Tom Kite spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994. He began playing golf at age six, and won his first tournament at age 11. Kite attended the University of Texas on a golf scholarship. He turned professional in 1972 and has been a consistent money winner ever since.
He has 19 PGA Tour victories, including the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He competed on seven Ryder Cup squads (1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993) and served as the 1997 captain. In 1989 he was named PGA of America Player of the Year, in 1981 the Golf Writers Association Player of the Year, the Vardon Trophy winner in 1980 & 1981, Bob Jones Award recipient in 1979 and Golf Digest Rookie of the Year in 1973.
Tom Kite was the first in Tour history to reach $6 million, $7 million, $8 million, and $9 million in career earnings. He was the Tour’s leading money-winner in 1981 and 1989.
Kite has added golf course designer to his resume and has successfully completed several golf courses including Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey; Comanche Trace in Kerrville, Texas; Somersett Country Club in Reno, Nevada; Gaillardia Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and the Legends on LBJ in Kingsland, Texas
Kite was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
