Curtis Strange

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox golfer Curtis Northrup Strange (born January 30, 1955) is an American professional golfer and TV color commentator. He is the winner of consecutive U.S. Open titles and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He spent over 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between their debut in 1986 and 1990.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

In 1955, Strange and his identical twin brother, Allan,<ref name=pgabio/> were born in Norfolk, Virginia.<ref name=pgapro>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Allan also briefly played as a professional golfer. His father, a local country club owner, started him in golf at age 7.<ref name=pgabio>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Strange was a natural left-hander but learned to play golf as a right-hander.

In 1973, Strange graduated from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach.

Amateur career

In the fall of 1973, Strange enrolled at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He played golf for the Demon Deacons and was part of the NCAA Championship team with Jay Haas and Bob Byman that Golf World has labeled "the greatest of all time".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1974 Strange was ranked the #2 amateur in the country by Golf Digest. The following year, he was ranked number #3.

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1976, he was ranked #9 amateur in the country by Golf Digest.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Professional career

In 1976, Strange turned professional. He attempted to make it onto the PGA Tour at Fall 1976 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He was highly expected to make it into tour and was the favorite to earn medalist honors. However, Strange bogeyed the final three holes of the tournament to miss qualifying by a shot. Afterwards, Strange told The Item, "I thought it was the end of the world. It wasn't something I was ready for. I thought, 'Good God, what am I going to do.' I was scared."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="pgabio" />

Despite skipping the Open Championship several times in his prime,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Strange played a considerable amount of international tournaments. He won the 1986 ABC Japan-U.S. Match, an event on the Japan Golf Tour that included many American pros. He also played extensively on the Australasian Tour. He won three events in Australia in the late 1980s and early 1990s and recorded runner-up finishes at the 1976 Australian Open,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1977 Colgate Champion of Champions, 1986 Air New Zealand Shell Open, and the 1990 Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup.

Broadcasting career

After reaching the age of 50 in January 2005, Strange began play on the Champions Tour, remarking, "I was getting worse and said, 'To hell with it.'"<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> His only top-five finishes came that first season; third place at the Constellation Energy Classic and a tie for fifth at the FedEx Kinko's Classic.<ref name=pgabio/> In 1997, he was hired as the lead golf analyst for ESPN/ABC, working alongside host Mike Tirico. He left due to a contract dispute before the 2004 U.S. Open, but rejoined ESPN/ABC at the 2008 U.S. Open, four years after he first left. In 2016, he was hired by Fox as a course reporter for their USGA championships.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In this capacity he has provided commentary for several notable events, including Tiger Woods' playoff win at the 1997 Mercedes Championships, David Duval's final round of 59 at the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Jean van de Velde's collapse at the 1999 Open Championship, Woods achieving the career grand slam at the 2000 Open Championship, Peter Jacobsen becoming one of the oldest Tour winners at age 49 during the 2003 Greater Hartford Open, Woods' U.S. Open winning performance in 2008 (early rounds), Tom Watson nearly winning The Open Championship at age 59 in 2009, and Phil Mickelson's final nine charge to win in 2013.

Awards and honors

  • In 1974, Strange won the Haskins Award, bestowed to the top college golfer of the year
  • Strange led the PGA Tour money list three times: in 1985, 1987, and 1988
  • In 1988, Strange was selected by fellow tour pros as the PGA Player of the Year
  • In 2004, Strange was elected to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
  • On April 18, 2007, Strange was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, and was inducted on November 12 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.
  • In May 2009, he was named to the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, which honors athletes, coaches and administrators who contributed to sports in southeastern Virginia.

Amateur wins

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 Template:Flagicon Billy Kratzert
2 May 4, 1980 Michelob-Houston Open 66-63-66-71=266 −18 Playoff Template:Flagicon Lee Trevino
3 Aug 17, 1980 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic 69-65-70-69=273 −11 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Gibby Gilbert
4 Aug 21, 1983 Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open 69-62-69-68=268 −16 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Jay Haas, Template:Flagicon Jack Renner
5 Sep 30, 1984 LaJet Golf Classic 68-67-67-71=273 −15 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Mark O'Meara
6 Mar 3, 1985 Honda Classic 67-64-70-74=275 −13 Playoff Template:Flagicon Peter Jacobsen
7 Mar 24, 1985 Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational 69-73-64-66-66=338 −17 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Mike Smith
8 Jul 7, 1985 Canadian Open 69-69-68-73=279 −9 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus, Template:Flagicon Greg Norman
9 Apr 27, 1986 Houston Open (2) 72-68-68-66=274 −14 Playoff Template:Flagicon Calvin Peete
10 Jul 5, 1987 Canadian Open (2) 71-70-66-69=276 −12 3 strokes Template:Flagicon David Frost, Template:Flagicon Jodie Mudd,
Template:Flagicon Nick Price
11 Aug 2, 1987 Federal Express St. Jude Classic 70-68-68-69=275 −13 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Russ Cochran, Template:Flagicon Mike Donald,
Template:Flagicon Tom Kite, Template:Flagicon Denis Watson
12 Aug 30, 1987 NEC World Series of Golf 70-66-68-71=275 −5 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Fulton Allem
13 May 1, 1988 Independent Insurance Agent Open 69-68-66-67=270 −18 Playoff Template:Flagicon Greg Norman
14 May 29, 1988 Memorial Tournament 73-70-64-67=274 −14 2 strokes Template:Flagicon David Frost, Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin
15 Jun 20, 1988 U.S. Open 70-67-69-72=278 −6 Playoff Template:Flagicon Nick Faldo
16 Nov 14, 1988 Nabisco Championship 64-71-70-74=279 −9 Playoff Template:Flagicon Tom Kite
17 Jun 18, 1989 U.S. Open (2) 71-64-73-70=278 −2 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Chip Beck, Template:Flagicon Mark McCumber,
Template:Flagicon Ian Woosnam

PGA Tour playoff record (6–3)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1980 Michelob-Houston Open Template:Flagicon Lee Trevino Won with birdie on first extra hole
2 1981 Tournament Players Championship Template:Flagicon Raymond Floyd, Template:Flagicon Barry Jaeckel Floyd won with par on first extra hole
3 1983 Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open Template:Flagicon Gil Morgan, Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins Morgan won with birdie on second extra hole
4 1985 Honda Classic Template:Flagicon Peter Jacobsen Won with par on first extra hole
5 1986 Houston Open Template:Flagicon Calvin Peete Won with birdie on third extra hole
6 1988 Independent Insurance Agent Open Template:Flagicon Greg Norman Won with birdie on third extra hole
7 1988 U.S. Open Template:Flagicon Nick Faldo Won 18-hole playoff;
Strange: E (71),
Faldo: +4 (75)
8 1988 Nabisco Championship Template:Flagicon Tom Kite Won with birdie on second extra hole
9 1991 Doral-Ryder Open Template:Flagicon 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 Template:Flagicon 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 Template:Flagicon Ian Woosnam
2 Jan 15, 1989 Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup 66-70-71-73=280 −8 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Raymond Floyd
3 Dec 5, 1993 Greg Norman's Holden Classic 68-67-69-70=274 −18 2 strokes Template:Flagicon John Wade

PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 1990 Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup Template:Flagicon Rodger Davis Lost to eagle on second extra hole

South American Golf Circuit wins (1)

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 Template:Flagicon Bobby Clampett
2 Dec 14, 1980 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic
(with Template:Flagicon Nancy Lopez) 		70-65-67-66=268 −20 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Gibby Gilbert and Template:Flagicon Sandra Spuzich,
Template:Flagicon Lori Garbacz and Template:Flagicon Craig Stadler
3 Aug 19, 1986 Fred Meyer Challenge
(with Template:Flagicon Peter Jacobsen) 		64 −8 Shared title with Template:Flagicon Greg Norman and Template:Flagicon Gary Player
4 May 26, 1989 PGA Grand Slam of Golf 73 +1 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Craig Stadler
5 Nov 19, 1989 RMCC Invitational
(with Template:Flagicon Mark O'Meara) 		66-62-62=190 −26 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Bernhard Langer and Template:Flagicon John Mahaffey,
Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins and Template:Flagicon Tom Weiskopf
6 Nov 26, 1989 Skins Game $265,000 $175,000 Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus
7 Nov 25, 1990 Skins Game (2) $220,000 $130,000 Template:Flagicon 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 Template:Flagicon Nick Faldo
1989 U.S. Open (2) 3 shot deficit −2 (71-64-73-70=278) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Chip Beck, Template:Flagicon Mark McCumber,
Template:Flagicon 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

Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend 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

Template:Legend CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
DQ = disqualified
"T" indicates a tie for a place

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

Professional

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Template:U.S. Open champions Template:PGA Players of the Year Template:Navboxes

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Curtis_Strange&oldid=476562"