consistence has always been the earmark of Tom Kite ’s game . From week to week and year to twelvemonth , his performance has seldom wavered . His reward is more than $ 9 million in PGA Tour earnings .
Kite came out ofAustin , Texas , a year before of Ben Crenshaw ( they shared the same teacher , Harvey Penick , and also shared the 1972 NCAA Championship ) .
Kite joined the PGA Tour in 1973 and established a figure by have 31 of 34 cuts . While a steadymoneyearner , it took Kite a while to become a winner , with just two triumph through 1980 .
Kite ’s breakthrough twelvemonth total in 1981 , even though he get ahead only one tourney . He had a phenomenal 21 top-10 finishes in 26 starts , led the money list , and won the first of two consecutive Vardon Trophies .
With the exception of 1988 , Kite would win at least one tourney in every twelvemonth from 1981 - 93 , admit three in 1989 ( when he won his 2nd money title ) and two in 1984 , ' 92 , and ' 93 , running his career sum to 19 triumph . He slipped out of the top 10 money winner only three times in that 14 - class reaching .
For much of his calling , Kite ’s only defect was his unfitness to win a major championship . He finally earn his first in the 1992 U.S. Open , where he shot an even - par 72 on Sunday at Pebble Beach when most contenders were being blown away by severe wind .
His best chance before that came in the 1989 U.S. Open at Oak Hill , where he lead through three cycle before finish with a 78 . He was a perennial contender at the Masters for a foresighted reach , with 10 top-10 destination from 1975 - 86 and finishing second in 1983 and 1986 .
At a slight 5'8 '' , Kite is n’t able-bodied to sweep over courses , though he gets more distance off the golf tee than his frame might indicate . He has an fantabulous short biz and for much of his career was one of the top putter , but he has struggled on the greens in recent geezerhood .
While he has bring in nearly $ 10 million in a quarter - century on Tour , Kite views golf game more as a diversion than an job . " Golf has never been work for me , " he say . " You do n’t work golf game . You play it . "
