Gilmer Bryan Morgan II, OD (born September 25, 1946) is an American professional golfer.

Early life

Morgan was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He graduated from East Central State College in

Ada, Oklahoma Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,481 at the 2020 United States census. The city was named for Ada Reed, the daughter of an early settler, and was in ...

in 1968.

Professional career

In 1972, Morgan earned a

Doctor of Optometry Optometry is the healthcare practice concerned with examining the eyes for visual defects, prescribing corrective lenses, and detecting eye abnormalities. In the United States and Canada, optometrists are those that hold a post-baccalaureate f ...

degree from the Southern College of Optometry in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

before turning professional at golf later that year. He is a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. Morgan won seven events on the

PGA Tour The PGA Tour (stylized as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also known as the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champion ...

between 1977 and 1990. He was also one of the most consistent top five finishers during this period. He posted 21 2nd place and 21 3rd place finishes on the PGA Tour in his career. The most prestigious tournament he won on the PGA Tour was the 1978 World Series of Golf. He also played on the 1979 and 1983 Ryder Cup teams. Although he never won a major title during his time on the PGA Tour, Morgan showed signs of brilliance. For example, during the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Morgan became the first player to reach 10-under-par (−10) during U.S. Open competition when he recorded a birdie on the third hole during the third round. He later added two more birdies to reach −12 after the seventh hole. He would later finish badly to finish at −4. This was good enough for the 54-hole lead. However, a final round 81 left him +5, in a tie for 13th place and eight shots behind eventual winner Tom Kite Morgan also led the

1976 PGA Championship The 1976 PGA Championship was the 58th PGA Championship, played August 12–16 at Congressional Country Club (Blue Course) in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb northwest of Washington, D.C. Held six weeks following the United States Bicentennial, it wa ...

after 36 holes but finished T8. He became eligible to play on the Champions Tour in 1996. He has enjoyed much success on the Champion's Tour notching 25 wins. Three of his wins have come in senior majors, namely

The Tradition The Tradition (known as the Regions Tradition for sponsorship reasons) is an event on the PGA Tour Champions. First staged in 1989 Senior PGA Tour, 1989, the PGA Tour recognizes the event as one of the five senior major golf championships. Unlik ...

in 1997 and 1998 and the Senior Players Championship in 1998.

Professional wins (41)

PGA Tour wins (7)

PGA Tour playoff record (3–4)

PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)

Other wins (4)

*1979 Heublein Open (Brazil) *1981 Oklahoma Open *1983 Jerry Ford Invitational (tie with Don Pooley) *1997 Oklahoma Open

Champions Tour wins (25)

''*Note: The 2000 Comfort Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.'' Champions Tour playoff record (0–6)

Other senior wins (4)

*1997 Diners Club Matches (with Jay Sigel) *1998 Senior Slam at Los Cabos, *1999 Senior Slam at Los Cabos, Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Hubert Green)

Playoff record

European Tour playoff record (0–1)

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1979 and 1982 Open Championships)
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary

*Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1982 PGA – 1984 Open Championship) *Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

Results in The Players Championship

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (3)

U.S. national team appearances

Professional * Ryder Cup:

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

(winners),

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

(winners) * Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing Senior PGA Tour): 1998 (winners)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Gil American male golfers PGA Tour golfers PGA Tour Champions golfers Ryder Cup competitors for the United States Winners of senior major golf championships Golfers from Oklahoma American optometrists East Central University alumni People from Wewoka, Oklahoma 1946 births Living people 20th-century American sportsmen