Tom Purtzer
Thomas Warren Purtzer is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
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 and turned pro. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Paul, who also played golf for Arizona State and played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and early 1980s.
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 has thus far 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 British Open.
Purtzer is a close friend of Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Robin Yount and country music star Vince Gill. He enjoys sports, music and auto racing in his spare time. Purtzer and his brother Paul operate Purtzer Performance Golf School and Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Professional wins (15)
PGA Tour wins (5)
PGA Tour playoff recordNo. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
1 | 1988 | Gatlin Brothers-Southwest Golf Classic | Mark Brooks | Won with par on first extra hole |
2 | 1991 | NEC World Series of Golf | Jim Gallagher Jr., Davis Love III | Won with par on second extra hole |
Japan Golf Tour wins (1)
Other wins (4)
- 1981 Jerry Ford Invitational
- 1986 JCPenney Classic
- 1991 Shark Shootout Benefiting RMCC
- 1993 Fred Meyer Challenge
Champions Tour wins (4)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
1 | 2005 | Bank of America Championship | Mark McNulty, Don Pooley | McNulty won with birdie on second extra hole |
2 | 2007 | AT&T Champions Classic | Loren Roberts | Won with birdie on fourth extra hole |
Other senior wins (1)
- 2005 Australian PGA Seniors
Results in major championships
"T" = tied
Summary
- Most consecutive cuts made – 12
- Longest streak of top-10s – 1
Results in The Players Championship
"T" indicates a tie for a place
U.S. national team appearances
- Four Tours World Championship: 1991