Stan Thirsk, a mentor and golf instructor to Tom Watson, dies at age 87

Stan Thirsk, a mentor of Kansas City golf legend Tom Watson, has died.

Thirsk’s wife, Audrey, confirmed that Thirsk died Saturday. He was 87.

Thirsk is credited with teaching Watson the finer points of the game, but when Thirsk was honored for being inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame in 1992, Watson said he learned a lot more than that from Thirsk.

“The greatest thing Stan has taught me is character,” Watson said. “He’s been more than a father to me on the golf course.”

He then looked Thirsk in the eye and said: “Thank you for all you’ve given me over the years. I’ll never forget you.”

Thirsk was the longtime head pro at Kansas City Country Club and also was involved with Blue Hills Country Club.

Thirsk also was an accomplished golfer. He competed in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship as well as the senior version of those events, and he was the Senior PGA Professional National Champion in 1989.

Saturday night, Watson posted this tribute on Twitter:

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 9:46 PM with the headline "Stan Thirsk, a mentor and golf instructor to Tom Watson, dies at age 87."