When it comes to golf, David Graham is a citizen of the world. He has won 36 tournaments, including two Major Championships, on six different continents and as a result, takes his place in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
A Melbourne, Australia native, Graham was first introduced to golf in his early youth as he biked past the Wattle Park nine-hole golf course on his way to school each day. As with most young people, his curiosity got the best of him and he walked into the golf shop to explore. After speaking with the club pro, he was offered a weekend job on the golf course.
He fell in love with the game and found that he had a talent with the clubs. Interestingly, he began playing left-handed and continued for four years until George Naismith, his coach and mentor, convinced him to switch to playing right-handed. Graham remembered that it took him at least 18 months before he won another event.
Graham quit school at age 13 to pursue his dream of playing professional golf. In 1962, at age 16, Graham turned professional and set out on the path he set before him. After winning a few tournaments in Australia, he made the decision in 1969 to move to the United States to try his hand on the PGA TOUR.
Although living in the U.S., he continued to play worldwide. He won the Thailand Open Championship in 1970, the Caracas Open in 1971, the Australian Open and the South African PGA in 1977, followed by the Mexican Open in 1980 and back-to-back wins at the European Trophée Lancôme in 1981 and 1982.
