Origins & Early Life

Thomas Sturges Watson (born September 4, 1949) is an American professional golfer. In the 1970s and 1980s, Watson was one of the leading golfers in the world, winning eight major championships and heading the PGA Tour money list five times. He was the number one player in the world according to McCormack's World Golf Rankings from 1978 until 1982; in both 1983 and 1984, he was ranked second behind Seve Ballesteros. He also spent 32 weeks in the top 10 of the successor Sony Rankings in their debut in 1986.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Watson is also notable for his longevity: at nearly sixty years of age, and 26 years after his last major championship victory, he led after the second and third rounds of The Open Championship in 2009, but lost in a four-hole playoff. With a chance to win the tournament with par on the 72nd hole, he missed an 8-foot (2.4 m) putt, then lost to Stewart Cink in the playoff. Several of Watson's major victories came at the expense of Jack Nicklaus, the man he replaced as number one, most notably the 1977 Masters, 1977 Open Championship, and the 1982 U.S. Open. Though his rivalry with Nicklaus was intense, their friendly competitiveness served to increase golf's popularity at the time....

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances.
• Alan Menken — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Amadeo Giannini — Contemporary (Died in 1949) (1949): Pioneering American banker who founded the Bank of Italy and influenced modern finance.
• Al-Biruni — Shared historical date (09-04 · Born) (973): Khwarazmian polymath, pioneering in science, history, and comparative religion.
• Albert Schweitzer — Shared historical date (09-04 · Died) (1965): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• Andy Kaufman — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Pioneering performance artist known for anti-comedy and character work.
• Ann Druyan — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Pioneering producer communicating science through documentary film and literature.
• Ayumi Hamasaki — Historical peer (Born in 1978) (1978): Japanese Pop Icon, 'Empress of Pop,' best-selling solo artist in Japan.
• Balabhaskar — Historical peer (Born in 1978) (1978): Pioneering Indian violinist and composer known for promoting fusion music.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• 1949 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1949
• September 4 (09-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 4