Nine-time New Zealand Open champion, Peter Thomson was inducted into the New Zealand Golf Hall of Fame today on the eve of the 100^th New Zealand Open.

Thomson is the ninth member of the Hall of Fame and the first Australian to be honoured in this manner after becoming the most prolific champion to win the title and played a huge part in putting the New Zealand Open on the world map.

Thomson also won the prestigious Open Championship five-times in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965 to make him one of Australia’s finest golfers.

His nine New Zealand Open victories were between 1950 and 1971 where he led the movement across the Tasman and in 1958 he brought Gary Player, Harold Henning and David Thomas to New Zealand with the field regarded at the time as the best ever to contest the championship.

Peter Thomson was recognized internationally for his stellar career when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.

As New Zealand Golf celebrate the 100^th playing of the New Zealand Open, there is no golfer more worthy than Peter Thomson who’s name will be forever be linked with this championship.

Thomson’s record:

• Open Champion, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965
• New Zealand Open Champion, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965 and 1971
• Six US PGA Tour titles
• Twenty nine European Tour titles
• A further thirty professional wins worldwide
• Eleven US Senior Tour titles