Peter Thomson, five-time British Open golf winner, dies at 88
Updated
Australian golfing great Peter Thomson has died, aged 88.
Thomson was a five-time winner of the British Open.
He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than four years.
He died this morning surrounded by family in his Melbourne home, according to Golf Australia.
He is survived by his wife Mary, a son and three daughters, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The first Australian to win the British Open, Thomson claimed the title five times between 1954 and 1965, a record equalled only by American Tom Watson.
On the American senior circuit he won nine times in 1985.
As well as a great player, Thomson served as president of the Australian PGA for 32 years, designing and building courses in Australia and around the world.
He also helped establish the Asian Tour and worked behind the scenes for the Odyssey House drug rehabilitation organisation where he was chairman for five years.
In 1979 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service to golf and in 2001 became an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contributions as a player and administrator and for community service.
ABC/AAP
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