Jack Newton OAM (30 January 1950 – 14 April 2022) was an Australian professional golfer. Newton had early success in Australia, winning the 1972 Amoco Forbes Classic. He soon moved on to the British PGA where he won three times and finished runner-up at the 1975 Open Championship. Shortly thereafter, Newton started playing on the PGA Tour where he won one event, the 1978 Buick-Goodwrench Open. During the era, Newton still played extensively in his home country culminating with a win at the 1979 Australian Open. Four years later, in 1983, Newton had a near-fatal accident when he accidentally walked into the spinning propeller of an aeroplane, losing his right arm and right eye. Despite the tragedy Newton managed to survive and, though unable to continue as a professional golfer, was able to work a number of golf-related jobs for the remainder of his life.
Career In 1950, Newton was born in Cessnock, New South Wales.
In 1969, he turned professional. 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. In 1974, he won the Benson & Hedges Match Play Championship, beating Cesar Sanudo in the final. Later in 1974, he lost in a playoff for the New Zealand Open. In 1978, Newton won the Buick-Goodwrench Open on the PGA Tour. In Australia, he won the New South Wales Open in 1976 and 1979 and the Australian Open Championship in 1979.
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. 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.
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. In May 1983, Newton lost to Terry Gale in a playoff for the Western Australian Open.
Propeller accident 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 aeroplane 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.
The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation summary of the accident reads:When two passengers had not arrived at the aircraft by a pre-arranged time, the pilot commenced to taxi for departure. After the aircraft had travelled a short distance, one of the missing passengers approached the right hand door. The pilot stopped the aircraft, and shortly afterwards the other passenger was seen moving along the left side of the aircraft towards the nose. The pilot shouted a warning and moved to shut down the engine, but the passenger was struck by the propeller.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. 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.
Personal life 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. In 2003, Newton was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis, and was rushed to hospital.
He died on 14 April 2022 at the age of 72 due to health complications, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2020.
Awards and honors In 1973, the New South Wales PGA bestowed upon him its Most Improved Golfer Award. In 1979, Newton earned the PGA Tour of Australia's Order of Merit. In 2007, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to golf, particularly through a range of executive, youth development, and fundraising roles. In 2016, Newton was inducted as a general member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Amateur wins This list may be incomplete 1968 New South Wales Amateur 1969 Lake Macquarie Amateur
Professional wins (13) PGA Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up118 Jun 1978Buick-Goodwrench Open−8 (72-67-70-71=280)Playoff Mike Sullivan
PGA Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11975The Open Championship Tom WatsonLost 18-hole playoff;Watson: −1 (71),Newton: E (72)21978Buick-Goodwrench Open Mike SullivanWon with birdie on first extra hole Sources:
European Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up113 Aug 1972Dutch Open−11 (64-75-69-69=277)1 stroke Malcolm Gregson, Peter Oosterhuis219 Aug 1972Benson & Hedges Festival of Golf−3 (73-70-67-71=281)1 stroke Harry Bannerman315 Sep 1974Benson & Hedges Match Play Championship2 and 1 Cesar Sanudo
European Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11975The Open Championship Tom WatsonLost 18-hole playoff;Watson: −1 (71),Newton: E (72) Sources:
PGA Tour of Australia wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up117 Oct 1976New South Wales Open−19 (67-68-68-66=269)10 strokes Ted Ball, David Good24 Nov 1979New South Wales Open (2)−11 (69-70-70-72=281)9 strokes Wayne Grady, Jeff Hall, Gary Vanier318 Nov 1979Dunhill Australian OpenE (74-72-70-72=288)1 stroke Graham Marsh, Greg Norman
PGA Tour of Australia playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11983Town and Country Western Australian Open Terry GaleLost to birdie on first extra hole Sources:
New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up117 Dec 1972City of Auckland Classic−7 (75-71-67-64=277)1 stroke Bob Tuohy
New Zealand Golf Circuit playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11974New Zealand Open Bob Charles, Bob GilderGilder won with birdie on third extra holeNewton eliminated by par on second hole Source:
Other wins (5) This list may be incomplete 1972 Amoco Forbes Classic 1974 Nigerian Open 1975 Sumrie-Bournemouth Better-Ball (with John O'Leary) 1976 Cock of the North, Mufulira Open
Results in major championships Tournament19711972197319741975197619771978197919801981Masters TournamentCUTCUTT12T2CUTU.S. OpenT32The Open ChampionshipT49T40CUTCUT2T17CUTT24T57T10PGA ChampionshipT50T20
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1973 and 1974 Open Championships) "T" indicates a tie for a place
Source:
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 1 0 1 1 2 5 2U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1The Open Championship 0 1 0 1 2 4 10 7PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2Totals 0 2 0 2 3 7 18 12
Team appearances Amateur Sloan Morpeth Trophy (representing Australia): 1969 (winners) Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing New South Wales): 1968, 1969 (winners)
See also Fall 1976 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
References
External links Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation