# José María Cañizares

José María Cañizares (born 18 February 1947) is a Spanish golfer.

## Early life

Cañizares was born in Madrid.

## Professional career

In 1967, he turned professional. He made the top hundred on the European Tour Order of Merit every year from the first season in 1972 through to 1993. He placed in the top ten five times, with a best ranking of fourth in 1983. He won six events on the tour.
Cañizares was a member of four European Ryder Cup teams and had a record of 5 wins, 4 losses and two ties, including 2.5 points in four singles matches. In 1985 his singles victory over Fuzzy Zoeller rubber-stamped a European win that took the trophy from the Americans for the first time in 28 years. In 1989 his putt to beat Ken Green on the 18th at The Belfry ensured a 14–14 tie and keep the cup in European hands.
Cañizares won the World Cup team event for Spain on two occasions. In 1982, his partner was Manuel Piñero. In 1984, he teamed up with José Rivero, and on that occasion he also took the individual prize.
After becoming eligible for senior tournaments in 1997 Cañizares played mainly on the U.S.-based Champions Tour. He won once as a senior, at the 2001 Toshiba Senior Classic. In 2000 he had ten top ten finishes and set a then tour record for season earnings without a win of US$1,155,939. He also played a few times on the European Seniors Tour.

## Personal life

Cañizares' son Alejandro won a European Tour event in 2006 and a second one in 2014.

## Professional wins (19)
### European Tour wins (6)

| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
| 1 | 22 Oct 1972 | Lancia d'Oro | −5 (69-70-75-73=287) | Playoff | Peter Townsend |
| 2 | 1 Jun 1980 | Avis Jersey Open | +1 (71-67-71-72=281) | 2 strokes | Steve Martin |
| 3 | 28 Sep 1980 | Bob Hope British Classic | −19 (68-67-70-64=269) | 1 stroke | Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Brian Waites |
| 4 | 3 May 1981 | Italian Open | −8 (68-71-70-71=280) | Playoff | Bobby Clampett |
| 5 | 25 Sep 1983 | Bob Hope British Classic (2) | −19 (70-65-68-66=269) | 1 stroke | David Feherty |
| 6 | 5 Apr 1992 | Roma Masters | −2 (72-71-69-74=286) | Playoff | Barry Lane |
European Tour playoff record (3–3)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
| 1 | 1972 | Lancia d'Oro | Peter Townsend | Won with birdie on fifth extra hole |
| 2 | 1981 | Italian Open | Bobby Clampett | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 3 | 1983 | Paco Rabanne Open de France | Nick Faldo, David J. Russell | Faldo won with par on third extra hole Russell eliminated by birdie on first hole |
| 4 | 1983 | Martini International | Nick Faldo | Lost to par on third extra hole |
| 5 | 1985 | Cepsa Madrid Open | Manuel Piñero | Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
| 6 | 1992 | Roma Masters | Barry Lane | Won with birdie on second extra hole |

### Safari Circuit wins (1)

| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
| 1 | 11 Mar 1984 | 555 Kenya Open | −7 (69-72-69-67=277) | Playoff | David J. Russell |

### Other wins (11)

* 1970 Spanish Professional Closed Championship
* 1977 Memorial Olivier Barras, Spanish Professional Closed Championship
* 1978 Spanish Professional Closed Championship
* 1982 World Cup of Golf (team with Manuel Piñero), Spanish Professional Closed Championship
* 1984 World Cup of Golf (team with José Rivero), World Cup of Golf Individual Trophy
* 1988 Volvo Open (Spain)
* 1990 Benson & Hedges Trophy (with Tania Abitbol)
* 1991 Spanish Professional Closed Championship

### Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
| 1 | 4 Mar 2001 | Toshiba Senior Classic | −11 (65-70-67=202) | Playoff | Gil Morgan |
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–3)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
| 1 | 1998 | Bell Atlantic Classic | Jay Sigel | Lost to birdie on third extra hole |
| 2 | 1999 | Southwestern Bell Dominion | Bruce Fleisher, John Mahaffey | Mahaffey won with birdie on second extra hole Fleisher eliminated by birdie on first hole |
| 3 | 2000 | ACE Group Classic | Walter Hall, Lanny Wadkins, Tom Watson | Wadkins won with par on third extra hole Hall and Watson eliminated by par on first hole |
| 4 | 2001 | Toshiba Senior Classic | Gil Morgan | Won with birdie on ninth extra hole |

## Results in major championships

| Tournament | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
| The Open Championship | CUT | | | | |
| PGA Championship | | | | | |
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
| The Open Championship | CUT | CUT | T22 | CUT | T36 | T11 | T11 | CUT | CUT | |
| PGA Championship | | | | | | | CUT | | | |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
| The Open Championship | 72 | CUT | CUT | | CUT |
| PGA Championship | | | | | |
Note: Cañizares never played in the Masters Tournament nor the U.S. Open.
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1975 and 1981 Open Championships) "T" = tied

## Team appearances

* World Cup (representing Spain): 1974, 1980, 1982 (winners), 1983, 1984 (winners, individual winner), 1985, 1987, 1989
* Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1981, 1983, 1985 (winners), 1989 (tied, cup retained)
* Double Diamond International (representing Continental Europe): 1974
* Sotogrande Match/Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing the Continent of Europe): 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, (representing Spain) 1984
* Philip Morris International (representing Spain): 1975
* Dunhill Cup (representing Spain): 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990
* Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1997 (winners)
* UBS Warburg Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 2001