James Joseph Colbert (March 9, 1941 – May 10, 2026) was an American professional golfer.
Early life and amateur career Colbert was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on March 9, 1941. He attended Kansas State University on a football scholarship, but after sustaining an injury he turned to golf. In 1964, he finished second in the NCAA golf championships. Colbert graduated in 1965.
Professional career In 1965, Colbert turned professional. Colbert won eight times on the PGA Tour, including twice in 1983 when he finished a career best fifteenth on the money list. He played in 44 major championships, collecting three top-five finishes.
As a senior Colbert won 20 tournaments on the Champions Tour, including a senior major championship, the 1993 Senior Players Championship.
Colbert worked as a golf analyst for ESPN and had his own golf course management company based in Pahrump, Nevada. He also helped design a golf course in Manhattan, Kansas, named Colbert Hills, which was ranked by Golfweek as the best public course in Kansas, and by Golf Digest as the eighth-best course overall in the state.
Colbert was known for wearing a distinctive bucket hat on the golf course.
Thoroughbred racing With an interest in thoroughbred racing, in 1993 Colbert purchased a racemare named Fit to Lead in partnership with Connie Sczesny and the Chairman of Hollywood Park Racetrack, Randall D. Hubbard. Trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Richard Mandella for the three partners, Fit to Lead won several graded stakes including the Princess Stakes at Hollywood Park plus at Churchill Downs, the Fleur de Lis Stakes and Louisville Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Death Colbert died on May 10, 2026, at the age of 85.
Awards and honors Colbert is enshrined in the: Kansas State Athletic Hall of Fame (1991), Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (1998), Kansas City Golf Hall of Fame (2018), Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame (2019), and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame (2000).
Professional wins (35) PGA Tour wins (8) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1 Mar 18, 1969Monsanto Open Invitational−17 (69-67-64-67=267)2 strokes Deane Beman2Jul 16, 1972Greater Milwaukee Open−13 (66-67-69-69=271)1 stroke Buddy Allin, Chuck Courtney, George Johnson, Grier Jones3Mar 18, 1973Greater Jacksonville Open−9 (70-65-71-73=279)1 stroke Lou Graham, Johnny Miller, Dan Sikes, Jim Wiechers4Jun 23, 1974American Golf Classic +1 (70-67-74-70=281)Playoff Gay Brewer, Forrest Fezler, Raymond Floyd5Oct 26, 1975Walt Disney World National Team Championship(with Dean Refram)−36 (63-63-62-64=252)3 strokes Bobby Cole and John Schlee, Victor Regalado and Charlie Sifford 6Feb 19, 1980Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open−22 (66-68-66-70=270)4 strokes Dan Halldorson7May 15, 1983Colonial National Invitation−2 (69-67-70-72=278)Playoff Fuzzy Zoeller8Oct 2, 1983Texas Open−19 (66-62-66-67=261)5 strokes Mark Pfeil
PGA Tour playoff record (2–0) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11974American Golf Classic Gay Brewer, Forrest Fezler, Raymond FloydWon with par on second extra holeBrewer and Fezler eliminated by par on first hole 21983Colonial National Invitation Fuzzy ZoellerWon with par on sixth extra hole
Other wins (1) 1987 Jerry Ford Invitational
Senior PGA Tour wins (20) Legend Senior PGA Tour major championships (1) Tour Championships (1) Other Senior PGA Tour (18) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jun 30, 1991Southwestern Bell Classic−9 (66-67-68=201)3 strokes Al Geiberger, Larry Laoretti2Oct 6, 1991Vantage Championship−11 (68-70-67=205)1 stroke George Archer, Jim Dent, Gibby Gilbert3Dec 8, 1991First Development Kaanapali Classic −15 (66-61-68=195)2 strokes Dale Douglass4Feb 16, 1992GTE Suncoast Classic−13 (66-70-64=200)Playoff George Archer5Oct 4, 1992Vantage Championship (2)−12 (65-67=132)2 strokes Jim Dent6Feb 7, 1993Royal Caribbean Classic−14 (65-64-70=199)1 stroke Raymond Floyd, Al Geiberger7Jun 27, 1993Ford Senior Players Championship−10 (67-72-70-69=278)1 stroke Raymond Floyd8Jul 10, 1994Kroger Senior Classic−14 (66-64-69=199)2 strokes Raymond Floyd 9Jul 25, 1994Southwestern Bell Classic (2)−14 (68-63-65=196)2 strokes Isao Aoki, Larry Gilbert10Jan 15, 1995Senior Tournament of Champions−7 (72-66-71=209)Playoff Jim Albus11Apr 30, 1995Las Vegas Senior Classic−11 (65-71-69=205)2 strokes Jim Dent, Raymond Floyd, Rocky Thompson12May 21, 1995Bell Atlantic Classic−3 (68-71-68=207)1 stroke J. C. Snead13Nov 6, 1995Energizer Senior Tour Championship−6 (68-69-71-74=282)1 stroke Raymond Floyd14Mar 17, 1996Toshiba Senior Classic−12 (68-65-68=201)2 strokes Bob Eastwood15Apr 28, 1996Las Vegas Senior Classic (2)−9 (63-74-70=207)Playoff Bob Charles, Dave Stockton16May 12, 1996Nationwide Championship−10 (71-66-69=206)3 strokes Isao Aoki17Sep 29, 1996Vantage Championship (3)−9 (65-70-69=204)1 stroke Hale Irwin, Gary Player18Oct 20, 1996Raley's Gold Rush Classic−14 (67-68-67=202)5 strokes Dave Stockton19Oct 11, 1998The Transamerica−11 (70-68-67=205)1 stroke David Lundstrom20Mar 11, 2001SBC Senior Classic−12 (67-67-70=204)1 stroke José María Cañizares
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (3–5) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11991Murata Reunion Pro-Am Chi-Chi RodríguezLost to par on fourth extra hole21992GTE Suncoast Classic George ArcherWon with birdie on fourth extra hole31992Vintage ARCO Invitational Tommy Aaron, Mike HillHill won with birdie on first extra hole41993First of America Classic George Archer, Chi-Chi RodríguezArcher won with par on third extra holeRodríguez eliminated by par on first hole51994GTE West Classic Jay SigelLost to birdie on fourth extra hole61995Senior Tournament of Champions Jim Albus Won with birdie on third extra hole71996Las Vegas Senior Classic Bob Charles, Dave StocktonWon with par on fourth extra holeCharles eliminated by par on first hole81998Cadillac NFL Golf Classic Bob Dickson, Larry NelsonDickson won with birdie on first extra hole
Other senior wins (6) 1995 Diners Club Matches (with Bob Murphy) 1996 Diners Club Matches (with Bob Murphy) 2000 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Andy North) 2001 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Andy North) 2013 Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Bob Murphy) 2014 Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf - Legends Division (with Jim Thorpe)
Results in major championships Tournament196719681969Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipWD Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentCUTT43T4CUTT12T14T32U.S. OpenCUTT3T6310T5CUTT55CUTT41The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTT46CUTT12T28T28T5769T46 Tournament19801981198219831984198519861987Masters TournamentT14T25CUTU.S. OpenT47T26WDT38CUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipT30T56T16T36T25CUTCUT
WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1984 Open Championship) "T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 1 1 5 10 7U.S. Open 0 0 1 2 3 3 16 9The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 3 17 12Totals 0 0 1 3 4 11 44 28 Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1978 PGA – 1982 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1974 Masters – 1974 U.S. Open)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament19741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987The Players ChampionshipCUTWDT43CUT8T28T14T4CUT66T20T33T21WD
CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place
Senior major championships Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1993 Ford Senior Players Championship −10 (67-72-70-69=278) 1 stroke Raymond Floyd
U.S. national team appearances Professional Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing Senior PGA Tour): 1996 Gillette Tour Challenge Championship: 1997 (winners with Nick Price and Kelly Robbins)
See also 1965 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates List of golfers with most PGA Tour Champions wins
Notes
References
External links
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame profile