Tom Lehman is one of American golf’s most respected long-career professionals. Best known for winning the 1996 Open Championship, he built a rare résumé across the PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA TOUR Champions, where he remains an active competitor in 2026.
Tom Lehman’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Thomas Edward Lehman |
| Nickname | Tom Lehman |
| Date of birth | March 7, 1959 |
| Age | 67 years |
| Birthplace | Austin, Minnesota, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Turned professional | 1982 |
| College | University of Minnesota |
| Current tour/team | PGA TOUR Champions; he has also competed on the European Senior/Legends Tour |
| PGA TOUR wins | 5 |
| PGA TOUR Champions wins | 12 |
| Professional wins | 35, according to the USGA |
| Major titles | 1 regular major and 3 senior majors |
| Career tournament earnings | PGA TOUR official-money figure: $21,509,830; PGA TOUR Champions profile shows $13,696,682 in earnings. |
| Sponsors | N/A |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Spouse | Melissa Lehman |
| Children | Four children: two daughters and two sons |
| @tomlehman_golf |
Lehman was born in Austin, Minnesota, and developed into one of the state’s most successful modern professional golfers. He is a University of Minnesota alumnus, a former world No. 1, and an active PGA TOUR Champions player as of 2026.
Early Career
Tom Lehman grew up in Minnesota and was raised in Alexandria after being born in Austin. Before golf became his focus, he had ambitions in ice hockey. He attended the University of Minnesota from 1978, where he became a three-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten golfer.
Lehman turned professional in 1982, yet his path was far from instant. He played on smaller tours, worked as an assistant professional, and faced difficult financial periods before breaking through on the Ben Hogan Tour in 1991.
Professional Career
Lehman’s breakthrough on the PGA TOUR came in the mid-1990s. He won five PGA TOUR titles, led the money list in 1996 and 1997, and reached world No. 1 for one week in 1997. His defining victory was the 1996 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, where a third-round 64 helped him win by two shots.
He later became a major force on PGA TOUR Champions, winning 12 times, including the 2010 Senior PGA Championship and back-to-back Regions Tradition titles in 2011 and 2012.
Wife
Tom Lehman is married to Melissa Lehman. Public biographies report that the couple have lived for many years in Scottsdale, Arizona, and have four children—two daughters and two sons. The family keeps a comparatively low public profile, so detailed information about the children, including names and occupations, is not publicly available from reliable official golf sources.
Tom Lehman’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Tom Lehman has an estimated net worth of around $40 million. PGA TOUR’s player profile lists $21,509,830 in official PGA TOUR money, while his PGA TOUR Champions profile lists $13,696,682 in earnings as of the available 2026 profile data. Spotrac separately estimates PGA-related career earnings at $23,751,894, including $2,768,147 in major-championship earnings, though methodology can differ from tour accounting.
Prize Money
| Category | Publicly reported figure | Notes |
| PGA TOUR official money | $21,509,830 | Figure listed on PGA TOUR’s career profile |
| PGA TOUR Champions earnings | $13,696,682 | Figure listed on his PGA TOUR Champions profile |
| PGA TOUR major-championship earnings | $2,768,147 | Reported by Spotrac’s PGA earnings database |
| Spotrac PGA-related career earnings | $23,751,894 | Includes PGA earnings and major earnings under Spotrac’s methodology |
| 1996 PGA TOUR money-list earnings | $1,780,159 | Lehman led the PGA TOUR money list that season |
| 2011 PGA TOUR Champions money-list earnings | $2,081,526 | Lehman led the Champions Tour money list |
| 1996 Open Championship winner’s prize | £200,000 | Royal Lytham & St Annes victory |
| 1996 TOUR Championship winner’s prize | $540,000 | Won by six strokes over Brad Faxon |
Career Earnings
| Career category | Earnings / record |
| PGA TOUR official money | $21,509,830 |
| PGA TOUR profile career earnings | $35,151,710 |
| PGA TOUR starts | 493 |
| PGA TOUR cuts made | 345 |
| PGA TOUR wins | 5 |
| PGA TOUR Champions wins | 12 |
| PGA TOUR Champions earnings | $13,696,682 |
| 2026 listed PGA TOUR Champions earnings through August | $56,802 |
Endorsements
A complete, verified list of Tom Lehman’s current endorsements in 2026 is not publicly available. Unlike many modern players whose equipment contracts and sponsor portfolios are routinely announced, Lehman’s official PGA TOUR profile does not provide a current sponsor roster in the publicly available player summary.
His Instagram profile identifies him as a PGA TOUR professional and includes a Cameo link, yet that does not establish an endorsement agreement. As a result, it is more accurate to say that his current sponsorship and equipment arrangements are not publicly available rather than speculate about brands.
Major Championship Results
| Major championship | Best finish | Year | Major wins | Other notable result |
| Masters Tournament | Runner-up | 1994 | 0 | Third place in 1995 |
| U.S. Open | Runner-up | 1996 | 0 | Third place in 1995 and 1997 |
| The Open Championship | Winner | 1996 | 1 | Won at Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| PGA Championship | Tied 10th | 1997 | 0 | One top-10 finish |
| Senior PGA Championship | Winner | 2010 | 1 senior major | Won playoff over Fred Couples and David Frost |
| Regions Tradition | Winner | 2011, 2012 | 2 senior majors | Successfully defended title in 2012 |
FAQs
1. Who is Tom Lehman?
Tom Lehman is an American professional golfer from Austin, Minnesota. He turned professional in 1982, won five PGA TOUR events, and became one of the leading players of the 1990s.
2. What major championship did Tom Lehman win?
Tom Lehman won the 1996 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. He finished two strokes ahead of Ernie Els and Mark McCumber.
3. Was Tom Lehman ever ranked No. 1 in the world?
Yes. Tom Lehman reached No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking in April 1997, holding the position for one week.
4. How many PGA TOUR events did Tom Lehman win?
Tom Lehman won five PGA TOUR events. His first PGA TOUR victory came at the Memorial Tournament in 1994, and his last came at the Phoenix Open in 2000.
5. How many PGA TOUR Champions tournaments has Tom Lehman won?
Tom Lehman has won 12 PGA TOUR Champions events. His senior-tour victories include three senior major championships: the 2010 Senior PGA Championship and the Regions Tradition in 2011 and 2012.
6. Where did Tom Lehman attend college?
Tom Lehman attended the University of Minnesota. During his college career, he became a three-time All-American and an All-Big Ten golfer.
7. When did Tom Lehman turn professional?
Tom Lehman turned professional in 1982 after graduating from the University of Minnesota.
8. Did Tom Lehman play in the Ryder Cup?
Yes. Tom Lehman represented the United States in three Ryder Cup teams and later captained the U.S. team at the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club in Ireland.
9. What awards has Tom Lehman won?
Tom Lehman is the only golfer to be named Player of the Year on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR, and PGA TOUR Champions. He won PGA TOUR Player of the Year in 1996 after winning The Open Championship and the Tour Championship.
10. What was Tom Lehman’s best season on the PGA TOUR?
Tom Lehman’s best PGA TOUR season was 1996. He won the Open Championship and Tour Championship, finished runner-up in the U.S. Open, led the PGA TOUR money list, earned the Vardon Trophy, and was named PGA TOUR Player of the Year.