Golfing legend dies aged 85 as PGA tour pays tribute

Golf legend Jim Colbert has passed away at the age of 85.

The American, who became one of the most recognisable figures in professional golf, claimed eight victories on the PGA Tour throughout his career.

His success continued well into his later years, with Colbert securing an impressive 20 triumphs on the Senior Tour.

The PGA Champions Tour paid tribute to the late 85-year-old.

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It said: "Colbert made 1,091 combined starts across the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.

"Even though golf wasn't in his original career plans, he made it his life's work. Rest in peace, Jim Colbert."

The PGA Tour did not give a cause of death in its statement.

Arguably, no golfer was more identifiable than Colbert, who spent his entire career virtually sporting a distinctive bucket hat.

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The headwear became his trademark after a frightening incident in 1957, when the then-teenager nearly collapsed from sunstroke during a tournament.

Medical professionals insisted he wear protective headgear whenever he played.

Though he experimented briefly with a baseball cap in 1970, Colbert soon returned to his signature look.

He was well aware of what the hat meant to his image, once saying: "Lee Trevino has the sombrero. Jack Nicklaus has the bear. I have my hat."

The accessory became as synonymous with Colbert as any of his tournament victories.

Colbert's path to golfing greatness began unexpectedly, as he initially attended Kansas State University on a football scholarship.

An injury forced him to change sports and take up golf instead, a decision that would prove transformative.

By 1964, his game entered a new level, with him finishing second at the NCAA Championship.

Two years later, he turned professional and joined the PGA Tour.

His maiden tour victory arrived at the 1969 Monsanto Invitational Open, with further wins following in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1980.

At major championships, his finest performances came in 1974, when he tied for fourth at the Masters and tied for fifth at the US Open.

His peak season arrived in 1983, when he defeated Fuzzy Zoeller in a play-off at the Colonial National Invitation before claiming the Texas Open by five strokes.

Colbert's career was interrupted in 1996 when he received a prostate cancer diagnosis, requiring surgery to remove his prostate.

Remarkably, he returned to competitive golf two years later and demonstrated his resilience by winning the Transamerica tournament.

After buying his first course in 1980, Jim Colbert Golf eventually expanded to encompass 23 courses, employing 700 staff and generating gross revenue of $50million (£36.9m).

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