View source for Tom Kite

{{Short description|American professional golfer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name              = Tom Kite
| image             = TomKite.jpg
| caption           = Kite in 2008
| fullname          = Thomas Oliver Kite Jr.
| nickname          = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1949|12|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place       = [[McKinney, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date        = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|1949|12|9|mf=y}} -->
| death_place       = 
| height            = 5 ft 9 in
| weight            = {{convert|170|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}
| nationality       = {{USA}}
| residence         = [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.
| spouse            = 
| partner           = 
| children          = 
| college           = [[University of Texas]]
| yearpro           = 1972
| retired           = <!-- Year retired -->
| tour              = [[PGA Tour Champions]]
| extour            = [[PGA Tour]]
| prowins           = 37
| pgawins           = 19
| eurowins          = 3
| auswins           = 1
| champwins         = 10
| otherwins         = 5
| majorwins         = 1
| masters           = 2nd/T2: [[1983 Masters Tournament|1983]], [[1986 Masters Tournament|1986]], [[1997 Masters Tournament|1997]]
| usopen            = '''Won''': [[1992 U.S. Open (golf)|1992]]
| open              = T2: [[1978 Open Championship|1978]]
| pga               = T4: [[1981 PGA Championship|1981]], [[1988 PGA Championship|1988]]
| wghofid           = tom-kite
| wghofyear         = 2004
| award1            = [[Bob Jones Award]]
| year1             = 1979
| award2            = [[PGA Tour#Money list winners|PGA Tour<br>money list winner]]
| year2             = [[1981 PGA Tour|1981]], [[1989 PGA Tour|1989]]
| award3            = [[Vardon Trophy|Byron Nelson Award]]
| year3             = [[1981 PGA Tour|1981]], [[1982 PGA Tour|1982]]
| award4            = [[Vardon Trophy]]
| year4             = [[1981 PGA Tour|1981]], [[1982 PGA Tour|1982]]
| award5            = [[PGA Player of the Year]]
| year5             = [[1989 PGA Tour|1989]]
| award6            = GWAA Male<br>Player of the Year
| year6             = 1989
| awardssection     = <!-- location of awards page or section -->
}}
'''Thomas Oliver Kite Jr.''' (born December 9, 1949) is an American [[professional golfer]] and [[golf course architect]]. He won the [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] in [[1992 U.S. Open (golf)|1992]] and spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the [[Official World Golf Ranking]] between 1989 and 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/2007%20Stats/86TO0810.pdf |title=69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking |publisher=Official World Golf Ranking |access-date=December 23, 2013 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017160152/http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early life and amateur career==
Kite was born in [[McKinney, Texas]]. He began playing [[golf]] at age six, and won his first tournament at age 11. Kite attended the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] on a golf scholarship and was coached by [[Harvey Penick]].

At Texas, Kite was a first-team All-American in 1972 when he also shared the individual NCAA championship with team mate [[Ben Crenshaw]]. He helped the Longhorns win two NCAA Team Championships in 1971 and 1972 and Southwest Conference Championships in 1970 and 1972. He was a second-team All-American in 1970 and 1971 and won nine collegiate tournaments during his four years.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Tom Kite |url=https://texaslonghorns.com/sports/general/roster/tom-kite/1537 |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>

== Professional career ==
In 1972, Kite turned professional and was a consistent money winner until his retirement. Known for his innovation, he was the first to add a third wedge to his bag, one of the first players to use a [[Sport psychology|sports psychologist]], and one of the first to emphasize [[physical fitness]] for game improvement. He also underwent laser eye surgery, due to his partial blindness,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/health-and-beauty/laser-eye-surgery-in-ireland/surgery-has-opened-up-a-whole-new-world-to-kite/ |newspaper=The Irish Times |title=Surgery has opened up a whole new world to Kite |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010210653/http://www.irishtimes.com/health-and-beauty/laser-eye-surgery-in-ireland/surgery-has-opened-up-a-whole-new-world-to-kite/ |archive-date=October 10, 2011}}</ref> in a bid to improve his game late in his career.

He has 19 [[PGA Tour]] victories, including the 1992 [[U.S. Open (golf)|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. Kite holds a unique record of making the cut for the first four U.S. Opens held at Pebble Beach: 1972, 1982, 1992, and 2000.  Kite also shares the distinction (with Gene Littler) of playing in the most [[Masters Tournament]]s without a win.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30021145/ |title=Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Master's |work=MSNBC |agency=Associated Press |date=April 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011144302/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30021145/ |archive-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref>

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. In his prime, Kite had few peers with the short irons. In 1993, [[Johnny Miller]] referred to Kite as "the greatest short-iron player the game has seen."<ref name="Short Iron Wizard">{{cite news |title=Short-iron specialist Kite surges past the $8m mark |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/short-iron-specialist-kite-surges-past-the-8m-mark-1.770310 |access-date=May 14, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |date=March 1, 1993}}</ref>

=== Senior career ===
In 2005 he led the PGA Tour's [[Booz Allen Classic]] by one shot going into the final round at the age of 55. If he had been able to stay ahead he would have beaten [[Sam Snead]]'s record as the oldest winner on the PGA Tour by three years, but he fell away to finish tied 13th, seven shots behind [[Sergio García]].

Kite played the [[Champions Tour]] until 2020, claiming ten victories including one [[Senior major golf championships|senior major]], [[The Countrywide Tradition]]. At the 2012 [[U.S. Senior Open]], Kite shot a front nine 28 (seven under par) in the first round. This was the lowest nine-hole score ever recorded in any [[USGA]] championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/champions/news/2012/07/12/Kupelian-Rd1-kite.html |title=Kite rewrites USGA record books with front-nine 28 |first=Vartan |last=Kupelian |publisher=PGA Tour |date=July 12, 2012 |access-date=December 23, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usga.org/uploadedFiles/USGAHome/press_room/media_guide/Superlatives.pdf |title=2012 USGA Media Guide: USGA Superlatives |publisher=USGA |access-date=July 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521122521/http://www.usga.org/uploadedFiles/USGAHome/press_room/media_guide/Superlatives.pdf |archive-date=May 21, 2013 }}</ref> He finished the tournament tied for 12th.

== In popular culture ==

* On May 18, 1991, Kite was impersonated by [[Kevin Nealon]] as part of the "Carsenio" sketch on [[Saturday Night Live]] featuring [[Dana Carvey]] impersonating [[Johnny Carson]] and [[Phil Hartman]] impersonating [[Ed McMahon]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Carsenio - SNL Transcripts Tonight | date=October 8, 2018 | url=https://snltranscripts.jt.org/90/90tcarsenio.phtml }}</ref>

* In 1996, Kite had a cameo in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield]]", in which he gave [[Homer Simpson]] golf tips.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sens |first1=Josh |title=Get in the … D'oh! The 7 best golf scenes from The Simpsons |url=https://golf.com/news/get-in-the-doh-the-7-best-golf-scenes-from-the-simpsons/ |access-date=February 24, 2021 |publisher=Golf.com |date=May 1, 2018}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==

* In 1970 and 1971, Kite earned second-team All-American honors. In 1972, Kite was a first-team All-American.
* In 1973, Kite was noted as the ''Golf Digest'' Rookie of the Year.
* In 1979, he was bestowed the [[Bob Jones Award]].
* in 1981, he was awarded the Golf Writers Association Player of the Year.
* In 1981 and 1982, Kite was bestowed the [[Vardon Trophy|Byron Nelson Award]]
* Kite was the [[Vardon Trophy]] winner in 1981 and 1982. 
* In 1984, Kite was inducted into the [[University of Texas at Austin]]'s Longhorns Hall of Honor.<ref name=":0" /> 
* In 1989, he was named PGA of America Player of the Year. 
* In 2004, Kite was inducted into the [[World Golf Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news |date=April 18, 2007 |title=Which players will reach the HOF? |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=2841352}}</ref>

==Amateur wins==
*1972 [[NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships|NCAA Championship]] (individual; tie with [[Ben Crenshaw]])

==Professional wins (37)==
===PGA Tour wins (19)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Legend
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Major championships (1)
|- style="background:#f2ecce;"
| Players Championships (1)
|- style="background:thistle;"
| Tour Championships (1)
|- 
| Other PGA Tour (16)
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner(s)-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|Jun 6, [[1976 PGA Tour|1976]]
|[[IVB-Bicentennial Golf Classic]]
|−7 (71-70-70-66=277)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Terry Diehl]]
|-
|align=center|2
|align=right|Sep 4, [[1978 PGA Tour|1978]]
|[[B.C. Open]]
|−17 (66-65-68-68=267)
|5 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark Hayes (golfer)|Mark Hayes]]
|-
|align=center|3
|align=right|Mar 8, [[1981 PGA Tour|1981]]
|[[American Motors Inverrary Classic]]
|−14 (69-68-68-69=274)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Nicklaus]]
|-
|align=center|4
|align=right|Mar 7, [[1982 PGA Tour|1982]]
|[[Bay Hill Classic]]
|−6 (69-70-70-69=278)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Nicklaus]], {{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Denis Watson]]
|-
|align=center|5
|align=right|Feb 6, [[1983 PGA Tour|1983]]
|[[Bing Crosby National Pro-Am]] 
|−12 (69-72-62-73=276)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Rex Caldwell]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Calvin Peete]]
|-
|align=center|6
|align=right|Mar 11, [[1984 PGA Tour|1984]]
|[[Doral-Eastern Open]]
|−16 (68-69-70-65=272)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Nicklaus]]
|-
|align=center|7
|align=right|Jun 24, 1984
|[[Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic]]
|−19 (69-67-66-67=269)
|5 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Don Pooley]]
|-
|align=center|8
|align=right|May 5, [[1985 PGA Tour|1985]]
|[[MONY Tournament of Champions]]
|−13 (64-72-70-69=275)
|6 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark McCumber]]
|-
|align=center|9
|align=right|Aug 3, [[1986 PGA Tour|1986]]
|[[Western Open]]
|−2 (70-75-73-68=286)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Fred Couples]], {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[David Frost (golfer)|David Frost]],<br>{{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Nick Price]]
|-
|align=center|10
|align=right|Jun 7, [[1987 PGA Tour|1987]]
|[[Kemper Open]]
|−14 (64-69-68-69=270)
|7 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Perry (golfer)|Chris Perry]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Howard Twitty]] 
|-
|align=center|11
|align=right|Mar 12, [[1989 PGA Tour|1989]]
|[[Nestle Invitational]] (2)
|−6 (68-72-67-71=278)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Davis Love III]]
|- style="background:#f2ecce;"
|align=center|12
|align=right|Mar 19, 1989
|[[1989 Players Championship|The Players Championship]]
|−9 (69-70-69-71=279)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chip Beck]]
|- style="background:thistle;"
|align=center|13
|align=right|Oct 29, 1989
|[[Nabisco Championship (PGA Tour)|Nabisco Championship]]
|−8 (69-65-74-68=276)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Payne Stewart]]
|-
|align=center|14
|align=right|Aug 5, [[1990 PGA Tour|1990]]
|[[Federal Express St. Jude Classic]]
|−15 (72-68-62-67=269)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Cook (golfer)|John Cook]]
|-
|align=center|15
|align=right|Jan 6, [[1991 PGA Tour|1991]]
|[[Infiniti Tournament of Champions]] (2)
|−16 (68-67-68-69=272)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Lanny Wadkins]]
|-
|align=center|16
|align=right|May 10, [[1992 PGA Tour|1992]]
|[[BellSouth Classic]] (2)
|−16 (70-65-72-65=272)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jay Don Blake]]
|-style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|17
|align=right|Jun 21, 1992
|'''[[1992 U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]'''
|−3 (71-72-70-72=285)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Sluman]] 
|-
|align=center|18
|align=right|Feb 14, [[1993 PGA Tour|1993]]
|[[Bob Hope Chrysler Classic]] 
|−35 (67-67-64-65-62=325)
|6 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Rick Fehr]]
|-
|align=center|19
|align=right|Feb 28, 1993
|[[Nissan Los Angeles Open]]
|−7 (73-66-67=206){{efn|name=weather|Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.}}
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Dave Barr (golfer)|Dave Barr]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Fred Couples]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Donnie Hammond]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Payne Stewart]]
|}

'''PGA Tour playoff record (6–4)'''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|1
|[[1976 PGA Tour|1976]]
|[[IVB-Bicentennial Golf Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Terry Diehl]]
|Won with par on fifth extra hole 
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|2
|[[1982 PGA Tour|1982]]
|[[Bob Hope Desert Classic]] 
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Ed Fiori]]
|Lost to birdie on second extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|3
|1982
|[[Bay Hill Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jack Nicklaus]], {{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Denis Watson]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|4
|[[1986 PGA Tour|1986]] 
|[[Western Open]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Fred Couples]], {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[David Frost (golfer)|David Frost]],<br>{{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Nick Price]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|5
|[[1988 PGA Tour|1988]] 
|[[Kemper Open]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Morris Hatalsky]]
|Lost to par on second extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|6
|1988
|[[Nabisco Championship (PGA Tour)|Nabisco Championship]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Curtis Strange]]
|Lost to birdie on second extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|7
|[[1989 PGA Tour|1989]]
|[[Nestle Invitational]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Davis Love III]]
|Won with par on second extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|8
|1989
|[[Nabisco Championship (PGA Tour)|Nabisco Championship]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Payne Stewart]]
|Won with par on second extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|9
|[[1990 PGA Tour|1990]]
|[[Federal Express St. Jude Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Cook (golfer)|John Cook]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|10
|[[1992 PGA Tour|1992]]
|[[Bob Hope Chrysler Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Cook (golfer)|John Cook]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rick Fehr]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark O'Meara]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Gene Sauers]]
|Cook won with eagle on fourth extra hole<br>Fehr eliminated by birdie on second hole<br>Kite and O'Meara eliminated by birdie on first hole
|}

===European Tour wins (3)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Legend
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Major championships (1)
|- 
| Other European Tour (2)
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of<br>victory!!Runner(s)-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|Sep 7, [[1980 European Tour|1980]]
|[[European Open Championship]]
|−8 (71-67-71-75=284)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Lon Hinkle]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Leonard Thompson (golfer)|Leonard Thompson]]
|-style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|2
|align=right|Jun 21, [[1992 European Tour|1992]]
|'''[[1992 U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]'''
|−3 (71-72-70-72=285)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Sluman]] 
|-
|align=center|3
|align=right|Oct 13, [[1996 European Tour|1996]]
|[[Oki Pro-Am]]
|−15 (71-68-64-70=273)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Ángel Cabrera]]
|}

===New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (1)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of<br>victory!!Runner-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|Nov 17, [[1974–75 New Zealand Golf Circuit|1974]]
|[[City of Auckland Classic]]
|−16 (66-67-68-67=268)
|7 strokes
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Stewart Ginn]]
|}

===Other wins (5)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of<br>victory!!Runner(s)-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|Dec 6, 1981
|[[JCPenney Mixed Team Classic]]<br>(with {{flagicon|USA}} [[Beth Daniel]])
|−18 (69-67-64-70=270)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Vance Heafner]] and {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cathy Morse]]
|-
|align=center|2
|align=right|Nov 8, 1987
|[[Kirin Cup (golf)|Kirin Cup Individual Trophy]]
|−16 (68-69-66-69=272)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Payne Stewart]]
|-
|align=center|3
|align=right|Aug 25, 1992
|[[Fred Meyer Challenge]]<br>(with {{flagicon|USA}} [[Billy Andrade]])
|−16 (64-64=128)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Steve Pate]] and {{flagicon|USA}} [[Corey Pavin]]
|-
|align=center|4
|align=right|Nov 22, 1992
|[[Franklin Funds Shark Shootout]]<br>(with {{flagicon|USA}} [[Davis Love III]])
|−25 (65-69-59=191)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Billy Ray Brown]] and {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Nick Price]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Fred Couples]] and {{flagicon|USA}} [[Raymond Floyd]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Hale Irwin]] and {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bruce Lietzke]]
|-
|align=center|5
|align=right|Nov 17, 1996
|[[Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout]] (2)<br>(with {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jay Haas]])
|−29 (67-60-60=187)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Hale Irwin]] and {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lee Janzen]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Craig Stadler]] and {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lanny Wadkins]]
|}

'''Other playoff record (0–1)'''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|1
|1992
|[[PGA Grand Slam of Golf]]
|{{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Nick Price]]
|Lost to par on first extra hole
|}

===Champions Tour wins (10)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Legend
|-style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|Champions Tour major championships (1)
|- 
|Other Champions Tour (9) 
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runner(s)-up
|-style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|1
|align=right|Apr 2, [[2000 Senior PGA Tour|2000]]
| '''[[The Countrywide Tradition]]'''
|−8 (68-70-71-71=280)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Nelson]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|-
|align=center|2
|align=right|Jun 11, 2000
|[[SBC Senior Open]]
|−9 (71-68-68=207)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bruce Fleisher]]
|-
|align=center|3
|align=right|Sep 30, [[2001 Senior PGA Tour|2001]] 
|[[Gold Rush Classic]]
|−22 (65-62-67=194)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Allen Doyle]]
|-
|align=center|4
|align=right|Jan 20, [[2002 Senior PGA Tour|2002]] 
|[[MasterCard Championship]] 
|−17 (63-69-67=199)
|6 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Jacobs (American golfer)|John Jacobs]]
|-
|align=center|5
|align=right|Mar 3, 2002
|[[SBC Senior Classic]]
|−4 (74-69-69=212)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|-
|align=center|6
|align=right|Oct 13, 2002
|[[Napa Valley Championship]]
|−12 (66-66-72=204)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bruce Fleisher]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Fred Gibson (golfer)|Fred Gibson]]
|-
|align=center|7
|align=right|Aug 8, [[2004 Champions Tour|2004]] 
|[[3M Championship]]
|−13 (65-69-69=203)
|1 stroke
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Craig Stadler]]
|-
|align=center|8
|align=right|Mar 12, [[2006 Champions Tour|2006]]
|[[AT&T Classic (Champions Tour)|AT&T Classic]]
|−12 (70-64-70=204)
|5 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Gil Morgan]]
|-
|align=center|9
|align=right|Aug 20, 2006
|[[Boeing Greater Seattle Classic]]
|−15 (71-64-66=201)
|Playoff
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Keith Fergus]]
|-
|align=center|10
|align=right|Aug 24, [[2008 Champions Tour|2008]]
|[[Boeing Classic]] (2)
|−14 (69-67-66=202)
|2 strokes
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Scott Simpson (golfer)|Scott Simpson]]
|}

'''Champions Tour playoff record (3–2)'''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|1
|[[2000 Senior PGA Tour|2000]]
|'''[[The Countrywide Tradition]]'''
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Nelson]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|Won with birdie on sixth extra hole<br>Nelson eliminated by par on second hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|2
||[[2002 Senior PGA Tour|2002]]
|[[SBC Senior Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|Won with par on second extra hole
|-style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|3
|[[2006 Champions Tour|2006]]
|[[Boeing Greater Seattle Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Keith Fergus]]
|Won with birdie on first extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|4
|[[2007 Champions Tour|2007]]
|[[Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jay Haas]]
|Lost to par on first extra hole
|-style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|5
|[[2008 Champions Tour|2008]]
|[[ACE Group Classic]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Brad Bryant]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Scott Hoch]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Jenkins (golfer)|Tom Jenkins]]
|Hoch won with birdie on first extra hole
|}

==Major championships==
===Wins (1)===
{|class="wikitable"
!Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up
|-style="background:#FBCEB1;"
| [[1992 U.S. Open (golf)|1992]] ||[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] ||1 shot deficit ||−3 (71-72-70-72=285) ||2 strokes ||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Sluman]]
|}

===Results timeline===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1970
!1971
!1972
!1973
!1974
!1975
!1976
!1977
!1978
!1979
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T42
|T27
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|style="background:yellow;"|T5
|style="background:yellow;"|T3
|T18
|style="background:yellow;"|5
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T19
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:yellow;"|T8
|CUT
|CUT
|T27
|T20
|CUT
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:yellow;"|T5
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|T30
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T39
|T33
|T13
|T13
|CUT
|T35
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1980
!1981
!1982
!1983
!1984
!1985
!1986
!1987
!1988
!1989
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|style="background:yellow;"|T6
|style="background:yellow;"|T5
|style="background:yellow;"|T5
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|style="background:yellow;"|T6
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|T24
|44
|T18
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|CUT
|T20
|29
|T20
|CUT
|13
|T35
|T46
|T36
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|T27
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|T29
|T22
|style="background:yellow;"|T8
|CUT
|T72
|T20
|T19
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|T20
|style="background:yellow;"|T4
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|T67
|T34
|T12
|T26
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|style="background:yellow;"|T4
|T34
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1990
!1991
!1992
!1993
!1994
!1995
!1996
!1997
!1998
!1999
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|T14
|56
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|4
|CUT
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|2
|38
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|T56
|T37
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|CUT
|T33
|T67
|T82
|T68
|T43
|T60
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|CUT
|T44
|T19
|T14
|style="background:yellow;"|T8
|T58
|T27
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|T38
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|T40
|T52
|T21
|T56
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|T54
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|5
|CUT
|CUT
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!2000
!2001
!2002
!2003
!2004
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]
|T32
|style="background:yellow;"|T5
|CUT
|CUT
|T57
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
|T70
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]
|T19
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|}
{{legend|lime|Win}}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1982 Open Championship)<br>
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

===Summary===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made
|-
|align=left|[[Masters Tournament]]         || 0 || 3 || 1 ||  9 || 12 || 16 ||  26 || 21
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] || 1 || 0 || 0 ||  2 ||  4 ||  9 ||  33 || 24
|-
|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]      || 0 || 1 || 0 ||  2 ||  5 || 10 ||  22 || 19
|-
|align=left|[[PGA Championship]]           || 0 || 0 || 0 ||  3 ||  6 || 12 ||  28 || 23
|-
!Totals                                    !! 1 !! 4 !! 1 !! 16 !! 27 !! 47 !! 109 !! 87
|}
*Most consecutive cuts made – 15 (1986 PGA – 1990 U.S. Open)
*Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (four times)

==The Players Championship==
===Wins (1)===
{|class="wikitable"
!Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up
|- style="background:#f2ecce;"
| [[1989 Players Championship|1989]] || [[The Players Championship]] || 1 shot deficit || −9 (69-70-69-71=279) || 1 stroke || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chip Beck]]
|}

===Results timeline===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1974
!1975
!1976
!1977
!1978
!1979
|-
|align=left|[[The Players Championship]]
|T19
|T40
|T17
|CUT
|T28
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1980
!1981
!1982
!1983
!1984
!1985
!1986
!1987
!1988
!1989
|-
|align=left|[[The Players Championship]]
|T31
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T27
|T27
|T51
|T64
|style="background:yellow;"|T4
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|T11
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!1990
!1991
!1992
!1993
!1994
!1995
!1996
!1997
!1998
!1999
|-
|align=left|[[The Players Championship]]
|style="background:yellow;"|T5
|CUT
|T35
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|T43
|CUT
|CUT
|T25
|T77
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament
!2000
!2001
!2002
|-
|align=left|[[The Players Championship]]
|T66
|T44
|T36
|}
{{legend|lime|Win}}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the halfway cut<br/>
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

==Senior major championships==
===Wins (1)===
{|class="wikitable"
!Year!!Championship!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runners-up
|-style="background:#d0f0c0;"
| 2000 ||[[The Countrywide Tradition]] || −8 (66-71-71-72=280) || Playoff || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Nelson]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]]
|}

===Results timeline===
''Results not in chronological order before 2021.''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 2000 !! 2001 !! 2002 !! 2003 !! 2004 !! 2005 !! 2006 !! 2007 !! 2008 !! 2009
|-
|align=left|[[The Tradition]]
|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
|T24
|style="background:yellow;"|T7
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|style="background:yellow;"|T4
|T36
|style="background:yellow;"|T4
|style="background:yellow;"|T4
|T18
|T11
|-
|align=left|[[Senior PGA Championship]]
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|T23
|T15
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|T121
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|T40
|style="background:yellow;"|T7
|T13
|T14
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Senior Open]]
|style="background:yellow;"|3
|15
|style="background:yellow;"|3
|T12
|style="background:yellow;"|T3
|T37
|T55
|T22
|T12
|CUT
|-
|align=left|[[Senior Players Championship]]
|style="background:yellow;"|6
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|style="background:yellow;"|T7
|T39
|style="background:yellow;"|T9
|T25
|T21
|T47
|-
|align=left|[[Senior British Open Championship]]
|–
|–
|–
|style="background:yellow;"|4
|style="background:yellow;"|T2
|CUT
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|style="background:yellow;"|T10
|T16
|style="background:yellow;"|T8
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 2010 !! 2011 !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019
|-
|align=left|[[The Tradition]]
|T54
|15
|T47
|T60
|T59
|72
|T69
|T68
|72
|WD
|-
|align=left|[[Senior PGA Championship]]
|T29
|CUT
|CUT
|T28
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|CUT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Senior Open]]
|style="background:yellow;"|T8
|T29
|T12
|T44
|T14
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|CUT
|CUT
|WD
|-
|align=left|[[Senior Players Championship]]
|T16
|T17
|52
|T27
|79
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|WD
|74
|76
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[Senior British Open Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|T49
|T24
|T14
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 2020!!2021
|-
|align=left|[[The Tradition]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
|78
|-
|align=left|[[Senior PGA Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
|CUT
|-
|align=left|[[Senior Players Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[U.S. Senior Open]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|-
|align=left|[[Senior British Open Championship]]
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
|}
{{legend|lime|Win}}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the halfway cut<br>
WD = withdrew<br>
"T" indicates a tie for a place<br>
NT = No tournament due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]<br>
''Note: The Senior British Open was not a Champions Tour major until 2003.''

==U.S. national team appearances==
'''Amateur'''
*[[Eisenhower Trophy]]: [[1970 Eisenhower Trophy|1970]] (winners)
*[[Walker Cup]]: [[1971 Walker Cup|1971]]

'''Professional'''
*[[Ryder Cup]]: [[1979 Ryder Cup|1979]] (winners), [[1981 Ryder Cup|1981]] (winners), [[1983 Ryder Cup|1983]] (winners), [[1985 Ryder Cup|1985]], [[1987 Ryder Cup|1987]], [[1989 Ryder Cup|1989]] (tie), [[1993 Ryder Cup|1993]] (winners), [[1997 Ryder Cup|1997]] (captain)
*[[World Cup (men's golf)|World Cup]]: [[1984 World Cup (men's golf)|1984]], [[1985 World Cup (men's golf)|1985]]
*[[Four Tours World Championship]]: 1987 (winners), 1989 (winners)
*[[Dunhill Cup]]: [[1989 Dunhill Cup|1989]] (winners), [[1990 Dunhill Cup|1990]], [[1992 Dunhill Cup|1992]], [[1994 Dunhill Cup|1994]]
*[[Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge]] (representing Champions Tour): 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
*[[UBS Cup]]: 2002 (winners), 2004 (winners)

==See also==
*[[1972 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates]]
*[[List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins]]
*[[List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{PGATour player|01633}}
*{{EuroTour player|100}}
*{{OWGR|114}}
*{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050919193926/http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/p/tom_kite.htm |title=Tom Kite at golf.about.com |date=September 19, 2005 }}
*[http://www.tomkitedesign.com Tom Kite Design]

{{U.S. Open champions}}
{{The Tradition champions}}
{{PGA Players of the Year}}

{{Navboxes|title=Tom Kite in the [[Ryder Cup]]
|list1={{American Ryder Cup Captains}}
{{1979 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1981 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1983 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1985 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1987 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1989 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1993 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1997 United States Ryder Cup team}}
}}
{{Players Championship champions}}
{{Portalbar|Biography|Sports|United States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kite, Tom}}
[[Category:American male golfers]]
[[Category:Texas Longhorns men's golfers]]
[[Category:PGA Tour golfers]]
[[Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers]]
[[Category:Ryder Cup competitors for the United States]]
[[Category:Winners of men's major golf championships]]
[[Category:Winners of senior major golf championships]]
[[Category:World Golf Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:American golf course architects]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from McKinney, Texas]]
[[Category:Golfers from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]