Jim Colbert
American professional golfer
title: "Jim Colbert" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-male-golfers", "kansas-state-wildcats-men's-golfers", "pga-tour-golfers", "pga-tour-champions-golfers", "winners-of-senior-major-golf-championships", "american-golf-commentators", "golfers-from-new-jersey", "american-sports-commentators", "american-racehorse-owners-and-breeders", "sportspeople-from-elizabeth,-new-jersey", "golfers-from-las-vegas", "1941-births", "living-people", "20th-century-american-sportsmen"] description: "American professional golfer" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Colbert" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American professional golfer ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox golfer"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Jim Colbert |
| imagesize | 250px |
| caption | Statue of Colbert at Colbert Hills |
| fullname | James Joseph Colbert |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
| death_date | |
| height | |
| weight | 175 lb |
| nationality | |
| residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| college | Kansas State University |
| yearpro | 1965 |
| tour | Champions Tour |
| extour | PGA Tour |
| prowins | 35 |
| pgawins | 8 |
| champwins | 20 (Tied-10th all-time) |
| otherwins | 6 (regular) |
| 1 (senior) | |
| majorwins | |
| masters | T4: 1974 |
| usopen | T3: 1971 |
| open | CUT: 1984 |
| pga | T12: 1973 |
| wghofid | |
| wghofyear | |
| award1 | [Senior PGA Tour |
| Rookie of the Year](senior-pga-tour-rookie-of-the-year) | |
| year1 | 1991 |
| award2 | [Senior PGA Tour |
| money list winner](senior-pga-tour-money-list-winners) | |
| year2 | 1995, 1996 |
| award3 | [Senior PGA Tour |
| Player of the Year](senior-pga-tour-player-of-the-year) | |
| year3 | 1995, 1996 |
| award4 | [Senior PGA Tour |
| Comeback Player of the Year](senior-pga-tour-comeback-player-of-the-year) | |
| year4 | 1998 |
| awardssection | |
| :: |
::callout[type=note] the American golfer ::
| name = Jim Colbert | image = | imagesize = 250px | caption = Statue of Colbert at Colbert Hills | fullname = James Joseph Colbert | nickname = | birth_date = | birth_place = Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height = | weight = 175 lb | nationality = | residence = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | spouse = | partner = | children = | college = Kansas State University | yearpro = 1965 | tour = Champions Tour | extour = PGA Tour | prowins = 35 | pgawins = 8 | champwins = 20 (Tied-10th all-time) | otherwins = 6 (regular) 1 (senior) | majorwins = | masters = T4: 1974 | usopen = T3: 1971 | open = CUT: 1984 | pga = T12: 1973 | wghofid = | wghofyear = | award1 = Senior PGA Tour Rookie of the Year | year1 = 1991 | award2 = Senior PGA Tour money list winner | year2 = 1995, 1996 | award3 = Senior PGA Tour Player of the Year | year3 = 1995, 1996 | award4 = Senior PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year | year4 = 1998 | awardssection = James Joseph Colbert (born March 9, 1941) is an American professional golfer.
Early life and amateur career
Colbert was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Kansas State University, where he finished second in the NCAA golf championships in 1964. Colbert graduated in 1965.
Professional career
In 1965, Colbert turned professional. Colbert won eight times on the PGA Tour, including twice in 1983 when he finished a career best fifteenth on the money list. As a senior Colbert has won 20 tournaments on the Champions Tour, including a senior major championship, the 1993 Senior Players Championship.
Colbert has worked as a golf analyst for ESPN and has his own golf course management company based in Pahrump, Nevada. He also helped design a golf course in Manhattan, Kansas, named Colbert Hills, which was ranked by Golfweek as the best public course in Kansas, and by Golf Digest as the eighth-best course overall in the state.
Thoroughbred racing
With an interest in thoroughbred racing, in 1993 Colbert purchased a racemare named Fit to Lead in partnership with Connie Sczesny and the Chairman of Hollywood Park Racetrack, Randall D. Hubbard. Trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Richard Mandella for the three partners, Fit to Lead won several graded stakes including the Princess Stakes at Hollywood Park plus at Churchill Downs, the Fleur de Lis Stakes and Louisville Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Awards and honors
Colbert was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Professional wins (35)
PGA Tour wins (8)
::data[format=table] | No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Mar 18, 1969 | Monsanto Open Invitational | −17 (69-67-64-67=267) | 2 strokes | USA Deane Beman | | 2 | Jul 16, 1972 | Greater Milwaukee Open | −13 (66-67-69-69=271) | 1 stroke | USA Buddy Allin, USA Chuck Courtney, USA George Johnson, USA Grier Jones | | 3 | Mar 18, 1973 | Greater Jacksonville Open | −9 (70-65-71-73=279) | 1 stroke | USA Lou Graham, USA Johnny Miller, USA Dan Sikes, USA Jim Wiechers | | 4 | Jun 23, 1974 | American Golf Classic | +1 (70-67-74-70=281) | Playoff | USA Gay Brewer, USA Forrest Fezler, USA Raymond Floyd | | 5 | Oct 26, 1975 | Walt Disney World National Team Championship (with USA Dean Refram) | −36 (63-63-62-64=252) | 3 strokes | ZAF Bobby Cole and USA John Schlee, MEX Victor Regalado and USA Charlie Sifford | | 6 | Feb 19, 1980 | Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open | −22 (66-68-66-70=270) | 4 strokes | CAN Dan Halldorson | | 7 | May 15, 1983 | Colonial National Invitation | −2 (69-67-70-72=278) | Playoff | USA Fuzzy Zoeller | | 8 | Oct 2, 1983 | Texas Open | −19 (66-62-66-67=261) | 5 strokes | USA Mark Pfeil | ::
PGA Tour playoff record (2–0) ::data[format=table]
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1974 | American Golf Classic | USA Gay Brewer, USA Forrest Fezler, | |
| USA Raymond Floyd | Won with par on second extra hole | |||
| Brewer and Fezler eliminated by par on first hole | ||||
| 2 | 1983 | Colonial National Invitation | USA Fuzzy Zoeller | Won with par on sixth extra hole |
| :: |
Other wins (1)
Senior PGA Tour wins (20)
::data[format=table]
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior PGA Tour major championships (1) |
| Tour Championships (1) |
| Other Senior PGA Tour (18) |
| :: |
::data[format=table] | No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Jun 30, 1991 | Southwestern Bell Classic | −9 (66-67-68=201) | 3 strokes | USA Al Geiberger, USA Larry Laoretti | | 2 | Oct 6, 1991 | Vantage Championship | −11 (68-70-67=205) | 1 stroke | USA George Archer, USA Jim Dent, USA Gibby Gilbert | | 3 | Dec 8, 1991 | First Development Kaanapali Classic | −15 (66-61-68=195) | 2 strokes | USA Dale Douglass | | 4 | Feb 16, 1992 | GTE Suncoast Classic | −13 (66-70-64=200) | Playoff | USA George Archer | | 5 | Oct 4, 1992 | Vantage Championship (2) | name=weather|Shortened to 36 holes due to weather.}} | 2 strokes | USA Jim Dent | | 6 | Feb 7, 1993 | Royal Caribbean Classic | −14 (65-64-70=199) | 1 stroke | USA Raymond Floyd, USA Al Geiberger | | 7 | Jun 27, 1993 | Ford Senior Players Championship | −10 (67-72-70-69=278) | 1 stroke | USA Raymond Floyd | | 8 | Jul 10, 1994 | Kroger Senior Classic | −14 (66-64-69=199) | 2 strokes | USA Raymond Floyd | | 9 | Jul 25, 1994 | Southwestern Bell Classic (2) | −14 (68-63-65=196) | 2 strokes | JPN Isao Aoki, USA Larry Gilbert | | 10 | Jan 15, 1995 | Senior Tournament of Champions | −7 (72-66-71=209) | Playoff | USA Jim Albus | | 11 | Apr 30, 1995 | Las Vegas Senior Classic | −11 (65-71-69=205) | 2 strokes | USA Jim Dent, USA Raymond Floyd, USA Rocky Thompson | | 12 | May 21, 1995 | Bell Atlantic Classic | −3 (68-71-68=207) | 1 stroke | USA J. C. Snead | | 13 | Nov 6, 1995 | Energizer Senior Tour Championship | −6 (68-69-71-74=282) | 1 stroke | USA Raymond Floyd | | 14 | Mar 17, 1996 | Toshiba Senior Classic | −12 (68-65-68=201) | 2 strokes | USA Bob Eastwood | | 15 | Apr 28, 1996 | Las Vegas Senior Classic (2) | −9 (63-74-70=207) | Playoff | NZL Bob Charles, USA Dave Stockton | | 16 | May 12, 1996 | Nationwide Championship | −10 (71-66-69=206) | 3 strokes | JPN Isao Aoki | | 17 | Sep 29, 1996 | Vantage Championship (3) | −9 (65-70-69=204) | 1 stroke | USA Hale Irwin, RSA Gary Player | | 18 | Oct 20, 1996 | Raley's Gold Rush Classic | −14 (67-68-67=202) | 5 strokes | USA Dave Stockton | | 19 | Oct 11, 1998 | The Transamerica | −11 (70-68-67=205) | 1 stroke | USA David Lundstrom | | 20 | Mar 11, 2001 | SBC Senior Classic | −12 (67-67-70=204) | 1 stroke | ESP José María Cañizares | ::
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (3–5) ::data[format=table]
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1991 | Murata Reunion Pro-Am | USA Chi-Chi Rodríguez | Lost to par on fourth extra hole |
| 2 | 1992 | GTE Suncoast Classic | USA George Archer | Won with birdie on fourth extra hole |
| 3 | 1992 | Vintage ARCO Invitational | USA Tommy Aaron, USA Mike Hill | Hill won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 4 | 1993 | First of America Classic | USA George Archer, USA Chi-Chi Rodríguez | Archer won with par on third extra hole |
| Rodríguez eliminated by par on first hole | ||||
| 5 | 1994 | GTE West Classic | USA Jay Sigel | Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
| 6 | 1995 | Senior Tournament of Champions | USA Jim Albus | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
| 7 | 1996 | Las Vegas Senior Classic | NZL Bob Charles, USA Dave Stockton | Won with par on fourth extra hole |
| Charles eliminated by par on first hole | ||||
| 8 | 1998 | Cadillac NFL Golf Classic | USA Bob Dickson, USA Larry Nelson | Dickson won with birdie on first extra hole |
| :: |
Other senior wins (6)
- 1995 Diners Club Matches (with Bob Murphy)
- 1996 Diners Club Matches (with Bob Murphy)
- 2000 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Andy North)
- 2001 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Andy North)
- 2013 Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Bob Murphy)
- 2014 Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf - Legends Division (with Jim Thorpe)
Results in major championships
::data[format=table]
| Tournament | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | |||
| U.S. Open | CUT | CUT | |
| The Open Championship | |||
| PGA Championship | WD | ||
| :: |
::data[format=table]
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | T43 | T4 | CUT | T12 | T14 | T32 | |||
| U.S. Open | CUT | T3 | T63 | 10 | T5 | CUT | T55 | CUT | T41 | |
| The Open Championship | ||||||||||
| PGA Championship | CUT | T46 | CUT | T12 | T28 | T28 | T57 | 69 | T46 | |
| :: |
::data[format=table]
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T14 | T25 | CUT | |||||
| U.S. Open | T47 | T26 | WD | T38 | CUT | |||
| The Open Championship | CUT | |||||||
| PGA Championship | T30 | T56 | T16 | T36 | T25 | CUT | CUT | |
| :: |
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1984 Open Championship)
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary
::data[format=table]
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made | Totals | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 44 | 28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 7 | |||||||||
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 9 | |||||||||
| The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 12 | |||||||||
| :: |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1978 PGA – 1982 PGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1974 Masters – 1974 U.S. Open)
Results in The Players Championship
::data[format=table]
| Tournament | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | CUT | WD | T43 | CUT | 8 | T28 | T14 | T4 | CUT | 66 | T20 | T33 | T21 | WD |
| :: |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Champions Tour major championships
Wins (1)
::data[format=table]
| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Ford Senior Players Championship | −10 (67-72-70-69=278) | 1 stroke | USA Raymond Floyd |
| :: |
U.S. national team appearances
Professional
- Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing Senior PGA Tour): 1996
- Gillette Tour Challenge Championship: 1997 (winners with Nick Price and Kelly Robbins)
Notes
References
References
- "PGA Tour profile".
- "Colbert Golf".
- "Golfweek's Best: State by State Public-access Courses".
- "Kansas: Best In State Rankings".
- (1993-06-20). "Hollywood Park : Fit To Lead Wins; Eliza a Poor Fourth". [[Los Angeles Times]].
- (1995-05-06). "Louisville Budweiser Breeders' Cup". [[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois).
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::