Born in 1949, Watson turned professional at the age of 22, and within a few years, he was a star. By the late ’70s and early ’80s, he didn’t just compete—he ran the sport. He won eight major championships in his career: one U.S. Open (1982); two Masters at Augusta (1977 & 1981); and five British Open Championships (Carnoustie in 1975, Turnberry in 1977, Muirfield in 1980, Royal Troon in 1982 and Royal Birkdale in 1983). Perhaps it was a childhood of playing in unpredictable Missouri weather, but Watson intuitively knew how to play in the infamous blustery British wind. His rivalry with another golf legend, Jack Nicklaus, hit its apex at the 1977 British Open Championship at Turnberry, the legendary “Duel in the Sun,” where Watson won by one in one of the greatest head-to-head battles golf has ever seen.
For all his global fame, Watson hasn’t strayed far from home. He still lives in the metro, in the Overland Park-Stilwell area, and his commitment to the community runs deep. Watson’s charity work has raised millions for local organizations such as Children’s Mercy. He also started his own nonprofits, First Tee of Greater Kansas City and Watson Links—programs designed to expose local kids, who otherwise might not have the chance, to golf.
When his longtime caddie Bruce Edwards was diagnosed with ALS in 2003, Watson took action becoming one of the sport’s world most visible fundraisers for ALS research. Edwards passed away in 2004…