Graham Marsh

Graham Vivian Marsh MBE (born 14 January 1944) is an Australian golfer. In 1968, Marsh turned pro and won several tournaments on the Australasian circuits early in his career. He joined the PGA Tour in the mid-1970s and won the 1977 Heritage Classic. However, he elected to focus the remainder of his career overseas, ultimately winning ten times on the European Tour and twenty times on the Japan Golf Tour. As a senior, he continued with much success on the Champions Tour, winning two senior majors, including the U.S. Senior Open.

Early life
Marsh was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. His brother was cricketer Rod Marsh.

Marsh attended the University of Western Australia and Claremont Teachers College. Marsh is a former mathematics teacher.

Professional career
Marsh's first professional tournament was in May 1968 at South Australian Open. He finished in solo third place. Peter Thomson, writing about the event for The Age, stated that "this talented player seems sure to finish higher before long." In 1970 he played well at New Zealand's Caltex Tournament. Entering the par-5 18th hole he was tied for the lead with Maurice Bembridge and Terry Kendall. However, he could only make par. His competitors played the hole under par to defeat him. Marsh finished in solo third at 287, one behind.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Marsh was a regular winner on the European Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. He also won several events in Asia outside Japan, winning the Asia Golf Circuit overall title in 1972 and 1973, and one on the U.S.-based PGA Tour, the 1977 Heritage Classic. Marsh had an outstanding win rate on the European Tour, where he accumulated eleven titles even though he never played more than seven events in Europe in a season. He also won the Colgate World Match Play Championship, which was not an official money European Tour event at the time, in England in 1977. He had 56 wins in all in his regular career, making him one of the most successful players of his era not to win a major championship.

Senior career
As a senior, Marsh has played extensively in the United States on the Champions Tour winning six events including two senior majors: the 1997 U.S. Senior Open and the 1999 Tradition. He has also won the Japan Senior Open twice.

Marsh is also active in golf course design through Graham Marsh Golf Design which he established in 1986. The company's early projects were in Australia and Japan, but it later branched out to other parts of Asia, Europe and the United States. His work has included courses such as The Vines Resort (Perth), Palm Meadows Resort (Gold Coast) Old Silo (Kentucky), Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club (New South Wales) and Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club just to name a few. During this era, Marsh was also the chairman of the PGA Tour of Australasia as well.

In 2004, he became the first player on the four main golf tours (PGA Tour, European Tour, Champions Tour or the European Senior Tour) to ace the same hole twice in a tournament when he had a hole-in-one on No. 11 at Royal Portrush Golf Club during the 2004 Senior British Open Championship.

Awards and honors

 * In 1977, Marsh was voted Australian Sportsman of the year
 * In 1977, Marsh was awarded the Golf Digest Rookie of the Year.
 * In 1984, Marsh was made an MBE for services to golf.

European Tour wins (10)
European Tour playoff record (0–1)

Other European wins (3)

 * 1970 Swiss Open
 * 1977 Lancome Trophy, Colgate World Match Play Championship

PGA of Japan Tour wins (20)
 * Note: Tournament shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (5–5)

Other Japan wins (5)

 * 1972 Dunlop Tournament
 * 1973 Japan vs Australia Match individual
 * 1975 Dunlop Wizard
 * 1976 Dunlop Wizard
 * 1977 Dunlop Wizard

Asia Golf Circuit wins (5)
Asia Golf Circuit playoff record (0–2)

Other Asian wins (1)

 * 1976 Dunhill International Match-Play (Hong Kong)

PGA Tour of Australia wins (7)
PGA Tour of Australia playoff record (1–1)

Other Australian wins (6)

 * 1966 Royal Fremantle Open (as an amateur)
 * 1966 Nedlands Masters (as an amateur)
 * 1967 Nedlands Masters (as an amateur)
 * 1968 Western Australian Open
 * 1969 Western Australia PGA Championship
 * 1976 Western Australian Open

Champions Tour wins (6)
 * Note: The 1999 Tradition was shortened to 36 holes due to snow.

Champions Tour playoff record (0–1)

Other senior wins (4)

 * 1997 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with John Bland)
 * 1998 Japan Senior Open
 * 1999 Japan Senior Open
 * 2010 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Raphael Division (with John Bland)

Results in major championships
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

 * Most consecutive cuts made – 16 (1978 PGA – 1991 Open Championship)
 * Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

Team appearances

 * Dunhill Cup (representing Australia): 1985 (winners)
 * Four Tours World Championship (representing Australasia): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991