Calcutta/Melbourne: Five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson died at his home in Melbourne on Wednesday after a four-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Golf Australia said. He was 88.

Thomson was the first from the country to win the British Open when he took the title in 1954. He won it again in 1955, 1956 and 1958, and was runner-up in 1957. He also won the Indian Open thrice.

Thomson is survived by his wife Mary, a son and three daughters, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Born on August 23, 1929, Thomson 75 tournaments around the world. His last tournament win was the 1988 British PGA Senior Tournament. Thomson also led the Internationals to their famous Presidents Cup victory in 1988, the year he was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The Australian won the Indian Open in its inaugural year, 1964, and then again in 1966 and 1976. Thomson was the first golfer to win the Indian Open three times – later emulated by Jyoti Randhawa in 2007.

Thomson also helped re-design the Delhi Golf Club and the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

Thomson won the fifth of his British Open titles in 1965, a record only since matched by American Tom Watson, who won the last of his five titles in 1983.