Ian Woosnam

Ian Woosnam
Personal information
Full name Ian Harold Woosnam OBE
Nickname Woosie
Born 2 March 1958 (1958-03-02) (age 53)
Oswestry, England
Height 5 ft 4.5 in (1.638 m)
Nationality  Wales
Residence Jersey, Channel Islands
Spouse Glendryth (m.1983)
Children Daniel (b.1985), Rebecca (b.1988), Ami (b.1991)
Career
Turned professional 1976
Current tour(s) European Tour
European Seniors Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins 48
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour 2
European Tour 29 (6th all time)
European Seniors Tour 4
Other 14
Best results in Major Championships
(Wins: 1)
Masters Tournament Won: 1991
U.S. Open T2: 1989
The Open Championship T3: 1986, 2001
PGA Championship 6th: 1989
Achievements and awards
Officer of the Most
Excellent Order of
the British Empire		 2007
European Tour
Order of Merit winner		 1987, 1990
European Tour
Player of the Year		 1987, 1990

Ian Harold Woosnam OBE (born 2 March 1958) is a Welsh professional golfer.

Nicknamed 'Woosie', 'Woosers', or the 'Wee Welshman', Woosnam was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all born within 12 months of one another, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the Ryder Cup. His peers in this group were Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, and Sandy Lyle.[1].

Contents

Career outline

Woosnam was born in the town of Oswestry, Shropshire in England, and his family lived in the nearby village of St Martin's in Shropshire. He started playing at the unique Llanymynech Golf Club, which straddles the Wales-England border.[2] He is short for a male golfer at 5 ft 4 1⁄2 in (1.638 m), but he is a powerful hitter. He played as an amateur in regional competitions in the English county of Shropshire alongside Sandy Lyle.

Woosnam turned professional in 1976 and first played the European Tour in 1979. After three modest seasons his career took off in 1982 when he won the Swiss Open and came eighth on the Order of Merit (prize money list). He also finished in the top ten on the Order of Merit every year from 1983 to 1991 and again in 1993, 1996, and 1997, making thirteen times in all. In 1987 and 1990 he was first, and in the former year he set a world record for global tournament earnings of £1,062,662.

Woosnam placed third in the 1986 Open Championship. In 1991, he reached the top of the Official World Golf Rankings, eventually spending a total of 50 weeks as World Number 1. In the same year, he emulated his British rivals, Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo, by winning the Masters Tournament; the first person representing Wales to ever win a major championship. He has won 28 official money events on the European Tour and many other events around the world.

In the late 1990s, his form began to fade, but he nearly made a spectacular comeback at The Open Championship in 2001, when he finished third despite suffering a two-stroke penalty for starting the final round with 15 clubs in his bag instead of the allowable maximum of 14. While his caddie, Miles Byrne, was responsible for this error, Woosnam surprisingly decided not to fire him stating: "It is the biggest mistake he will make in his life. He won't do it again. He's a good caddie. I am not going to sack him. He's a good lad."[3] Ironically, he did fire his caddie two weeks later when, after a night drinking on the town, he failed to turn up to tee-time.[4] That same year, Woosnam became the first player to capture the World Match Play Championship in three different decades.[5]

Woosnam was a member of eight consecutive European Ryder Cup teams from 1983 to 1997. Despite not winning a singles match he accumulated an excellent overall record of 14 wins, 12 losses and 5 halves in 31 matches. He was a vice captain for the 2002 European team and was elected as captain for the 2006 Ryder Cup, leading Europe to victory over the U.S. 18½–9½. This will be a one-off assignment as Nick Faldo was elected for 2008 at the same time.

Woosnam was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in early 1987,[6] which affects approximately 1 in 200 men and 1 in 500 women in Britain.[7] In December that year, Woosnam won the first of his three BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year awards, which he went on to win in 1990 and 1991.[8]

Woosnam was awarded an O.B.E. in the 2007 New Years Honours List.[9] He now lives in Jersey.

On 1 June 2008, Woosnam won his first stroke play title in 11 years at the Parkridge Polish Seniors Championship at Krakow Valley Golf and Country Club, finishing with a course record 63.[10] The tournament was his third appearance on European Seniors Tour, which he joined after turning 50 years old in March 2008. Woosnam would go on to win the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit that year becoming the only person to have won the Order of Merit on both the European Seniors Tour and the regular European Tour.

In September 2010. Woosnam was inducted to the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.[11]

Professional wins (48)

European Tour wins (29)

Legend
Major Championships (1)
Other European Tour (28)
No. Date Tournament Winning Score Margin of
Victory		 Runner-up
1 29 Aug 1982 Ebel Swiss Open -16 (68–68–66–70=272) Playoff Bill Longmuir
2 5 Jun 1983 Silk Cut Masters -15 (68–69–67–65=269) 3 strokes Bernard Gallacher
3 8 Aug 1984 Scandinavian Enterprise Open -4 (71–70–69–70=280) 3 strokes Peter Teravainen
4 21 Sep 1986 Lawrence Batley International T.P.C. -11 (71–71–66–69=277) 7 strokes Ken Brown, José Maria Cañizares
5 12 Apr 1987 Jersey Open -9 (68–67–72–72=279) 1 stroke Bill Malley
6 26 Apr 1987 Cepsa Madrid Open -19 (67–67–69–66=269) 3 strokes Wayne Grady
7 11 Jul 1987 Bell's Scottish Open -20 (65–65–66–68=264) 7 strokes Peter Senior
8 20 Sep 1987 Trophée Lancôme -24 (65–64–69–66=264) 2 strokes Mark McNulty
9 30 May 1988 Volvo PGA Championship -14 (67–70–70–67=274) 2 strokes Seve Ballesteros, Mark James
10 21 Aug 1988 Carroll's Irish Open -10 (68–70–70–70=278) 7 strokes Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo,
Manuel Piñero, Des Smyth
11 11 Sep 1988 Panasonic European Open -20 (65–66–64–65=260) 3 strokes Nick Faldo
12 25 Jul 1989 Carroll's Irish Open -10 (70–67–71–70=278) Playoff Philip Walton
13 4 Mar 1990 Amex Med Open -6 (68–68–74=210) 2 strokes Miguel Ángel Martín, Eduardo Romero
14 7 Jul 1990 Torras Monte Carlo Open -18 (66–67–65–60=258) 5 strokes Costantino Rocca
15 14 Jul 1990 Bell's Scottish Open -15 (72–62–67–68=269) 4 strokes Mark McNulty
16 30 Sep 1990 Epson Grand Prix of Europe -13 (65–67–67–72=271) 3 strokes Mark McNulty, José María Olazábal
17 3 Mar 1991 Fujitsu Mediterranean Open -5 (70–71–71–67=279) 1 stroke Michael McLean
18 14 Apr 1991 Masters Tournament -11 (72–66–67–72=277) 1 stroke José María Olazábal
19 6 Jul 1991 Torras Monte Carlo Golf Open -15 (67–66–61–67=261) 4 strokes Anders Forsbrand
20 4 Jul 1992 European Monte Carlo Open -15 (66–65–66–64=261) 2 strokes Mark McNulty, Johan Rystrom
21 22 Aug 1993 Murphy's English Open -19 (71–67–65–66=269) 2 strokes Costantino Rocca
22 19 Sep 1993 Trophée Lancôme -13 (64–70–68–65=267) 2 strokes Sam Torrance
23 1 May 1994 Air France Cannes Open -17 (72–70–63–66=271) 5 strokes Colin Montgomerie
24 18 Sep 1994 Dunhill British Masters -17 (71–70–63–67=271) 4 strokes Seve Ballesteros
25 28 Jan 1996 Johnnie Walker Classic -16 (69–68–69–66=272) Playoff Andrew Coltart
26 4 Feb 1996 Heineken Classic -11 (69–71–65–72=277) 1 stroke Paul McGinley, Jean van de Velde
27 13 Jul 1996 Scottish Open +1 (70–74–70–75=289) 4 strokes Andrew Coltart
28 25 Aug 1996 Volvo German Open -20 (64–64–65=193) 6 strokes Thomas Gogele, Robert Karlsson,
Ian Pyman, Fernando Roca
29 26 May 1997 Volvo PGA Championship -13 (67–68–70–70=275) 2 strokes Darren Clarke, Ernie Els,
Nick Faldo

PGA Tour wins (2)

Legend
Major Championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning Score Margin of Victory Runner-up
1 24 Mar 1991 USF&G Classic -13 (73–67–68–67=275) Playoff Jimmy Hallet
2 14 Apr 1991 Masters Tournament -11 (72–66–67–72=277) 1 stroke José María Olazábal

Other wins (14)

European Seniors Tour wins (4)

Major championships

Wins (1)

Year Championship 54 Holes Winning Score Margin Runner-up
1991 Masters Tournament 1 shot lead −11 (72–66–67–72=277) 1 stroke José María Olazábal

Results timeline

Tournament 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT T14
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T2
The Open Championship CUT CUT CUT T16 T3 T8 T25 T49
PGA Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP T30 CUT WD 6
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Masters Tournament T30 1 T19 T17 T46 T17 T29 T39 T16 T14
U.S. Open T21 T55 T6 T52 CUT T21 T79 CUT CUT DNP
The Open Championship T4 T17 T5 T51 CUT T49 CUT T24 T57 T24
PGA Championship T31 T48 CUT T22 T9 CUT T36 CUT T29 CUT
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Masters Tournament T40 CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT DNP 44 CUT
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship T68 T3 T37 72 DNP CUT DNP DNP DNP DNP
PGA Championship CUT T51 CUT DNP CUT DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Tournament 2010 2011
Masters Tournament CUT CUT
U.S. Open DNP DNP
The Open Championship DNP DNP
PGA Championship DNP DNP

DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

Team appearances

See also

References

  1. ^ Reason, Mark (25 May 2003). "In the footsteps of the famous five". The Daily Telegraph (UK). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/2404697/In-the-footsteps-of-the-famous-five.html. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  2. ^ "Ian Woosnam". BBC Wales. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/halloffame/sport/ianwoosnam.shtml. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  3. ^ The Emotionally Intelligent Manager. Jossey-Bass Publishing. 2004. ISBN 978-0787970710. 
  4. ^ "Woosnam sacks wayward caddie". BBC Sport. 5 August 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/1474386.stm. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  5. ^ "Woosnam wins Match Play championship". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 14 October 2001. http://www.rte.ie/sport/2001/1014/matchplay.html. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  6. ^ Casey, Phil (29 July 2006). "New treatment puts Woosnam back in title hunt". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/new-treatment-puts-woosnam-back-in-title-hunt-409683.html. Retrieved 18 December 2011. 
  7. ^ "Woosnam to seek medical advice". Daily Mail. UK. 28 April 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-451325/Woosnam-seek-medical-advice.html. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  8. ^ "BBC Sport-Wales-BBC Wales Sports Personality Of The Year". BBC website (BBC). 8 December 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/2525091.stm. Retrieved 28 October 2009. 
  9. ^ "Woosie ends year with OBE". Western Mail. 30 December 2006. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/sports-news-round-up/tm_headline=golf--woosie-ends-year-with-obe&method=full&objectid=18351604&siteid=50082-name_page.html. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  10. ^ "Woosnam celebrates Polish victory". BBC Sport. 1 June 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7428270.stm. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  11. ^ Welsh Sports Hall of Fame - Inductees to Roll Of Honour

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Kirsty Wade		 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year
1987		 Succeeded by
Colin Jackson
Preceded by
Stephen Dodd		 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year
1990 and 1991		 Succeeded by
Tanni Grey

1934 Horton Smith • 1935 Gene Sarazen† • 1936 Horton Smith • 1937 Byron Nelson • 1938 Henry Picard • 1939 Ralph Guldahl • 1940 Jimmy Demaret • 1941‡ Craig Wood • 1942 Byron Nelson† • 1943-45 Cancelled due to World War II • 1946 Herman Keiser • 1947 Jimmy Demaret • 1948 Claude Harmon • 1949 Sam Snead • 1950 Jimmy Demaret • 1951 Ben Hogan • 1952 Sam Snead • 1953 Ben Hogan • 1954 Sam Snead† • 1955 Cary Middlecoff • 1956 Jack Burke, Jr. • 1957 Doug Ford • 1958 Arnold Palmer • 1959 Art Wall, Jr. • 1960‡ Arnold Palmer • 1961 Gary Player • 1962 Arnold Palmer† • 1963 Jack Nicklaus • 1964 Arnold Palmer • 1965 Jack Nicklaus • 1966 Jack Nicklaus† • 1967 Gay Brewer • 1968 Bob Goalby • 1969 George Archer • 1970 Billy Casper† • 1971 Charles Coody • 1972‡ Jack Nicklaus • 1973 Tommy Aaron • 1974 Gary Player • 1975 Jack Nicklaus • 1976‡ Raymond Floyd • 1977 Tom Watson • 1978 Gary Player • 1979 Fuzzy Zoeller† • 1980 Seve Ballesteros • 1981 Tom Watson • 1982 Craig Stadler† • 1983 Seve Ballesteros • 1984 Ben Crenshaw • 1985 Bernhard Langer • 1986 Jack Nicklaus • 1987 Larry Mize† • 1988 Sandy Lyle • 1989 Nick Faldo† • 1990 Nick Faldo† • 1991 Ian Woosnam • 1992 Fred Couples • 1993 Bernhard Langer • 1994 José María Olazábal • 1995 Ben Crenshaw • 1996 Nick Faldo • 1997 Tiger Woods • 1998 Mark O'Meara • 1999 José María Olazábal • 2000 Vijay Singh • 2001 Tiger Woods • 2002 Tiger Woods • 2003 Mike Weir† • 2004 Phil Mickelson • 2005 Tiger Woods† • 2006 Phil Mickelson • 2007 Zach Johnson • 2008 Trevor Immelman • 2009 Ángel Cabrera† • 2010 Phil Mickelson • 2011 Charl Schwartzel
† indicates the event was won in a playoff ‡ indicates the event was won wire-to-wire
1971 Peter Oosterhuis • 1972 Peter Oosterhuis • 1973 Peter Oosterhuis • 1974 Peter Oosterhuis • 1975 Dale Hayes • 1976 Seve Ballesteros • 1977 Seve Ballesteros • 1978 Seve Ballesteros • 1979 Sandy Lyle • 1980 Sandy Lyle • 1981 Bernhard Langer • 1982 Greg Norman • 1983 Nick Faldo • 1984 Bernhard Langer • 1985 Sandy Lyle • 1986 Seve Ballesteros • 1987 Ian Woosnam • 1988 Seve Ballesteros • 1989 Ronan Rafferty • 1990 Ian Woosnam • 1991 Seve Ballesteros • 1992 Nick Faldo • 1993 Colin Montgomerie • 1994 Colin Montgomerie • 1995 Colin Montgomerie • 1996 Colin Montgomerie • 1997 Colin Montgomerie • 1998 Colin Montgomerie • 1999 Colin Montgomerie • 2000 Lee Westwood • 2001 Retief Goosen • 2002 Retief Goosen • 2003 Ernie Els • 2004 Ernie Els • 2005 Colin Montgomerie • 2006 Pádraig Harrington • 2007 Justin Rose • 2008 Robert Karlsson • 2009 Lee Westwood • 2010 Martin Kaymer • 2011 Luke Donald
1985 Bernhard Langer • 1986 Seve Ballesteros • 1987 Ian Woosnam • 1988 Seve Ballesteros • 1989 Nick Faldo • 1990 Nick Faldo • 1991 Seve Ballesteros • 1992 Nick Faldo • 1993 Bernhard Langer • 1994 Ernie Els • 1995 Colin Montgomerie • 1996 Colin Montgomerie • 1997 Colin Montgomerie • 1998 Lee Westwood • 1999 Colin Montgomerie • 2000 Lee Westwood • 2001 Retief Goosen • 2002 Ernie Els • 2003 Ernie Els • 2004 Vijay Singh • 2005 Michael Campbell • 2006 Paul Casey • 2007 Pádraig Harrington • 2008 Pádraig Harrington • 2009 Lee Westwood • 2010 Martin Kaymer & Graeme McDowell (shared) • 2011 Luke Donald