Australian golfing great Peter Thomson has died

Thomson had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than four years

Five-time British Open golfing champion Peter Thomson has died at the age of 88

Golf Australia says the family of five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson has announced his death. He was 88.

Thomson had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than four years and died at his Melbourne home surrounded by family members on Wednesday morning.

Born on August 23, 1929, Thomson was two months short of his 89th birthday.

The first Australian to win the British Open, Thomson went on to secure the title five times between 1954 and 1965, a record equaled only by American Tom Watson.

On the American senior circuit, he won nine times in 1985.