Jack Newton

Newton was born in Cessnock, New South Wales. He turned professional in 1969.[1] He was one of Australia's most successful golfers in the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1972, he won the Dutch Open and the Benson & Hedges Festival of Golf in successive weeks.[2] In 1974, he won the Benson & Hedges Match Play Championship, beating Cesar Sanudo in the final.[3] Later in 1974, he lost in a playoff for the New Zealand Open.[4] In 1978, Newton won the Buick-Goodwrench Open on the PGA Tour.[5] In Australia, he won the New South Wales Open in 1976 and 1979 and the Australian Open Championship in 1979.[6][7][8]

At the 1975 Open Championship at Carnoustie in Scotland, Newton lost in a playoff to Tom Watson. In the third round, Newton set a course record of 65, despite having injured an ankle so severely on the practice tee prior to the start of the championship, that he had it professionally wrapped each day, and was subjected to pain-killing injections.[9] In the final round, Newton was the leader during the back-nine but dropped shots in three of the last four holes. Watson holed a 20-foot putt for a birdie on the 72nd hole to tie Newton. In the 18-hole playoff on the following day, Watson defeated Newton by one stroke (71−72). Newton later said that the turning point in the playoff was when Watson chipped in for an eagle at the 14th hole.[10]

Newton won the PGA Tour of Australia's Order of Merit in 1979. He finished tied for second at the 1980 Masters Tournament, four strokes behind the winner Seve Ballesteros.[11] In May 1983, Newton lost to Terry Gale in a playoff for the Western Australian Open.[12]

On 24 July 1983, during the height of his professional career, Newton had a near-fatal accident when he walked into the spinning propeller of a Cessna airplane from which he was getting off at Sydney Airport. He lost his right arm and eye, and sustained severe abdominal injuries. A severe rainstorm was in progress at the time, and in addition, safety aspects near the plane were deficient.[13][14][15]

Immediately after the accident, doctors gave Newton a 50–50 chance of surviving. He spent several days in a coma and eight weeks in intensive care.[16] After a prolonged rehabilitation from his injuries, Newton returned to public life as a television and radio golf commentator, newspaper reporter, golf course designer, public speaker and chairman of the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation. He taught himself to play golf one-handed, swinging the club with his left hand in a right-handed stance. He typically scored in the mid-80s.[14]

In 2003, Newton was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis, and was rushed to hospital.[17]

Newton married his wife Jackie in 1974; they had two children, Kristie and Clint. Clint Newton played rugby league, while Kristie is also a professional golfer.[18]

In 2007, Newton was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to golf, particularly through a range of executive, youth development and fundraising roles.[19] Newton became a force in the development of junior golfers, for which he was recognised on 13 October 2016 when he was inducted as a general member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.[19]

He died on 14 April 2022 at the age of 72 due to health complications, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2020.[20][21]

This list may be incomplete

• 1968 New South Wales Amateur[22]
• 1969 Lake Macquarie Amateur[23]

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1973 and 1974 Open Championships)
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Source:[31]

Amateur

• Sloan Morpeth Trophy (representing Australia): 1969 (winners)[32]
• Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing New South Wales): 1968, 1969 (winners)[33][34]

• Fall 1976 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates

• Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation
• Jack Newton at the PGA Tour official site
• Jack Newton at the European Tour official site