1978 - The Year in Golf, 1978

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The USGA introduces a modified version of the Stimpmeter, a device invented by Eddie Stimpson, to golf. The Stimpmeter provides a uniform way of measuring green speeds.

Nancy Lopez bursts onto the scene with five consecutive wins on the LPGA Tour, and nine wins overall.

Gary Player shoots 64 in the final round to win his third Masters.

Jack Nicklaus wins his third British Open, giving him at least three wins in each of the four majors.

Jack Nicklaus birdies the final five holes to win the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic by one shot.

At age 46, Miller Barber shoots a final-round 65 to win the Phoenix Open. It's his 11th and final PGA Tour victory.

The Legends of Golf, a team event pairing senior golfers for a tournament in Austin, Tex., debuts. The Senior Tour will eventually grow from this event. Sam Snead and Gardner Dickinson team for the win.

Money Leaders:

PGA: Tom Watson, $362,428.93
LPGA: Nancy Lopez, $189,814
European: Seve Ballesteros, Spain, £ 54,348

Scoring Leaders:

PGA (Vardon Trophy): Tom Watson, 70.16
LPGA (Vare Trophy): Nancy Lopez, 71.76

Men's Major Championship Winners:

The Masters: Gary Player
U.S. Open: Andy North
British Open: Jack Nicklaus
PGA Championship: John Mahaffey

Women's Major Championship Winners:

LPGA: Nancy Lopez
U.S. Open: Hollis Stacy

Amateur Champions:

U.S.: John Cook
British: Peter McEvoy
U.S. Women's: Cathy Sherk
British Women's: Edwina Kennedy

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