This Day in Golf--Aug. 23

The great global golf champion Peter Thomson celebrates his 88th birthday on this date. Born in Melbourne, Australia, just a few weeks before Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, Pa., the World Golf Hall of Famer's main feat was winning five Open Championships, in 1954-1956, 1958 and 1965. He won just a single PGA Tour event, the 1956 Texas Open, but he had one of the greatest Champion Tour seasons in 1985 with nine victories. He won the Senior PGA in 1984 and the Senior Open Championship in 1988. Thomson's game was noted for his calm and clear-thinking style and he preferred to bounce or run balls up to the green with his low ball flight.