Tom Lehman

Thomas Edward Lehman (born March 7, 1959) is an American professional golfer. A former number 1 ranked golfer, his tournament wins include one major title, the 1996 Open Championship; and he is the only golfer in history to have been awarded the Player of the Year honor on all three PGA Tours: the regular PGA Tour, the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour Champions.[2]

For the Genius co-founder, see Genius (website).

Tom Lehman
Lehman in 2006
Personal information
Full nameThomas Edward Lehman
Born (1959-03-07) March 7, 1959
Austin, Minnesota
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight215 lb (98 kg; 15.4 st)
Nationality United States
ResidenceScottsdale, Arizona
SpouseMelissa Lehman
Children2 daughters, 2 sons
Career
CollegeMinnesota
Turned professional1982
Current tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins35
Highest ranking1 (April 20, 1997)[1]
(1 week)
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour5
European Tour2
Japan Golf Tour1
Korn Ferry Tour4
PGA Tour Champions12
European Senior Tour2
Other11
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters Tournament2nd: 1994
PGA ChampionshipT10: 1997
U.S. OpenT2: 1996
The Open ChampionshipWon: 1996
Achievements and awards
Ben Hogan Tour
leading money winner		1991
Ben Hogan Tour
Player of the Year		1991
PGA Player of the Year1996
PGA Tour
Player of the Year		1996
Vardon Trophy1996
Byron Nelson Award1996
PGA Tour
leading money winner		1996
Payne Stewart Award2010
Arnold Palmer Award
(Champions Tour
Money List Winner)		2011
Jack Nicklaus Trophy
(Champions Tour
Player of the Year)		2011, 2012
(For a full list of awards, see here)

Amateur career

Born in Austin, Minnesota, and raised in Alexandria, Lehman played college golf at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis–Saint Paul,[3] graduated with a degree in business/accounting, and turned professional in 1982.[4]

Professional career

It took Lehman many years to become a leading tour professional. He played on the PGA Tour with little success from 1983 to 1985, and was then obliged to play elsewhere for the following six seasons. This included time in Asia and South Africa and on the second tier Ben Hogan Tour in the United States. He regained his PGA Tour card by topping the Ben Hogan Tour's 1991 money list, and enjoyed unbroken membership of the PGA Tour from 1992 until shortly after he joined the Champions Tour. He was named PGA Tour Player of the Year in 1996.

From 1995 to 1997 Lehman held the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Open, but each time failed to win. During this period he won his only major championship to date, The Open Championship in 1996.[5][6] In April 1997, he was Number 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for what would be only one week. He has won five times on the PGA Tour, but in addition to his Open win these wins have included the season-ending Tour Championship and Memorial Tournament, and he has won at least nineteen professional events in total.

Although Lehman did not win a lot of tournaments on the PGA Tour he was one of the most consistent players on tour with 19 runner-up finishes between 1992 and 2006.[7]

Unusually for a star American golfer, Lehman won almost as many regular tour events internationally as he did in the United States. His most well-known victory was at the 1996 Open Championship in England. He also won the 1993 Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour and the 1997 Gulfstream Loch Lomond World Invitational on the European Tour. He also recorded runner-up finishes at the 1989 South African Open[8] and the 2000 Scottish Open, the European Tour event he won three years previous.

Lehman was captain of the Ryder Cup team in 2006, which lost 18½ to 9½ to Europe at the K Club in Ireland.

In April 2009, Lehman became the 13th Champions Tour player to win his debut tournament. He teamed with Bernhard Langer to win the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in a playoff over Jeff Sluman and Craig Stadler.[9] On May 30, 2010, Lehman won the Senior PGA Championship in a playoff over Fred Couples and David Frost for his first Champions Tour major championship. In 2011, Lehman topped the Champions Tour money list and was voted the Champions Tour Player of the Year. He is the first golfer to win "Player of the Year" honors on all three tours operated by the PGA Tour.[2]

In June 2012, Lehman defended his title at the Regions Tradition, to win his third senior major championship. He won by two strokes from Germany's Bernhard Langer and Taiwan's Lu Chien-soon. In his next major appearance at the Senior Players Championship, he finished runner-up, two strokes behind Joe Daley.

Personal

Lehman and his wife Melissa have lived for many years in Scottsdale, Arizona, and they have four children: two daughters and two sons. Lehman is a Christian.[10][11]

Professional wins (35)

PGA Tour wins (5)
Legend
Major championships (1)
Tour Championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (3)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 May 22, 1994 Memorial Tournament 67-67-67-67=268 −20 5 strokes Greg Norman
2 May 28, 1995 Colonial National Invitation 67-68-68-68=271 −9 1 stroke Craig Parry
3 Jul 21, 1996 The Open Championship 67-67-64-73=271 −13 2 strokes Ernie Els, Mark McCumber
4 Oct 28, 1996 The Tour Championship 66-67-64-71=268 −12 6 strokes Brad Faxon
5 Jan 30, 2000 Phoenix Open 63-67-73-67=270 −14 1 stroke Robert Allenby, Rocco Mediate

PGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1997 Mercedes Championships Tiger Woods Lost to birdie on first extra hole
2 1999 Bay Hill Invitational Tim Herron Lost to birdie on second extra hole
3 2006 The International Dean Wilson Lost to birdie on second extra hole

European Tour wins (2)
Legend
Major championships (1)
Other European Tour (1)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 Jul 21, 1996 The Open Championship 67-67-64-73=271 −13 2 strokes Ernie Els, Mark McCumber
2 Jul 12, 1997 Gulfstream Loch Lomond World Invitational 65-66-67-67=265 −19 4 strokes Ernie Els

Japan Golf Tour wins (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 Nov 28, 1993 Casio World Open 69-69-67-69=274 −14 1 stroke Phil Mickelson

Ben Hogan Tour wins (4)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Aug 26, 1990 Ben Hogan Reflection Ridge 66-69-67=202 −14 1 stroke Greg Whisman
2 Mar 17, 1991 Ben Hogan Gulf Coast Classic 66-71=137* −7 Playoff Tim Straub, John Wilson
3 May 5, 1991 Ben Hogan South Carolina Classic 67-66-69=202 −14 Playoff Ray Pearce
4 Oct 13, 1991 Ben Hogan Santa Rosa Open 69-67-71=207 −9 1 stroke Mike Foster, Brad Greer,
Webb Heintzelman, Jeff Woodland

*Note: The 1991 Ben Hogan Gulf Coast Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Ben Hogan Tour playoff record (2–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1991 Ben Hogan Gulf Coast Classic Tim Straub, John Wilson Won with par on eighth extra hole
Straub eliminated with par on first hole
2 1991 Ben Hogan South Carolina Classic Ray Pearce Won with birdie on first extra hole
3 1991 Ben Hogan Tulsa Open Frank Conner Lost to birdie on second extra hole
4 1991 Ben Hogan Reno Open Rob Boldt, John Flannery,
Esteban Toledo		 Flannery won with birdie on fourth extra hole
Boldt and Lehman eliminated with birdie on first hole

Other wins (11)

* This event was staged twice in 2000 once in January and the other in December.

PGA Tour Champions wins (12)
Legend
PGA Tour Champions major championships (3)
Other PGA Tour Champions (9)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Apr 26, 2009 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
(with Bernhard Langer)		 61-66-62=189 −27 Playoff Jeff Sluman and Craig Stadler
2 May 30, 2010 Senior PGA Championship 68-71-71-71=281 −7 Playoff Fred Couples, David Frost
3 Feb 13, 2011 Allianz Championship 65-69-69=203 −13 1 stroke Jeff Sluman, Rod Spittle
4 Apr 3, 2011 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic 67-64-69=200 −16 1 stroke David Frost, Nick Price,
Jeff Sluman
5 May 8, 2011 Regions Tradition 67-71-68-69=275 −13 Playoff Peter Senior
6 Jun 10, 2012 Regions Tradition (2) 69-69-68-68=274 −14 2 strokes Bernhard Langer, Lu Chien-soon
7 Nov 4, 2012 Charles Schwab Cup Championship 68-63-62-65=258 −22 6 strokes Jay Haas
8 Jun 22, 2014 Encompass Championship 65-66-70=201 −15 1 stroke Michael Allen, Kirk Triplett
9 Oct 11, 2015 SAS Championship 68-71-65=204 −12 1 stroke Joe Durant
10 Mar 19, 2017 Tucson Conquistadores Classic 66-67-66=199 −20 1 stroke Steve Stricker
11 Jun 10, 2018 Principal Charity Classic 66-65=131 −13 2 strokes Woody Austin, Glen Day
Bernhard Langer, Scott Parel
12 Jan 19, 2019 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai 69-65-65=199 −17 1 stroke David Toms

PGA Tour Champions playoff record (3–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 2009 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
(with Bernhard Langer)		 Jeff Sluman and Craig Stadler Won with par on second extra hole
2 2010 Senior PGA Championship Fred Couples, David Frost Won with par on first extra hole
3 2011 Regions Tradition Peter Senior Won with par on second extra hole
4 2015 Insperity Invitational Kenny Perry, Ian Woosnam Woosnam won with birdie on first extra hole
5 2018 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf
(with Bernhard Langer)		 Paul Broadhurst and Kirk Triplett Lost to birdie on first extra hole

European Senior Tour wins (2)
Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other European Senior Tour (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 May 30, 2010 Senior PGA Championship 68-71-71-71=281 −7 Playoff Fred Couples, David Frost
2 Dec 11, 2011 MCB Tour Championship 65-68-71=204 −12 1 stroke David Frost

European Senior Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 2010 Senior PGA Championship Fred Couples, David Frost Won with par on first extra hole

Major championships

Wins (1)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up
1996The Open Championship6 shot lead−13 (67-67-64-73=271)2 strokes Ernie Els, Mark McCumber

Results timeline
Tournament 1986 1987 1988 1989
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open CUT CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Masters Tournament T3 2 40 T18 T12 CUT T31
U.S. Open CUT T6 T19 T33 3 T2 3 T5 T28
The Open Championship T59 T24 1 T24 CUT CUT
PGA Championship CUT T39 CUT T14 T10 T29 T34
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Masters Tournament 6 T18 CUT CUT T13 CUT
U.S. Open T23 T24 T45 CUT CUT T47
The Open Championship T4 CUT CUT T46 CUT T23 CUT T51 T32 T60
PGA Championship WD CUT T29 CUT CUT CUT T69 T42 T60
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship T14 T22 CUT T58 CUT CUT CUT
PGA Championship T55
Tournament 2019
Masters Tournament
PGA Championship
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament011237139
PGA Championship0000121710
U.S. Open0124581812
The Open Championship1002272413
Totals123811247244
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 8 (1996 Masters – 1997 PGA)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1996 U.S. Open – 1996 Open Championship)

Results in The Players Championship
Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
The Players Championship T13 T11 CUT T14 T8 6 T2 CUT 8 T12 T28 T39 CUT T2 T27 T23 T6
  Top 10

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

Results in World Golf Championships
Tournament19992000200120022003200420052006
Match Play R64 R32 R16 QF R64 R32 4
Championship T25 NT1 T39 61
Invitational T15 T31 T38 T41 T42

1Cancelled due to 9/11

  Top 10
  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament

Senior major championships

Wins (3)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up
2010Senior PGA ChampionshipTied for the lead−7 (68-71-71-71=281)Playoff1 Fred Couples, David Frost
2011Regions Tradition2 shot deficit−13 (67-71-68-69=275)Playoff2 Peter Senior
2012Regions Tradition2 shot lead−14 (69-69-68-68=274)2 strokes Bernhard Langer, Lu Chien-soon

1Defeated Couples (6) and Frost (6), who shot 2-over par double bogey on the first sudden-death-playoff hole, and Lehman shot a (4) on the hole, which was even-par.
2Defeated Senior with a par on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Results timeline

Results are not in chronological order before 2017.

Tournament20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
The Tradition T8 T4 1 1 T22 T3 T5 T35 T6 T27 T16
Senior PGA Championship T22 1 T22 T29 T48 T26 T16 T15 CUT T28
U.S. Senior Open T8 T12 T23 T2 T9 T24 T23 T11 T4 CUT T11
Senior Players Championship 4 2 T16 T20 T20 T25 T18 T43 T11
Senior British Open Championship T58 T11 T21 T10 T26 T22 T14 T23 T6 T36
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

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

Awards

Lehman has won the following awards:

  • 1991
    • Ben Hogan Tour leading money winner
    • Ben Hogan Tour Player of the Year
  • 1996
  • 2010
  • 2011
    • Arnold Palmer Award (Champions Tour leading money winner)
    • Jack Nicklaus Trophy (Champions Tour Player of the Year)
    • Charles Schwab Cup (Champions Tour)
  • 2012
    • Jack Nicklaus Trophy (Champions Tour Player of the Year)
    • Charles Schwab Cup (Champions Tour)

U.S. national team appearances

See also

References
  1. "Week 16 1997 Ending 20 Apr 1997" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  2. "Lehman named Champions Tour Player of the Year". PGA Tour. December 14, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  3. Orrick, Dave (October 2, 2016). "Tom Lehman on Minnesota's Ryder Cup: 'I'm just proud'". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  4. Murphy, Brian (2017). 100 Things Minnesota Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Triumph Books. ISBN 9781633198722. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  5. Lehman, Tom (2005). A Passion for the Game. Bronze Bow Publishing. ISBN 978-1-932458-35-0.
  6. "Tom Lehman Life Story". The Life Story Foundation. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  7. "Tom Lehman". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  8. "Tom Lehman − 1989". OWGR. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  9. "Lehman-Langer team wins Legends of Golf in playoff". PGA Tour. Associated Press. April 26, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  10. "America's Republican guard". Irish Times. September 15, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  11. Darden, Robert; Richardson, P. J. (1996). The Way of an Eagle. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0785277019.
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