Curtis Strange
Curtis Strange | ||
---|---|---|
Personal information | ||
Full name | Curtis Northrup Strange | |
Born | PGA Player of the Year 1988 | | January 30, 1955
Curtis Northrup Strange (born January 30, 1955) is an American
Amateur career
Strange and his identical twin brother, Allan,
In the spring of 1976, Strange intended to transition from amateur to professional despite still being a junior in college. At this point, he was known for having one of the best amateur careers of all time. According to the golf columnist for The Charlotte Observer, Richard Sink, "Strange, only a junior, will leave behind a collegiate record perhaps unmatched." He finished in the top ten in all of his 25 college matches and finished in the top 5 in 21 of those. He won nine individual events and was the youngest NCAA Champion in golf at the time.[6] In 1976, he was ranked #9 amateur in the country by Golf Digest.[7]
Professional career
Strange was one of the leading players on the PGA Tour in the 1980s; 16 of his 17 tour victories took place in that decade. He topped the money list in 1985, 1987, and 1988, when he became the first to win a million dollars in official money in a season. His two majors were consecutive U.S. Opens in 1988 and 1989. Since World War II, only three golfers have successfully defended their titles at the U.S. Open; Brooks Koepka in 2018, Strange in 1989, and Ben Hogan in 1951. The 1989 U.S. Open was Strange's last win on tour. In other majors, he led midway through the final round at The Masters in 1985, but finished two strokes back. Strange was also a runner-up at the PGA Championship in 1989, one stroke back. He played on five Ryder Cup teams (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1995) and captained the team in 2002.[3]
Despite skipping the Open Championship several times in his prime,
Later career and honors
After reaching the age of 50 in January
In this capacity he has provided commentary for several notable events, including
Amateur wins
- 1974 NCAA Division I Championship
- 1975 North and South Amateur, Eastern Amateur
Professional wins (29)
PGA Tour wins (17)
Legend |
Major championships (2) |
Tour Championships (1) |
Other PGA Tour (14) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oct 21, 1979 | Pensacola Open | 69-71-62-69=271 | −17 | 1 stroke | Billy Kratzert |
2 | May 4, 1980 | Michelob-Houston Open
|
66-63-66-71=266 | −18 | Playoff | Lee Trevino |
3 | Aug 17, 1980 | Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic
|
69-65-70-69=273 | −11 | 2 strokes | Gibby Gilbert |
4 | Aug 21, 1983 | Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open
|
69-62-69-68=268 | −16 | 1 stroke | Jay Haas, Jack Renner |
5 | Sep 30, 1984 | LaJet Golf Classic
|
68-67-67-71=273 | −15 | 2 strokes | Mark O'Meara |
6 | Mar 3, 1985 | Honda Classic
|
67-64-70-74=275 | −13 | Playoff | Peter Jacobsen |
7 | Mar 24, 1985 | Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational
|
69-73-64-66-66=338 | −17 | 1 stroke | Mike Smith |
8 | Jul 7, 1985 | Canadian Open | 69-69-68-73=279 | −9 | 2 strokes | Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman |
9 | Apr 27, 1986 | Houston Open (2) | 72-68-68-66=274 | −14 | Playoff | Calvin Peete |
10 | Jul 5, 1987 | Canadian Open (2) | 71-70-66-69=276 | −12 | 3 strokes | David Frost, Jodie Mudd, Nick Price |
11 | Aug 2, 1987 | Federal Express St. Jude Classic
|
70-68-68-69=275 | −13 | 1 stroke | Russ Cochran, Mike Donald, Tom Kite, Denis Watson |
12 | Aug 30, 1987 | NEC World Series of Golf | 70-66-68-71=275 | −5 | 3 strokes | Fulton Allem |
13 | May 1, 1988 | Independent Insurance Agent Open
|
69-68-66-67=270 | −18 | Playoff | Greg Norman |
14 | May 29, 1988 | Memorial Tournament | 73-70-64-67=274 | −14 | 2 strokes | David Frost, Hale Irwin |
15 | Jun 20, 1988 | U.S. Open | 70-67-69-72=278 | −6 | Playoff | Nick Faldo |
16 | Nov 14, 1988 | Nabisco Championship
|
64-71-70-74=279 | −9 | Playoff | Tom Kite |
17 | Jun 18, 1989 | U.S. Open (2) | 71-64-73-70=278 | −2 | 1 stroke | Chip Beck, Mark McCumber, Ian Woosnam |
PGA Tour playoff record (6–3)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1980 | Michelob-Houston Open
|
Lee Trevino | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 1981 | Tournament Players Championship | Raymond Floyd, Barry Jaeckel | Floyd won with par on first extra hole |
3 | 1983 | Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open
|
Gil Morgan, Lanny Wadkins | Morgan won with birdie on second extra hole |
4 | 1985 | Honda Classic
|
Peter Jacobsen | Won with par on first extra hole |
5 | 1986 | Houston Open | Calvin Peete | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
6 | 1988 | Independent Insurance Agent Open
|
Greg Norman | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
7 | 1988 | U.S. Open | Nick Faldo | Won 18-hole playoff; Strange: E (71), Faldo: +4 (75) |
8 | 1988 | Nabisco Championship
|
Tom Kite | Won with birdie on second extra hole |
9 | 1991 | Doral-Ryder Open
|
Rocco Mediate | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nov 2, 1986 | ABC Japan-U.S. Match
|
67-68-72-64=271 | −17 | 4 strokes | Chip Beck |
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (3)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jan 10, 1988 | Sanctuary Cove Classic | 67-70-67-68=272 | −16 | 1 stroke | Ian Woosnam |
2 | Jan 15, 1989 | Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup | 66-70-71-73=280 | −8 | 2 strokes | Raymond Floyd |
3 | Dec 5, 1993 | Greg Norman's Holden Classic
|
68-67-69-70=274 | −18 | 2 strokes | John Wade |
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (0–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1990 | Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup | Rodger Davis | Lost to eagle on second extra hole |
South American Golf Circuit wins (1)
- 1981 Panama Open
Other wins (7)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oct 5, 1980 | Laurent-Perrier Trophy | 62-70-68-68=268 | −20 | 12 strokes | Bobby Clampett |
2 | Dec 14, 1980 | ) | 70-65-67-66=268 | −20 | 2 strokes | Gibby Gilbert and Sandra Spuzich, Lori Garbacz and Craig Stadler |
3 | Aug 19, 1986 | Fred Meyer Challenge (with Peter Jacobsen) |
64 | −8 | Shared title with Greg Norman and Gary Player | |
4 | May 26, 1989 | PGA Grand Slam of Golf | 73 | +1 | 2 strokes | Craig Stadler |
5 | Nov 19, 1989 | ) | 66-62-62=190 | −26 | 6 strokes | Bernhard Langer and John Mahaffey, Lanny Wadkins and Tom Weiskopf |
6 | Nov 26, 1989 | Skins Game | $265,000 | $175,000 | Jack Nicklaus | |
7 | Nov 25, 1990 | Skins Game (2) | $220,000 | $130,000 | Greg Norman |
Major championships
Wins (2)
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | U.S. Open | 1 shot lead | −6 (70-67-69-72=278) | Playoff1 | Nick Faldo |
1989 | U.S. Open (2) | 3 shot deficit | −2 (71-64-73-70=278) | 1 stroke | Chip Beck, Mark McCumber, Ian Woosnam |
1Defeated Faldo in 18-hole playoff; Strange: 71 (E), Faldo: 75 (+4).
Results timeline
Tournament | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | T15 LA | CUT | ||
U.S. Open | CUT | ||||
The Open Championship | CUT | ||||
PGA Championship | T58 | CUT |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | T19 | T7 | CUT | T46 | T2 | T21 | T12 | T21 | T18 |
U.S. Open | T16 | T17 | T39 | T26 | 3 | T31 | CUT | T4 | 1 | 1 |
The Open Championship | T15 | T29 | T14 | T13 | T61 | |||||
PGA Championship | T5 | T27 | T14 | 86 | CUT | CUT | CUT | 9 | T31 | T2 |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T7 | T42 | T31 | WD | T27 | 9 | CUT | |||
U.S. Open | T21 | CUT | T23 | T25 | 4 | T36 | T27 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
The Open Championship | CUT | T38 | CUT | CUT | T72 | T44 | T19 | |||
PGA Championship | CUT | WD | CUT | CUT | T19 | T17 | T26 | CUT |
Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | |||
U.S. Open | CUT | ||
The Open Championship | |||
PGA Championship | T58 | CUT | CUT |
LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 14 |
U.S. Open | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 15 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 9 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 12 |
Totals | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 30 | 78 | 50 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 13 (1987 Masters – 1990 U.S. Open)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)
Results in The Players Championship
Tournament | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | CUT | CUT | 21 | T2 | T51 | T8 | T33 | T33 | CUT | CUT | DQ | T34 | T16 | T6 | WD | CUT | CUT | T23 | CUT | CUT | CUT | T23 |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
DQ = disqualified
"T" indicates a tie for a place
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur
- Eisenhower Trophy: 1974 (winners)
- Walker Cup: 1975 (winners)
Professional
- Ryder Cup: 1983 (winners), 1985, 1987, 1989 (tied), 1995, 2002 (non-playing captain)
- Four Tours World Championship: 1985 (winners), 1987 (winners), 1988 (winners), 1989 (winners)
- UBS Cup: 2001 (winners), 2002 (winners), 2003 (tie), 2004 (winners)
Equipment
In 1988 when Strange won the U.S. Open, Ping recognized him with a golden putter replica of the Ping Zing 2 he used to win. A second one was made and placed in the Ping Gold Putter Vault.[12]
See also
References
- OWGR. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
- ^ "69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking". Official World Golf Ranking. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "PGA Tour Media Guide – Curtis Strange". Retrieved December 20, 2013.
- ^ "PGA Tour Profile – Curtis Strange". Retrieved December 20, 2013.
- ^ Yocom, Guy (February 2005). "My Shot: Curtis Strange". Golf Digest. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005.
- ^ "Wake Defends NCAA Title..." The Charlotte Observer. June 6, 1976. p. 31. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dunaway Finds His Game..." The Charlotte Observer. January 30, 1977. p. 56. Retrieved July 3, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Yocom, Peter (July 7, 2007). "My Shot: Curtis Strange". Golf Digest. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ^ Peter, Thomson (November 1, 1976). "Par for the course for Jack". The Age. p. 33. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-60239-014-0.
- ^ "Fox Sports Signs Curtis Strange". Golf.com.
- ^ "6 fascinating stories from Ping's Gold Putter Vault". PGA Tour. January 10, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
External links
- Curtis Strange at the PGA Tour official site
- Curtis Strange at the Japan Golf Tour official site
- Curtis Strange at the Official World Golf Ranking official site
- Curtis Strange at the World Golf Hall of Fame