Tom Lehman

Tom Lehman – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Tom Lehman (born March 7, 1959) is an American professional golfer, winner of the 1996 Open Championship, and one of the few to be named Player of the Year on all three PGA Tours. Explore his biography, career highlights, philosophy, and quotes.

Introduction

Tom Lehman is an American professional golfer known for consistency, perseverance, and a strong character on and off the course. Player of the Year honors on all three PGA Tours (the regular PGA Tour, the developmental tour, and the Champions Tour).

He is respected not only for his achievements but for the way he approaches competition, faith, and legacy. Let’s explore his journey, strengths, philosophy, and memorable words.

Early Life & Amateur Years

• Born: March 7, 1959, in Austin, Minnesota.

• Raised in: Alexandria, Minnesota (he spent his youth there)

• College & Amateur Golf: He played collegiate golf at the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in business/accounting.

• He won the Minnesota State Amateur in 1981.

These formative years taught him balance between academic discipline and the demands of competitive golf.

Turning Pro & Early Struggles

• Lehman turned professional in 1982.

• His early years on the PGA Tour (1983–1985) were relatively unremarkable, with few high finishes.

• For several seasons, he had to play secondary tours—including in Asia, South Africa, and the Ben Hogan Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour).

• In 1991, Lehman led the Ben Hogan Tour’s money list and was named Player of the Year, which enabled him to regain full PGA Tour status.

This period of persistence and rebuilding would later anchor his reputation for resilience.

Breakthrough & Peak Years

PGA Tour Success

• Between 1992 and 2000, Lehman became a fixture on the PGA Tour, recording five PGA Tour wins.

• His wins included the Memorial Tournament (1994), The Open Championship (1996), the Tour Championship (1996), Colonial National Invitation (1995), and Phoenix Open (2000).

• In 1996, he had his best season:

  • Won The Open Championship (his only major) with a score of 271 (–13) at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s, beating Ernie Els and Mark McCumber by two strokes.

  • Earned PGA Tour Player of the Year, the PGA Player of the Year award, Byron Nelson Award, Vardon Trophy, and topped the PGA Tour money list.

  • Briefly rose to #1 in the Official World Golf Ranking in April 1997 (for one week).

Major Performances & Consistency

• Lehman was notable for consistency: he recorded 19 runner-up finishes between 1992 and 2006, even when he didn’t win many tournaments.

• At U.S. Opens, he held the 54-hole lead in 1995, 1996, and 1997, though he did not convert those into wins.

• His game was often strongest from tee to green; putting was sometimes seen as a weakness in contrast.

Transition to Senior & Champions Tour

• After turning 50, Lehman joined the PGA Tour Champions and continued to compete successfully.

• He won 12 Champions Tour titles (including three senior majors).

• He won Player of the Year and led the money list on the Champions Tour in 2011 and 2012.

• Because of these achievements, Lehman is the only golfer to have been named Player of the Year on all three PGA-operated tours.

Style, Strengths, and Philosophy

Strengths & Playing Style

• Lehman’s strength lay in consistency, strategy, and course management. He often avoided big mistakes and put pressure on opponents.

• His tee-to-green game was typical of his style: solid ball striking, good decision-making, and less flair, more steadiness.

• He acknowledged putting as an area of inconsistency:

  “When I putt well, I do very well. When I putt poorly, I struggle to be in the game.”

Mental Approach & Faith

• Lehman is a devout Christian, and faith is integral to how he views success, failure, pressure, and perspective.

• He often speaks publicly about balancing competitiveness with humility and recognizing that golf, while meaningful, is not life or death.

• His quotes suggest a mental discipline: preparing fully, controlling what he can, and accepting outcomes without regret.

Legacy of Persistence

• Lehman’s career path—from fluctuating early years to taking advantage of second-tier tours, then peaking in his late 30s, and setting records in his senior years—serves as a model for longevity and continuous improvement.

• His consistency and refusal to be defined only by wins made him respected among peers and fans alike.

Notable Quotes

Here are several memorable quotes attributed to Tom Lehman:

“There are times when you feel like you give a great effort, you have prepared properly, and you got less than what you wanted. So on the one hand, you should feel really good about that and just let the results be what they are. On the other hand, you can’t be happy with it when you finished 19th.”

“I think the attitude I was trying to learn myself was to really try hard, to give a great effort, to really care, and to let the results go where they are going to go. But at the same time, I don’t have to be happy, and I shouldn’t be happy, with less than my best.”

“To have faith doesn’t mean you get any less frustrated when you don’t do your best, but you know that it’s not life and death. Take what you’re given, and when you continue to work hard, you will see results.”

“I think that more than the winning, the weeks where I don’t play well are what drive me the most.”

“The game itself, I think, plays into the strength of my game, which has always been tee to green, hitting the ball consistently in play and managing my game.”

“Like most kids, my dad played. He would drag us out to the course and make us shag balls for him and caddy and all that kind of stuff.”

These quotes reflect his character: humility, faith, acceptance of pressure, and striving for consistency.

Lessons & Takeaways

1. Persistence pays off over time.
   Lehman’s early struggles did not define him. He rebuilt, adapted, and eventually reached his peak performance.

2. Consistency over flash.
   Many golf fans or media might reward flamboyant play, but Lehman’s success shows the value of steady, reliable performance.

3. Control what you can; accept what you can’t.
   His philosophy emphasizes effort, preparation, and faith, while understanding that outcomes may not always follow.

4. Evolve with your career.
   Transitioning to the Champions Tour and continuing to win majors there shows adaptability and longevity.

5. Character matters.
   Lehman is respected not just for what he won, but for how he competed—with integrity, perspective, and humility.

Conclusion

Tom Lehman may not have the major count of some legends, but his career is a testament to steadiness, faith, and perseverance. From his turning-pro struggles, to reaching the peak of the golf world in 1996, to mastering the senior circuit, he has built a legacy that transforms challenges into quiet strength.