Jim Colbert, the charismatic golfer known for his signature bucket hat and a remarkable 20 wins on the PGA Tour Champions, passed away on May 10 at the age of 85. His career was a testament to resilience, turning a football injury into a legendary golf journey that spanned decades.
Born in New Jersey on March 9, 1941, Colbert initially earned a football scholarship to Kansas State University. But when an injury ended his gridiron dreams, he pivoted to golf—a move that would define his life. After finishing second in the NCAA Championship in 1964, he turned professional the following year. His first PGA Tour victory came in 1969 at the Monsanto Open Invitational in Florida, where he topped Deane Beman (who later became the tour's commissioner) and pocketed $20,000. His last PGA Tour title was the 1983 Texas Open, and over his career, he played in 44 major championships, notching three top-five finishes.
Colbert was never short on stories, and one of his most memorable came from the 1974 Masters. In a 2007 interview with Golf Digest, he recalled being in contention on Sunday when he missed a three-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole. After a solid drive on the 11th, he asked his caddie for advice on the approach shot. "I think the putt you just missed is the one we needed to win," the caddie replied. Colbert fired him on the spot, but the caddie refused to leave, and the two grumbled at each other for the rest of the round. The tension peaked on the 15th hole, where Colbert's brilliant approach rolled back into the pond, leading to a bogey that all but ended his chances for a green jacket.
But the day wasn't over. On the 18th hole, Colbert hit an 8-iron approach that landed directly in the cup for an eagle-2. He shot 73, tying for fourth place—three shots behind winner Gary Player. As the gallery erupted, with his fired caddie still walking alongside, Colbert tipped his bucket hat and muttered under his breath, "That f---ing figures." It was pure Colbert: gritty, unfiltered, and unforgettable.
His bucket hat became an iconic part of his look, a symbol of his no-nonsense style and colorful personality. Whether on the PGA Tour or the Champions circuit, Colbert brought a gambler's spirit to the course. "Golf is just like gambling," he once said. "If I birdie three holes in a row and I'm in the next..." His legacy lives on in every player who wears a hat with attitude and plays with heart.