David Toms Bio
David Wayne Toms (born January 4, 1967) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. From 1992 to 2017, Toms was a member of the PGA Tour, where he won 13 events, including one major, the 2001 PGA Championship. He was in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for 175 weeks between 2001 and 2006, and ranked as high as fifth in 2002 and 2003. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Toms built his career on accuracy off the tee and a steady short game, traits that helped him thrive in major championships for more than two decades.
Early Life and Background
David Wayne Toms was born on January 4, 1967, in Monroe, in northeastern Louisiana. He is the son of Thomas Edward “Buster” Toms, who was from Minden in northwestern Louisiana. Toms grew up in a region with a strong tradition of competitive golf, and he developed his game on local courses before gaining national attention as a teenager.
In 1984, Toms won the 15-17 Boys’ event at the Junior World Golf Championships, an early sign of the consistency that would later define his professional career. As a youth, he also played little league baseball alongside future Major League Baseball players Albert Belle and Ben McDonald. After graduating from Airline High School in Bossier City, Louisiana, he attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he played on the university’s golf team.
Path to Golf
Toms began his professional career in 1989, working his way up the developmental tours before earning a place on the PGA Tour. His breakthrough came in 1991, when he finished tied for 23rd at PGA Tour qualifying school to secure his first full tour card for the 1992 season. After several seasons of limited success, he lost his playing rights in 1994 and spent 1995 on the Nike Tour, the PGA Tour’s main development circuit.
On the Nike Tour, Toms won the Greater Greenville Classic and the Wichita Open, a strong run that returned him to the PGA Tour in 1996. His steady play in the minors sharpened his iron play and course management skills, two areas that became trademarks of his game. By the late 1990s, he had established himself as a reliable contender on the PGA Tour.
David Toms Career
Early Career (1989-1998)
Toms’ first PGA Tour victory came at the 1997 Quad City Classic, where he won by three strokes over Brandel Chamblee. The following year, he posted a runner-up finish at the Tucson Chrysler Classic and recorded a tie for sixth at the Masters, his best major championship result at that point in his career. These early results showed his ability to perform on the game’s biggest stages.
By the end of 1998, Toms had earned his reputation as a steady ball-striker who rarely made big mistakes. His game fit well on tight, demanding courses, and he continued to refine his approach to the majors heading into the next decade.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1999-2001)
In 1999, Toms won twice, claiming the Sprint International and the Buick Challenge, both by three-stroke margins. In 2000, he added the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill, defeating Mike Weir in a sudden-death playoff for his fourth PGA Tour title. These wins signaled that Toms was ready to compete for the largest prizes in the sport.
The standout year of Toms’ career came in 2001. He captured the Compaq Classic of New Orleans by two strokes over Phil Mickelson, then won the PGA Championship by one stroke over Mickelson, claiming his first major title. His winning total of 265 was, at the time, the lowest 72-hole score ever recorded in a major championship. Toms closed the year with a third victory at the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill and a playoff appearance at The Tour Championship, where he finished tied for second with Sergio García and Ernie Els behind winner Mike Weir.
Sustained Success (2002-2006)
Toms remained a consistent winner in the years that followed. In 2002, he finished runner-up at the Mercedes Championship and recorded twelve additional top-10 finishes. He won the Wachovia Championship in 2003 and the FedEx St. Jude Classic the same year, then defended the FedEx St. Jude Classic successfully in 2004 for his tenth PGA Tour title. In 2005, Toms captured the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship with a commanding 6&5 final win over Chris DiMarco, defeating Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, and Ian Poulter along the way. In 2006, he won the Sony Open in Hawaii by five strokes and added two more top-10 finishes early in the season.
Comeback Years (2007-2012)
Toms continued to post strong results, including a tie for fifth at the 2007 U.S. Open and a tie for fourth at the 2012 U.S. Open. In 2011, after losing a playoff to K. J. Choi at The Players Championship, he responded the following week by winning the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial by one stroke over Charlie Wi. That victory was his first PGA Tour win in more than five years and moved him back into the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Driving Style and Strengths
Toms built his career on accuracy off the tee and dependable iron play, traits that suited him well on tight, tree-lined courses. His calm temperament and strategic approach made him a difficult opponent in match-play formats, including his dominant run to the 2005 WGC-Accenture Match Play title. He paired his ball-striking with a steady short game, allowing him to grind out pars when his length off the tee left him in difficult positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Toms’ 2001 PGA Championship win is the defining moment of his career, a one-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson that produced the lowest 72-hole score in major championship history at the time. His 2005 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship title remains his only World Golf Championship win, and his 2011 playoff loss and rebound victory at Colonial showcased his resilience under pressure.
David Toms Career Wins
Across his career, Toms has accumulated 22 professional wins, including 13 on the PGA Tour, two on the Nike Tour, one on the T. C. Jordan Tour, and four on the PGA Tour Champions. He also won one World Golf Championship and the 2001 PGA Championship, his lone major title.
PGA Tour Highlights
Toms recorded 13 PGA Tour victories, beginning with the 1997 Quad City Classic and concluding with the 2011 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. His first win came by three strokes over Brandel Chamblee, while his most recent PGA Tour title came one week after his playoff loss to K. J. Choi at The Players Championship. His major championship victory at the 2001 PGA Championship remains the crown jewel of his PGA Tour resume.
Other Wins and Performances
Toms won twice on the Nike Tour in 1995, the Greater Greenville Classic and the Wichita Open, results that helped him return to the PGA Tour. He has also won four times on the PGA Tour Champions since joining the senior circuit, continuing to add to his professional trophy collection.
David Toms Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
David Wayne Toms was born in Monroe, Louisiana, and raised with deep ties to northern Louisiana, where his father, Thomas Edward “Buster” Toms, was from Minden. He attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he played on the university’s golf team and developed into a polished amateur player.
Personal Life
Toms resides in Shreveport, Louisiana. He and his wife, Sonya, have two children, Carter and Anna. In 2015, his son Carter signed to play golf at Louisiana State University. In 2005, Toms underwent heart surgery with ablation to address nerves that were causing a rapid heartbeat. Off the course, Toms established the David Toms Foundation in 2003, raising more than $1.5 million for Hurricane Katrina relief and supporting underprivileged, abused, and abandoned children.
2025 Season Performance
As a member of the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, David Toms continues to compete in senior events, drawing on the experience and accuracy that defined his PGA Tour career. His steady ball-striking and match-play experience have kept him competitive on a circuit known for its deep fields of major champions and longtime tour winners.
Toms has remained active in select events, balancing his playing schedule with his golf course design business. His early work as a lead designer included Carter Plantation in Springfield, Louisiana, a project that has helped shape the next phase of his career in the sport.
Looking ahead, Toms is positioned to add to his four PGA Tour Champions wins while mentoring younger players in major championship preparation. His continued presence on the senior circuit underscores his lasting impact on American professional golf.