Tom Kite

Thomas Oliver Kite Jr., born December 9, 1949, in McKinney, Texas, is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. His biggest victory came at the 1992 U.S. Open, and he ranked among the world’s top ten golfers for 175 weeks between 1989 and 1994.

Kite picked up the game at age six and won his first tournament at eleven. He attended the University of Texas on a golf scholarship under coach Harvey Penick. There, he earned first-team All-American honors in 1972, the same year he tied with teammate Ben Crenshaw for the individual NCAA championship. He helped the Longhorns win NCAA team titles in 1971 and 1972 and Southwest Conference championships in 1970 and 1972. He was a second-team All-American in 1970 and 1971 and won nine collegiate tournaments over four years.

Turning professional in 1972, Kite became a steady money-winner until retirement. He was an innovator: the first to carry a third wedge, among the first to use a sports psychologist, and an early advocate of physical fitness for golf. Late in his career, he underwent laser eye surgery to address partial blindness and improve his game.

He notched 19 PGA Tour victories, including the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He played on seven Ryder Cup teams (1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993) and captained the 1997 squad. Kite holds the unique distinction of making the cut in the first four U.S. Opens held at Pebble Beach (1972, 1982, 1992, 2000). He also shares the record with Gene Littler for the most Masters appearances without a win.

Kite was the first PGA Tour player to surpass $6 million, $7 million, $8 million, and $9 million in career earnings. He led the tour in money in 1981 and 1989. In his prime, he was renowned for his short-iron play; in 1993, Johnny Miller called him “the greatest short-iron player the game has seen.”

On the senior circuit, Kite led the 2005 Booz Allen Classic by one shot entering the final round at age 55. Had he won, he would have beaten Sam Snead’s record as the oldest PGA Tour winner by three years, but he faded to a tie for 13th, seven shots behind Sergio García. He played the Champions Tour through 2020, winning ten events, including one senior major, The Countrywide Tradition. At the 2012 U.S. Senior Open, he shot a front-nine 28 (seven under par) in the first round—the lowest nine-hole score ever in any USGA championship—and finished tied for 12th.

In popular culture, Kevin Nealon impersonated Kite in a May 18, 1991 “Carsenio” sketch on Saturday Night Live. In 1996, Kite appeared on The Simpsons episode “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield,” giving Homer Simpson golf tips.

Kite’s honors include second-team All-American (1970, 1971), first-team All-American (1972), Golf Digest Rookie of the Year (1973), the Bob Jones Award (1979), Golf Writers Association Player of the Year (1981), the Byron Nelson Award (1981, 1982), the Vardon Trophy (1981, 1982), induction into the University of Texas Longhorns Hall of Honor (1984), PGA of America Player of the Year (1989), and induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame (2004). He won the 1972 NCAA individual title (tied with Ben Crenshaw) as an amateur.

Professionally, he recorded 37 wins: 19 on the PGA Tour (with a 6–4 playoff record), 3 on the European Tour, 1 on the New Zealand Golf Circuit, 5 other wins, and 10 on the Champions Tour (with a 3–2 playoff record). His major championship win is the 1992 U.S. Open. He also won The Players Championship once. In senior majors, his lone win is The Countrywide Tradition. He represented the U.S. in the Eisenhower Trophy (1970, winners), Walker Cup (1971), eight Ryder Cups (including as captain in 1997), the World Cup (1984, 1985), Four Tours World Championship (1987, 1989, both winners), Dunhill Cup (1989 winners, 1990, 1992, 1994), Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006), and UBS Cup (2002, 2004, both winners).