Thomson, who was 88, died at his home in Melbourne surrounded by his family on Wednesday morning.

‘Thommo’, as he was more affectionately known, was arguably Australia’s greatest golfer capturing the Open Championship on five occasions.

R & A CEO Martin Slumbers leads the tributes:-

“Peter was a true gentleman and will be forever remembered throughout the world of golf as one of the great champions of our wonderful sport. He was a distinguished Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and will be sorely missed by all of us at The R&A. Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

Peter Thomson in 1957

“Peter gave me a number of very interesting and valuable thoughts on the game, how it has developed and where it is going which demonstrated his genuine interest and love of golf.

“He was one of the most decorated and celebrated Champion Golfers in the history of The Open, winning the Championship five times in total and becoming the only golfer of the 20th century to lift the Claret Jug on three consecutive occasions between 1954 and 1956.

“Our deepest condolences go out to Peter’s wife, Mary, and his four children, Diana, Peta-Ann, Fiona and Andrew.”

Seven-time major winner Karrie Webb is Australia’s only more successful player and the Queenslander offered her condolences.

“I am so saddened to hear of the passing of our Aussie legend and true gentleman of the game, Peter Thomson,” Webb tweeted.

Peter Thomson and winner of five Open Championship’s.

“My heart goes out to his wife Mary and the rest of the Thomson family. So honoured to have been able to call Peter my friend. RIP Peter.”

Iain Carter, Chairman of the Association of Golf Writers (AGW), offered the following tribute on behalf of the members:-

“Following his death, the AGW extends its sympathies to his wife, Mary, four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.”

One of my own fondest memories of ‘Thommo’ was meeting-up with him and his wife Mary in St. Andrews and to interview him for an Open Championship preview piece.  We had been chatting for a while when Mary entered the room to say something like ‘That’s enough, Peter needs to have a rest’.

Peter responded saying:  “No, I’m fine sitting here talking with Bernie”.

Photo I took of Peter Thomson ahead of 2005 Open Championship.

Thomson was also a pioneer on the course and off, Thomson was the first Australian to raise the famous Claret Jug in 1954 before winning again in 1955, 1956, 1958 and finally in 1965 against a field featuring Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

Thomson’s feat of five Open wins was then matched by American Tom Watson while Scotsman James Braid won five Open’s in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.

The all-time record Open holder is Harry Vardon with six Open triumphs between 1896 and 1914.

Thomson also tied for fourth at the 1956 US Open and placed fifth in the 1957 Masters. He never played the PGA Championship, golf’s fourth major of the year.

Peter Thomson with fellow Australian-born Major winners Greg Norman, David Graham and Ian Baker-Finch.

His last tournament victory came at the 1988 British PGA Seniors Championship, the same year he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

In 1998, he captained the International side to its only win over the United States at the Presidents Cup in Mellbourne.

“He was, without doubt, a very fine golfer,” Australian golfing aficionado Jack Newton who has lost the 1975 Open to Watson.

“He had quite a bit to do with the players’ association after he finished and he was a very respectable bloke.”

“Australia has lost a golfing legend and my hero,” Baker-Finch tweeted.

Peter Thomson and his life-long great friend Kel Nagle who passed away in 2015.

“My heart felt condolences to his lovely wife Mary, also Deirdre, Andrew, Pan, Fiona and families.

“Peter – my friend and mentor R.I.P. Australian golf thanks you for your iconic presence & valuable guidance over the years.”

Nagle had passed away in January 2015 and was one of Thomson’s closest friends so much so Thomson loaned Nagle his jacket for the prize-giving ceremony and than handed it back to Thommo with the £150 first prize cheque still in the pocket.

It prompted Thomson to jokingly remark:  “Clearly Kel didn’t need the money”.

Thomson is also the fourth Open Champion to pass away in as many years with Palmer passing away in 2016 and we lost Argentina’s Roberto De Vincenzo last year.

Thomson was also no stranger to winning in the States, winning nine times on the Champions Tour in 1985 and a feat yet to be surpassed.

In retirement, Thomson served as president of the Australian PGA for 32 years, designing and building courses in Australia and around the world.

Peter Thomson with Arnold Palmer – now both former Open Champions have sadly passed away.

Thomson was also patron of the Australian Golf Writers Assocition and a vice-president of the Association of Golf Writers  (AGW) and with Arnold Palmer, who passed away in 2016, also an AGW vice-president.

Martin Blake, President of the now renamed Australian Golf Media Association spoke on behalf of the members saying:

“The AGMA mourns the passing of Peter, a lifelong supporter of members of the media in the sport of golf aside from his incredible feats as a player and his contribution to the game as an administrator and a course architect.

“Peter was a fine writer himself with several newspapers and magazines over his life as well as an acerbic commentator on television broadcasts of golf.

“But perhaps more importantly our members to a man and woman found him to be a great source of help and encouragement over many years. In particular, new members of the golf media were inevitably given a friendly welcome by Peter.

“Our sincere sympathies go out to his wife Mary and the Thomson family.”

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 (CBE) for his service to golf and in 2001 became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his contributions as a player and administrator and for community service.

He is survived by his wife Mary, son Andrew and daughters Deirdre Baker, Pan Prendergast and Fiona Stanway, his 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

RIP Peter

PETER THOMSON

Worldwide wins – 93
Senior wins – 13
Majors – Five Open Championships (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965)
US wins – One
European Tour wins – 26
Australian-NZ wins – 40
Australian Open wins – Three (1951, 1967, 1972)

Others victories – Eight, including three Hong Kong Opens and open championships of Italy, Spain, Germany, India and the Philippines.