Bill Collins (golfer)

William R. Collins (September 23, 1928 – April 8, 2006) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s and the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.

Bill Collins
Personal information
Full name	William R. Collins
Born	(1928-09-23)September 23, 1928 Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
Died	April 8, 2006(2006-04-08) (aged 77) Woodstock, Georgia
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
Sporting nationality	United States
Career
Status	Professional
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	7
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	4
PGA Tour Champions	1
Other	2
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	T7: 1961
PGA Championship	T12: 1960
U.S. Open	7th: 1964
The Open Championship	DNP

Early life

Collins was born in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.^[1] He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.

Professional career

Collins joined the PGA Tour in 1958^[1] and won four events between 1959 and 1962.^[2] His first victory came at the 1959 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational by three strokes (280) over Jack Burke Jr. and Tom Nieporte. In 1960, Collins finished in a three-way tie for first at the end of regulation at the Insurance City Open, which he and Jack Fleck lost in a playoff to Arnold Palmer. His best finishes in major championships were T-7 at The Masters in 1961 and a 7th-place finish at the 1964 U.S. Open.^[3] He was a member of the victorious 1961 Ryder Cup team.

Collins was forced to quit the Tour after back surgery in 1963. In 1965, he took a club pro job at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, New York and remained there until December 1981.^[1] He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1982 and won the Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic in his first full season.^[2]

Death

Collins died in Woodstock, Georgia at the age of 77.

Professional wins (7)

PGA Tour wins (4)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Mar 9, 1959	Greater New Orleans Open Invitational	−8 (68-72-70-70=280)	3 strokes	Jack Burke Jr., Tom Nieporte
2	May 2, 1960	Houston Classic	−8 (66-71-68-75=280)	Playoff	Arnold Palmer
3	May 22, 1960	Hot Springs Open Invitational	−13 (68-70-68-69=275)	3 strokes	Pete Cooper
4	Jul 8, 1962	Buick Open Invitational	−4 (70-71-71-72=284)	1 stroke	Dave Ragan

PGA Tour playoff record (1–3)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1960	Phoenix Open Invitational	Jack Fleck	Lost 18-hole playoff; Fleck: −3 (68), Collins: E (71)
2	1960	Houston Classic	Arnold Palmer	Won 18-hole playoff; Collins: −3 (69), Palmer: −1 (71)
3	1960	Insurance City Open Invitational	Jack Fleck, Arnold Palmer	Palmer won with birdie on third extra hole Collins eliminated by birdie on first hole
4	1962	Hot Springs Open Invitational	Al Johnston	Lost to birdie on second extra hole

Source:^[4]

Other wins (2)

• 1956 Metropolitan PGA Championship
• 1975 Metropolitan PGA Championship

Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Aug 22, 1982	Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic	[phone]=285)	1 stroke	Guy Wolstenholme

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 1961 (winners)