21991NEC World Series of Golf Jim Gallagher Jr., Davis Love IIIWon with par on second extra hole

PGA of Japan Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Nov 11, 1979ABC Japan vs USA Golf Matches−12 (69-67-68-72=276)10 strokes Bill Rogers

Other wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jul 7, 1981Jerry Ford Invitational−10 (69-63=132)1 stroke John Cook, Craig Stadler, Curtis Strange2Dec 7, 1986JCPenney Classic(with Juli Inkster)−23 (61-69-66-69=265)2 strokes Mike Hulbert and Val Skinner3Nov 24, 1991Shark Shootout(with Lanny Wadkins)−27 (61-65-63=189)4 strokes Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman4Aug 24, 1993Fred Meyer Challenge(with Steve Elkington)−16 (63-63=128)1 stroke Fred Couples and Davis Love III, Brad Faxon and Rick Fehr, Jim Gallagher Jr. and Bruce Lietzke

Other playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11985Chrysler Team Championship(with Jim Colbert) Charlie Bolling and Brad Fabel, Raymond Floyd and Hal Sutton, John Fought and Pat McGowan, Gary Hallberg and Scott HochFloyd/Sutton won with birdie on first extra hole

Champions Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Mar 16, 2003 SBC Classic−9 (67-68=135)1 stroke Gil Morgan2Mar 21, 2004 Toshiba Senior Classic−15 (60-71-67=198)1 stroke Morris Hatalsky3Aug 7, 20053M Championship−15 (63-69-69=201)1 stroke Lonnie Nielsen, Craig Stadler4Mar 18, 2007 AT&T Champions Classic−10 (69-69-68=206)Playoff Loren Roberts

Champions Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result12005Bank of America Championship Mark McNulty, Don PooleyMcNulty won with birdie on second extra hole22007AT&T Champions Classic Loren RobertsWon with birdie on fourth extra hole

PGA of Australia Legends Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Apr 9, 2005Titanium Enterprises Australian PGA Seniors Championship−10 (67-68-71=206)5 strokes John Chillas Source:

Results in major championships Tournament 1976 1977 1978 1979 Masters TournamentCUTT37U.S. OpenT444T248The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTT54CUT Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989Masters Tournament32T25CUTT24U.S. OpenCUTCUTCUTT16T68The Open ChampionshipT4CUTPGA ChampionshipCUTT19T16CUTCUTCUTT47CUTT53 Tournament19901991199219931994199519961997Masters TournamentT45T61U.S. OpenT37T33T32The Open ChampionshipT22T70T62PGA ChampionshipT31T32T21CUT

CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied

Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 6U.S. Open 0 0 0 1 2 4 12 9The Open Championship 0 0 0 1 1 2 5 4PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 3 16 8Totals 0 0 0 2 3 11 41 27 Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1989 Masters – 1996 Open Championship) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (three times)

Results in The Players Championship Tournament197719781979The Players ChampionshipT59CUTCUT Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989The Players ChampionshipCUTT19CUTT19T41T40T48T9T45T55 Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999The Players ChampionshipT3CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTT62T24CUTCUT Tournament20002001The Players ChampionshipCUTCUT

CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place

U.S. national team appearances Four Tours World Championship: 1991

See also Spring 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates

Notes

References

External links