Simon Owen
The New Zealand golfer who came agonizingly close to snatching the British Open from Tom Watson in a legendary duel at Turnberry.
Born 1950 (age 76)·New Zealand golfer·Birthday: December 10·Baby Boomers
Biography
Simon Owen emerged from the golf courses of New Zealand to briefly hold the sporting world’s attention in the summer of 1978. With a smooth swing and a calm demeanor, he turned professional and found his greatest moment on the links of Turnberry during the Open Championship. Entering the final round, he was a relative unknown to international audiences, but he charged up the leaderboard with a fearless performance. On the famous par-5 17th, he seized the outright lead, sending a ripple of shock through the galleries. His duel with the great Tom Watson became instant folklore, though Watson’s legendary birdie on the same hole minutes later reclaimed the lead for good. Owen finished third, but his name was etched into Open history. His career continued with successes on various tours, including multiple wins in Europe and Asia, solidifying his status as one of New Zealand's finest golfing exports.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Simon was born in 1950, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Simon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1950
#1 Movie
Cinderella
Best Picture
All About Eve
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Simon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1950Born
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1955Started school
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1963Became a teenager
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Could drive
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1968Could vote
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Turned 21
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1980Turned 30
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 40
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 50
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 60
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 70
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 76 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished third in the 1978 Open Championship at Turnberry after holding the lead on the final back nine.
- Won the 1979 German Open on the European Tour, defeating a strong international field.
- Captured the 1984 Singapore Open, a prestigious event on the Asian circuit.
- Represented New Zealand in multiple World Cup of Golf tournaments throughout his career.
Did You Know?
He was nicknamed 'Charger' for his aggressive style of play, particularly evident in his 1978 Open run.
He designed several golf courses in New Zealand after his playing career slowed.
He won the New Zealand PGA Championship four times, a record he shares with Bob Charles.
In the 1978 Open, he famously hit a 3-wood for his second shot into the 17th green to set up an eagle chance.
“I had the lead at the Open with three holes to play, and I wouldn't change a thing.”
