David Knapp Stockton (born November 2, 1941) is an American retired professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
Early life and amateur career In 1941, Stockton was born in San Bernardino, California. He attended the University of Southern California.
Professional career In 1964, Stockton turned professional. His first PGA Tour win came at the 1967 Colonial National Invitation. Stockton was selected by former Colonial champions as one of two Champion's Choice invitations; he is the only Champion's Choice invitee to win the Colonial in the year of the invitation.
Stockton's best year was 1974, when he won three times, but his two majors, both of which were PGA Championships, came in 1970 and 1976. In 1970 he played the final round with Arnold Palmer, shooting a seventy-three which included an eagle and a double-bogey on the seventh and the eighth holes, respectively, and making a bogey on the thirteenth despite putting a ball in the water. In the end, this effort was good enough for a two stroke victory over Palmer and Bob Murphy. Due to rain at the 1976 PGA Championship, which was held at the Congressional Country Club, the final round had to be delayed until Monday. Stockton sank a fifteen-foot par putt at the seventy-second hole to avoid a three-man playoff with Raymond Floyd and Don January.
Stockton played for the U.S. team in the Ryder Cup in 1971 and 1977. He was the Americans' victorious non-playing captain in the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island.
Senior career In 1991, Stockton joined the Senior PGA Tour and enjoyed continued success, topping the Senior Tour money list in 1993 and 1994. His fourteen senior titles include three senior majors, the 1992 and 1994 Senior Players Championships and the 1996 U.S. Senior Open. He remained competitive in his sixties, finishing in the top 50 on the Champions Tour money list for a thirteenth consecutive season in 2004.
When he was an active PGA Tour player, Stockton had the reputation of being one of the best putters. In 2009, Stockton was credited with aiding the world's second-ranked golfer, Phil Mickelson with his putting, which helped him win the 2009 Tour Championship. He wrote a guide to putting called "Unconscious Putting," which was released in 2011.
Personal life Stockton is married to former Orange Show beauty queen Catherine Hales. They have two children, Dave Jr. and Ron, who both play professional golf.
Professional wins (25) PGA Tour wins (10) LegendMajor championships (2)Other PGA Tour (8) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1May 21, 1967Colonial National Invitation−2 (65-66-74-73=278)2 strokes Charles Coody2Jun 30, 1968Cleveland Open Invitational−8 (69-68-67-72=276)2 strokes Bob Dickson3Jul 14, 1968 Greater Milwaukee Open−13 (68-67-71-69=275)4 strokes Sam Snead4Aug 16, 1970PGA Championship−1 (70-70-66-73=279)2 strokes Bob Murphy, Arnold Palmer5Aug 15, 1971Massachusetts Classic−13 (71-69-69-66=275)1 stroke Raymond Floyd6Jul 8, 1973Greater Milwaukee Open (2)−12 (69-63-71-73=276)1 stroke Homero Blancas, Hubert Green7Feb 17, 1974Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open−8 (68-68-71-69=276)2 strokes John Mahaffey, Sam Snead8Jul 14, 1974Quad Cities Open−13 (68-68-71-64=271)1 stroke Bruce Fleisher9Aug 18, 1974Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open−16 (65-65-69-69=268)4 strokes Raymond Floyd 10Aug 15, 1976PGA Championship (2) +1 (70-72-69-70=281)1 stroke Raymond Floyd, Don January
PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11977Phoenix Open Jerry PateLost to birdie on first extra hole
Other wins (1) 1967 Haig & Haig Scotch Foursome (with Laurie Hammer)
Senior PGA Tour wins (14) LegendSenior PGA Tour major championships (3)Other Senior PGA Tour (11) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Oct 6, 1992The Senior Players Championship−11 (71-67-70-69=277)1 stroke J. C. Snead, Lee Trevino2Apr 25, 1993Muratec Reunion Pro-Am −5 (73-72-66=211)4 strokes Harold Henning3Jun 13, 1993Southwestern Bell Classic−6 (65-68-71=204)1 stroke Larry Mowry, Walt Zembriski4Aug 15, 1993Franklin Quest Championship−19 (68-66-63=197)9 strokes Al Geiberger5Aug 22, 1993GTE Northwest Classic −16 (65-68-67=200)4 strokes Dale Douglass6Oct 10, 1993The Transamerica−13 (68-71-64=203)1 stroke Simon Hobday, Lee Trevino7Jun 12, 1994Nationwide Championship−18 (67-66-65=198)1 stroke Bob Murphy8Jun 26, 1994Ford Senior Players Championship (2)−17 (66-66-71-68=271)6 strokes Jim Albus9Aug 21, 1994Burnet Senior Classic−13 (68-66-69=203)1 stroke Jim Albus10Feb 19, 1995GTE Suncoast Classic−9 (70-66-68=204)2 strokes Bob Charles, Jim Colbert, J. C. Snead11May 28, 1995Quicksilver Classic−10 (72-69-67=206)1 stroke Isao Aoki12Jul 7, 1996U.S. Senior Open−11 (70-67-67-73=277)2 strokes Hale Irwin13Aug 11, 1996First of America Classic−10 (68-69-69=206)1 stroke Bob Murphy14Jul 27, 1997Franklin Quest Championship (2)−15 (69-64-68=201)2 strokes Kermit Zarley
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–6) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11993Ping Kaanapali Classic George Archer, Lee TrevinoArcher won with birdie on first extra hole21994Franklin Quest Championship Tom WeiskopfLost to birdie on first extra hole31995Hyatt Regency Maui Kaanapali Classic Bob CharlesLost to birdie on third extra hole21996Las Vegas Senior Classic Bob Charles, Jim ColbertColbert won with par on fourth extra holeCharles eliminated by par on first hole51996Emerald Coast Classic Bob Eastwood, David Graham, Mike Hill, Lee TrevinoTrevino won with birdie on first extra hole61998Royal Caribbean Classic David Graham Lost to birdie on tenth extra hole
Major championships
Wins (2) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1970 PGA Championship 3 shot lead −1 (70-70-66-73=279) 2 strokes Bob Murphy, Arnold Palmer 1976 PGA Championship (2) 4 shot deficit +1 (70-72-69-70=281) 1 stroke Raymond Floyd, Don January
Results timeline Tournament19681969Masters Tournament18U.S. OpenT9T25The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT17T35
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentT5T9T10T14T2T26T39CUTCUTU.S. OpenCUTCUTT39T40T43CUTCUTT2T36The Open ChampionshipT11T31PGA Championship1T40T40T12T26CUT1T31T19T35
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentT26T31U.S. OpenT51CUTT45CUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTT43CUTCUTT39T59T53CUTT48T68
Tournament19901991199219931994199519961997Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTCUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 1 0 2 4 6 12 10U.S. Open 0 1 0 1 2 3 16 9The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2PGA Championship 2 0 0 2 2 5 24 17Totals 2 2 0 5 8 15 54 38 Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1972 Open Championship – 1975 U.S. Open) Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1970 Masters – 1971 Masters)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament19741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987The Players ChampionshipT302T17CUTCUTT35T45T19T77CUTCUTT4870
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Champions Tour major championships
Wins (3) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up 1992 Mazda Presents The Senior Players Championship −11 (71-67-70-69-277) 1 stroke J. C. Snead Lee Trevino 1994 Ford Senior Players Championship (2) −17 (66-66-71-68=271) 6 strokes Jim Albus 1996 U.S. Senior Open −11 (70-67-67-73=277) 2 strokes DeWitt Weaver
U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1971 (winners), 1977 (winners), 1991 (winners, non-playing captain) World Cup: 1970, 1976 Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing Senior PGA Tour): 1994
See also List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins List of golfers with most PGA Tour Champions wins
References
External links