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Peter Thomson profile

MAJOR VICTORIES (5)
British Open - 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965

Five times British Open Champion from 1954-1965, three times Australian Open Champion and nine times the New Zealand Open Champion, Peter Thomson has won a hundred tournaments worldwide, including the World Cup for Australia twice. His record on the PGA Seniors Tour is scarcely less impressive; in 1985 he set the standard by winning nine tournaments out of a possible 27.

Born in the working class suburb of Brunswick in Melbourne, Peter's first experiences of golf were brief interludes on the Royal Park course, sneaking on for a quick few holes. His natural talent was soon spotted, offical membership arranged and the way cleared for him to become Club Champion just after his sixteenth birthday. From there it was only three years to winning the Victorian Amateur Championship, and a further two before beginning his professional career in 1949 and winning his first New Zealand Open in 1950. Initially, Peter concentrated on the European tour playing on the British courses he so loved, then in the 60's he put his weight behind the fledgling Asian tour. His forty year playing career takes in the Open titles of ten countries, winning several more than once, ending in 1988 on an up note with the British PGA Seniors title.

In 1970 he joined with John Harris and Michael Wolveridge to form the golf design firm South Pacific Golf, later known as Thomson, Wolveridge & Perrett. As a designer he has worked on golf course projects all around the world, focusing on Japan, South East Asia, and more recently Europe.

Journalist, Author, Commentator and President of the Australian Professional Golfers Association from 1962 to 1994, Peter Thomson is an honorary member of a number of golf clubs including the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Thomson Captained the International Team at the 1996 and 2000 President's Cup played at the Robert Trent Jones course and also the successful team which defeated the USA in the 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Thomson & Perrett have their own web site at www.thomsonperrett.com.au