Jack NewtonOAM (30 January 1950 – 14 April 2022) was an Australian professional golfer. Newton had early success in Australia, winning the 1972 Amoco Forbes Classic. He soon moved on to the British PGA where he won three times and finished runner-up at the 1975 Open Championship. Shortly thereafter, Newton started playing on the PGA Tour where he won one event, the 1978 Buick-Goodwrench Open. During the era, Newton still played extensively in his home country culminating with a win at the 1979 Australian Open. Four years later, in 1983, Newton had a near-fatal accident when he accidentally walked into the spinning propeller of an aeroplane, losing his right arm and right eye. Despite the tragedy Newton managed to survive and, though unable to continue as a professional golfer, was able to work a number of golf-related jobs for the remainder of his life.
At the 1975 Open Championship at Carnoustie in Scotland, Newton lost in a playoff to Tom Watson. In the third round, Newton set a course record of 65, despite having injured an ankle so severely on the practice tee prior to the start of the championship, that he had it professionally wrapped each day, and was subjected to pain-killing injections. In the final round, Newton was the leader during the back-nine but dropped shots in three of the last four holes. Watson holed a 20-foot putt for a birdie on the 72nd hole to tie Newton. In the 18-hole playoff on the following day, Watson defeated Newton by one stroke (71−72). Newton later said that the turning point in the playoff was when Watson chipped in for an eagle at the 14th hole.
On 24 July 1983, during the height of his professional career, Newton had a near-fatal accident when he walked into the spinning propeller of a Cessna aeroplane from which he was getting off at Sydney Airport. He lost his right arm and eye, and sustained severe abdominal injuries. A severe rainstorm was in progress at the time, and in addition, safety aspects near the plane were deficient.
When two passengers had not arrived at the aircraft by a pre-arranged time, the pilot commenced to taxi for departure. After the aircraft had travelled a short distance, one of the missing passengers approached the right hand door. The pilot stopped the aircraft, and shortly afterwards the other passenger was seen moving along the left side of the aircraft towards the nose. The pilot shouted a warning and moved to shut down the engine, but the passenger was struck by the propeller.
Immediately after the accident, doctors gave Newton a 50–50 chance of surviving. He spent several days in a coma and eight weeks in intensive care. After a prolonged rehabilitation from his injuries, Newton returned to public life as a television and radio golf commentator, newspaper reporter, golf course designer, public speaker and chairman of the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation. He taught himself to play golf one-handed, swinging the club with his left hand in a right-handed stance. He typically scored in the mid-80s.
Personal life
Newton married his wife Jackie in 1974; they had two children, Kristie and Clint. Clint Newton played rugby league, while Kristie is also a professional golfer.
In 2003, Newton was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis, and was rushed to hospital.
He died on 14 April 2022 at the age of 72 due to health complications, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2020.
Awards and honors
In 1973, the New South Wales PGA bestowed upon him its Most Improved Golfer Award.
In 2007, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to golf, particularly through a range of executive, youth development, and fundraising roles.
↑"Devlin shares golf lead". The Canberra Times. Vol.44, no.12439. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 October 1969. p.34. Retrieved 15 April 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Sporting world". The Canberra Times. Vol.46, no.13208. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 August 1972. p.12. Retrieved 15 April 2022– via National Library of Australia.
12"Unknown North takes Open". The Canberra Times. Vol.52, no.15612. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 June 1978. p.28. Retrieved 16 April 2022– via National Library of Australia.
12"Newton takes open by a shot". The Canberra Times. Vol.54, no.16126. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 November 1979. p.16. Retrieved 22 November 2020– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Charge wins for Newton". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 18 December 1972. p.21. Retrieved 30 November 2023– via Google News Archive.
↑"Biggest win". The Canberra Times. Vol.46, no.13051. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 February 1972. p.18. Retrieved 15 April 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 February 1972. p.13. Retrieved 9 December 2025– via Newspapers.com.
↑Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. Vol.1. McFarland. ISBN978-0-7864-3360-5.
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