Jim Colbert, a golfer known for wearing his signature bucket hat while out on the course, has passed away at the age of 85. The PGA Tour announced the news but did not provide a cause of death.
Videos by FanBuzz
Colbert nearly collapsed from sunstroke during a tournament in 1957. He began wearing a hat upon recommendation from his doctor. He opted for the bucket hat, which became his signature look throughout his career.
Colbert, a New Jersey native, did not start his athletic career focusing on golf. He actually received a football scholarship to Kansas State, but an injury forced him to make a change. He began competing on the green, and he finished second in the 1964 NCAA Championship.
Jim Colbert, an eight-time PGA TOUR winner who added 20 titles on PGA TOUR Champions, died Sunday at 85.
Colbert, born in New Jersey, played golf and football in his youth and received a football scholarship to Kansas State University. An injury ended his football career and he… pic.twitter.com/vjLaPOzwgS
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 11, 2026
He went pro after college and made his rookie debut in 1966. He won his first event in 1969, the Monsanto Open in Florida. He then went on to win seven more times. This included two wins during the 1983 season, his best as a pro.
Colbert, who also spent time working as an analyst for ESPN, moved to the PGA Tour Champions circuit after turning 50. He won 20 events on this tour, becoming one of only 11 players to achieve this feat. He even won Comeback Player of the Year in 1998, two years after being diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergoing surgery.
The veteran golfer did not simply focus on his playing career. He also heavily invested in the sport through other avenues. According to the PGA Tour, he purchased a golf course in Las Vegas in 1980. He eventually owned 23 while hiring 700 employees.
The veteran golfer was inducted into five Hall of Fames for his contributions to the sport. This included 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).
