Peter Oosterhuis passed away at the age of 75. This brilliant golfer was one of the best during the 1970s and achieved huge success in the world of golf. To younger fans of the sport, he is better known as a broadcaster during some of the major golf tournaments.
He began his professional career in 1968 at the age of 20, showcasing his talent and skill from the beginning. Additionally, the Englishman was known for his passion and love for the sport. He secured one victory on the PGA Tour and one on the European Tour. In addition, he left behind three victories on the Sunshine Tour, and even 17 victories in other tournaments.
Regarding Majors, Oosterhuis’ best results include T3 at the Masters in 1973, T22 at the PGA Championship in 1982, T7 at the US Open in 1975, as well as T2 in 1974 and 1982 at The Open Championship.
In 1994, he decided to open a new chapter in his life and became a broadcaster for Sky Sports. In that role, he excelled and attracted massive attention.
The new DP World Tour chief executive, Guy Kinnings, has decided to extend his condolences to his family after hearing the news of Oosterhuis’s passing. Kinnings is saddened by the loss of the golf legend. Oosterhuis was extremely respected within the golfing community, and he was someone many admired and looked up to. He left a significant mark on golf in various ways and was one of the reasons why some came to love this sport.
“On behalf of everyone at the European Tour Group and Ryder Cup Europe, we are deeply saddened to learn of Peter’s passing. Peter was hugely admired and respected by all of us who were fortunate enough to have spent time in his company, and indeed by everyone who followed his career.”- DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings said.
“He leaves an indelible legacy in our sport, both as a distinguished player and as wonderfully eloquent broadcaster. He made such an immeasurable contribution to our Tour, especially during the Tour’s formative years in the 1970s when he was such a dominant force and through his six Ryder Cup appearances.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and as a Tour we will continue to honour and remember his remarkable career.”- he concluded.
Guy Kinnings© Warren Little/Getty Images Sport
Bernard Gallacher paid tribute: This is an incredibly sad day
Oosterhuis’ former Ryder Cup partner Bernard Gallacher also paid tribute, expressing his deep sadness: “This is an incredibly sad day for everyone who was lucky enough to know Peter, but also for the game of golf as a whole.”
Gallacher reminisced about their shared experiences, recalling their journey from youth-level competitions to partnering in the 1971 Ryder Cup. He highlighted Oosterhuis’s phenomenal performance in defeating top players like Lee Trevino and Billy Casper, as well as his subsequent victories in singles matches, including against Arnold Palmer.
Oosterhuis often managed to surprise at certain tournaments, showing that he should never be underestimated. He has numerous matches and memories from the golf course behind him. Oosterhuis seized every moment to play golf and enjoy it. One of the best indicators of his love for golf is also evident in his broadcasts, where his emotion could be felt.
Bernard Gallacher© Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Describing Oosterhuis as an intelligent and dedicated golfer, Gallacher praised his expertise in course management and putting, making him a tough opponent on the course. He also emphasized Oosterhuis’s character, stressing his integrity, kindness, and deep knowledge of the game, which contributed to his popularity both on and off the field. Gallacher admired Oosterhuis’s ability to maintain a positive attitude and never speak ill of others throughout their decades-long friendship.
All these characteristics made him a special person, admired by many. Oosterhuis strived to respect everyone around him, and that respect was reciprocated.
Oosterhuis battled Alzheimer’s disease, which was diagnosed nine years ago. Despite having a great memory previously, and being able to recall every detail of his performances, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Oosterhuis struggled to remember important moments in his career. He could only recall some key moments that had marked his career the most, such as his victory on the PGA Tour. Oosterhuis passed away today, precisely due to complications of this disease.
As we’ve already mentioned, he left a great impact on all golf fans who will surely never forget him. Many legends of this sport have passed away in the last few years, but the legacy they left behind cannot be erased.
Players like him are the reason why we fell in love with golf and why we passionately follow the performances of great stars.
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