- Tom Watson is an American retired professional golfer on the PGA Tour Champions, formerly on the PGA Tour.
Category: Richest Athletes › Soccer Players
Net Worth: $25 Million
Born: September 4, 1949
Gender: Male
Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Country of Origin: United States of America
Source of Wealth: Professional Golfer
Last Updated: September 23, 2023
Tom Watson built his fortune on the golf course by being one of the best professional golfers of his time.
He has won a total of 39 times on the PGA Tour and has received the PGA Player of the Year award six times.
Apart from his success on the PGA Tour, Watson has also had success on the over-50 Champions Tour, where he has won 14 times and six major championships.
As of September 2023, Tom Watson’s net worth is estimated to be $25 Million.
Tom Watson Facts
- Tom Watson was the first golfer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1977 after winning the Masters Tournament.
- Watson is successful as a golf course designer, having created The Bull at Pinehurst Farms in Wisconsin and The Ranch Course at Cordillera in Colorado.
- He has a passion for history and has written a book about the history of golf called “The Soul of the Game: Golf’s Greatest Players and Moments.”
- In 2010, Watson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a member of the PGA Tour category.
- Watson led the American Ryder Cup team in Scotland in 2014.
Early Life
Thomas Sturges Warson was born September 4, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
When Tom was just four years old, he played golf with his father and developed a passion for the game.
At the Kansas City Country Club, he was introduced to coach Stan Thirsk and started honing his skills.
Tom went to Pembroke Country-Day School, where he played on his high school team and achieved exceptional performances that earned him acclaim in the community.
He next enrolled at Stanford University, where Watson eventually earned a psychology degree in 1971.
Tom won the Missouri State Amateur titles four times, in 1967, 1968, 1970, and 1971, before beginning his professional career.
Watson’s professional career began in 1974, but at first, he battled greatly to produce outcomes similar to those of his amateur years.
But in 1974, he became friends with Byron Nelson, who later served as his coach, and with his help, Tom was able to win his first championship at the Western Open.
Once he had his first victory under his belt, Watson continued to have success, and in 1975, he won the Open Championship.
He is one of only four players since the Second World War to do so – the others are Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Lema (1964), and Ben Curtis (2003).
Career
Tom’s first Masters Championship victory in 1977 significantly enhanced his net worth and earned him the Vardon Trophy, as well as the title of PGA Player of the Year.
In 1978 and 1979, he won the Vardon Trophy again, getting close to the richest golfers in the world and having the highest scoring average for a PGA year.
In 1980, he won his third Open Championship and was voted PGA Player of the Year for the fourth time, increasing his marketability.
His US Open victory in 1982 and his second Open Championship win the following year further boosted his earnings and solidified his reputation as an exceptional golfer.
However, his performance began to decline in the late 1980s, and, despite using some of the most expensive golf clubs in the world, he only won a few smaller tournaments.
Despite this, Tom’s overall victories still place him among the top golfers in history, with only Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Walter Hagen, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus having more victories.
Since joining the Champions Tour in 1999, Tom has competed in a limited number of tournaments and has achieved 14 victories, including six senior majors.
Tom Watson’s Career Earnings
Tom has a competitive, quick-moving game, having won 39 times on the PGA Tour and now mostly competes on the over-50 Champions Tour.
He has won 14 additional times, including six PGA TOUR Champions major championships.
Now that Tom Watson is retired, there are no official records of how much he earns annually, so it is not possible to confirm his annual income.
Watson was one of the best golfers in the world during the 1970s and 1980s, winning eight major championships and five times topping the PGA Tour money list.
From 1978 to 1982, he held the top spot in McCormack’s World Golf Rankings; in both 1983 and 1984, he was rated second only to Seve Ballesteros, the Spanish champion.
He is one of only a handful of players including, Dustin Johnson and Vijay Singh whom the PGA Tour have given a lifetime membership.
Tom Watson’s Net Worth Annually
When the successor Sony Rankings made their debut in 1986, he lasted 32 weeks among the top 10 players in the world.
Watson participated in four Ryder Cup competitions and led the American team to win at The Belfry in England in 1993.
Here’s a breakdown of Tom Watson’s annual net worth:
- Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2017 – $23.2 Million
- Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2018 – $23.5 Million
- Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2019 – $23.8 Million
- Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2020 – $24 Million
- Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2021 – $24.5 Million
- Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2022 – $25 Million
- Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2023 – $25 Million
Watson has also competed in four Ryder Cup competitions, and in 1993, his team performed well, winning the competition.
20 years later, Tom led the Americans in the 2014 Ryder Cup, which was played in Scotland, but failed to win the competition.
Personal Life
Tom is also one of the founders of the Tom Watson Design Company, which has created several golf courses, including the Independence Course at the Reunion Resort & Club in Orlando, Florida, and the Phoenix Resort in Miyazaki, Japan.
In terms of his personal life, Tom is now single and focused on his profession and was previously wed to Hilary Watson.
They married in 1999 and have two children, Michael Watson and Meg Watson, but sadly, Hilary passed away in 2019.
According to certain internet sources, he was also married to Linda Rubin in 1972, and the two parted ways after five years of marriage.
Tom was married for the third time to Leslie Anne Wade, but the marriage didn’t last and the couple separated in 2022 after just 3 months.
You can follow Tom on his official Instagram account or official Twitter account to see what he’s getting up to next.
Awards And Achievements
He was the first golfer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the PGA Tour category who had not won a PGA Tour event after turning 50.
At sixty years old and after 26 years of professional golf, he led for a good portion of the 2009 Open Championship despite ultimately losing.
Here are some highlights from Tom Watson’s career:
- He was awarded the Vardon Trophy five times in his career; in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983.
- Tom received the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 1992.
- He also received the Bob Jones Award from the USGA in 1987.
- Watson received the PGA Tour’s Payne Stewart Award in 2003 and the Charles Schwab Cup in 2005, respectively.
- Tom Watson won the PGA Player of the Year award five times in his career; in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983.
The last of his four victories in Japan came at the prestigious Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on the Japan Golf Tour.
How Does Tom Watson Spend His Money?
Tom Watson retired to a huge mansion in one of his favorite spots in the world, Kansas City, Missouri.
He is an avid fly fisherman and has even had some of his fishing trips featured in outdoor magazines.
Watson enjoys the all-season climate and congenial atmosphere of the Midwest and has a special connection to the many fine golf courses in the area, including Blue Hills Country Club.
Watson recommends The Raphael and the Westin Crown Center for accommodation and suggests dining at Stroud’s for fried chicken and Arthur Bryant’s or Jess & Jim’s for barbecue and steaks.
Tom enjoys showing visitors the many attractions of Kansas City and sharing his love for his hometown.
He has never owned the most expensive cars in the world as he is an austere and careful individual both on the course and off.
Watson is a cigar aficionado and enjoys smoking some of the most expensive cigars in the world, especially now that he is retired.
Highlights
Waston, who competed in the Open Championship against Jack Nicklaus in 2005 on the Old Course at St. Andrews, recorded a 5-under-par 65 in the opening round of the 2009 Open Championship.
Watson recorded an ace on the sixth hole in the second match of the 2011 Open Championship.
Here are some of the best highlights of Tom Watson’s career:
- Watson won eight major championships throughout his career, including five British Open titles, two Masters Tournament titles, and one U.S. Open title.
- Watson has won 39 times on the PGA Tour and received the PGA Player of the Year award six times.
- Watson was ranked number one in McCormack’s World Golf Rankings from 1978 to 1982 and was rated second to Seve Ballesteros in 1983 and 1984.
- Watson participated in four Ryder Cup competitions and led the American team to victory at The Belfry in England in 1993. He also led the American team in Scotland in 2014, more than 20 years later.
- Watson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the PGA Tour category.
Watson was the first golfer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the PGA Tour category who had not won a PGA Tour event after turning 50.
He participated in his final competitive event, the senior British Open, in July 2019 to much applause, having joined Phil Mickelson, Nick Faldo, and Greg Norman as one of the greats.
Favorite Tom Watson Quotes
Tom Watson is a highly accomplished and respected professional golfer who has shared his thoughts and insights on a wide range of topics throughout his career.
Here are our favorite quotes from Tom Watson:
- “From the time I won the Kansas City Match Play championship at age 14, I never wanted to be anything but a golfer.” – Tom Watson
- “No other game combines the wonder of nature with the discipline of sport in such carefully planned ways. A great golf course both frees and challenges a golfer’s mind.” – Tom Watson
- “Confidence in golf means being able to concentrate on the problem at hand with no outside interference.” – Tom Watson
- “I’m very happy with my life. I am what I am. I don’t worry about anything that I can’t control. That’s a really good lesson in life.” – Tom Watson
- “Sometimes thinking too much can destroy your momentum.” – Tom Watson
3 Amazing Lessons From Tom Watson
Tom Watson grew up in an era of harsh realities and his austere approach to golf did not always win him amongst his peers.
Now that you know all about Tom Watson’s net worth, here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Tom Watson:
- Hard Work And Discipline Are Vital
Watson is known for his dedication to practicing and improving his game and has said that hard work and discipline are key to achieving success in golf and in life.
- Maintaining A Positive Attitude
Watson has emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, even in difficult situations, and feels it can be a powerful tool for overcoming challenges.
- Strive To Be Mentally Tough
Tom has spoken about the importance of mental toughness in golf and has said that being able to stay focused and maintain a clear mind under pressure is the key to success on the course.
While mental toughness may not be your natural state, it is something that you can improve the more you train your mind for it.
