PGA Tour winner, Ryder Cup stalwart Peter Oosterhuis passes away at 75

Englishman Peter Oosterhuis, a fixture in professional golf for decades, has sadly died at the age of 75.

The golfing world lost a legend on Thursday morning.

Peter Oosterhuis, who played on six Ryder Cup teams, won the 1981 Canadian Open, and served as a broadcaster for CBS Sports for nearly two decades, has passed away.

He died one day shy of his 76th birthday.

Known colloquially as “Oosty,” Oosterhuis joined CBS in 1997 and worked a handful of events, including the PGA Championship and The Masters, which Tiger Woods won in historic fashion that year. He became a full-time announcer for CBS the following year, serving as one of the voices that portrayed Woods’ epic rise to worldwide fame.

He would work for the network until 2014, when he announced he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Oosterhuis retired after the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, the last major championship won by Rory McIlroy.

But golf fans likely remember Oosterhuis the most for his annual visit to the 17th hole at Augusta National, where he called the action for CBS.

Photo by Chris Condon/PGA Tour

And yet, before his broadcasting stint, Oosterhuis was a terrific player in his own right.

He came close to winning The Open Championship twice, finishing runner-up in 1974 to Gary Player and in 1982 to Tom Watson. In that 1982 Open at Royal Troon, Oosterhuis finished one stroke behind Watson at 3-under par—the closest he would ever get to reaching major championship glory.

Oosty also held a three-shot lead going into the final round of the 1973 Masters, but a 2-over 74 on Sunday sealed his fate. He finished in a tie for third, three strokes behind winner Tommy Aaron. Bogies on the 4th, 7th, 11th, and 15th holes did Oostherhuis in.

He also competed in the Ryder Cup during a time when the Americans dominated. Oosterhuis represented Great Britain and Ireland in 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1977. Then, when continental Europe became included in 1979, Oosterhuis represented the Europeans that year and in 1981. He did not play on a winning team once but defeated Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, and Gene Littler in singles matches.

Yet, Oosterhuis won plenty of matches during his Ryder Cup career. He earned 15.5 points, tied for 12th all-time among European Ryder Cuppers. He also won an incredible six singles matches, tied for the most all-time on either side.

His sweet, rhythmic swing was accompanied by a beautiful English accent that made golf fans around the world smile.

Now, Oosterhuis can smile upon the golfing world looking down from heaven, but all of us back here on Earth will miss his tremendous demeanor and generosity.

Oosty is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann, sons Rob and Rich, stepsons Byron and Matt, and his four grandchildren, Peyton, Turner, Sutton, and Lachlan.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.