BEN CRENSHAW
Birth Date: January 11, 1952
Birthplace: Austin, Texas
Age: 52 Ht.: 5'9" Wt.: 157
Home: Austin, Texas
College: Texas
Turned Professional: 1973
Joined PGA Tour: 1973
PGA Tour Playoff Record: 0-8
Joined Senior PGA Tour: 2002
PGA Tour Victories: 19 - 1973 San Antonio-Texas Open, 1976 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, Hawaiian Open, Ohio Kings Island Open, 1977 Colonial National Invitation, 1979 Phoenix Open, Walt Disney World Team Championship (with George Burns), 1980 Anheuser-Busch Classic, 1983 Byron Nelson Classic, 1984 Masters, 1986 Buick Open, Vantage Championship, 1987 USF&G Classic, 1988 Doral Ryder Open, 1990 Southwestern Bell Colonial, 1992 Cental Western Open, 1993 Nestle Invitational, 1994 Freeport McMoRan, 1995 Masters.
Player Notes: Crenshaw had an outstanding amateur career, winning nearly every possible title with the notable exception of the U.S. Amateur. He won the NCAA Championship three straight years for the University of Texas, sharing the title in 1972 with teammate Tom Kite.
On turning pro in 1973, Crenshaw earned his Tour card, gaining medalist honors at Qualifying School by an incredible 12 strokes over runner-up Gil Morgan. He made history when he won the San Antonio-Texas Open in his first start as a member of the PGA Tour. On his second start he was runner-up. Crenshaw has a well-known passion for the history of the game, and is considered by many as one of the greatest putters in that history. He has won 19 times, and holds the dubious distinction of having the worst playoff record on Tour, winning none and losing eight.
Two of the best moments in his career came at Augusta National, winning the Masters in 1984 by two strokes over Tom Watson, and then winning again in 1995, a week after the death of his beloved teacher, Harvey Penick. . . Months after his Masters win in '84 Crenshaw began suffering from a hyperactive thyroid, and his play in 1985 showed the effects of the illness, as he fell to 149th on the money list. With the condition under control by 1986, Crenshaw would win twice that year, and once each in '87 and '88. . . Member of 1981, '83, '87 and '95 Ryder Cup Team. . . Captain of the 1999 Ryder Cup Team . . . Winner of the 1991 Bob Jones Award and the 1989 William Richardson Award . . . Was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002
In September of 1997 had surgery to remove a bone fragment in his right foot.
1990 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 21; in money - 15; top-10 finishes - 2; scoring average 70.71 (ranked 41st); money - $351,193 (ranked 33rd); best finish, winner, Southwestern Bell Colonial.
1991 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 21; in money - 10; top-10 finishes - 4; scoring average 70.76 (ranked T53rd); money - $224,563 (ranked 75th); best finish, T3rd, Masters and Texas Open.
1992 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 24; in money - 19; top-10 finishes - 4; scoring average 70.62 (ranked T34th); money - $439,071 (ranked 31st); Winner, Centel Western Open.
1993 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 22; in money - 15; top-10 finishes - 1; scoring average 71.15 (ranked 80th); money - $318,605 (ranked 51st); winner Nestle Invitational.
1994 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 24; in money - 20; top-10 finishes - 6; scoring average 70.46 (ranked T33rd); money - $659,252 (ranked 21st); winner Freeport-McMoRan Classic.
1995 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 23; in money - 17; top-10 finishes - 4; scoring average 70.86 (ranked 61st); money - $737,475 (ranked 23rd); winner, The Masters.
1996 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 19; in money - 11; top-10 finishes - 1; scoring average 71.44 (ranked T120th); money - $176,857 (ranked 119th); best finish, T6th, MasterCard Colonial.
1997 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 17; in money - 5; top-10 finishes - 0; scoring average 72.97; money - $42,513 (ranked 213th); best finish, T19th, in Kemper Open.
1998 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 15; in money - 2; top-10 finishes - 0; scoring average 73.27; money - $11,393 (ranked 268th); best finish, T43rd, GTE Byron Nelson Classic.
1999 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 13; didn't make a cut in any of them.
2000 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 13; only made the cut in GTE Byron Nelson, finishing T77th.
2001 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 11; rounds played - 24; cuts made - 1/top-10 finishes - 0, best finish, 59th at the Kemper Insurance Open, earnings:$7,770 (ranked 244th).
Only played twice on the PGA Tour in 2002, missing the cut at the Masters and the MasterCard Colonial.
2002 Champions Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 20; top-10 finishes - 1; scoring average 72.07 (ranked 56th); money - $204,528 (ranked 204th); best finish, T8th Kroger Senior Classic.
2003 Champions Tour Summary: Tournaments entered -19; top 10 finishes -2; stroke average 72.79 (ranked 73rd); money - $231,512 (ranked 58th); Best finish, T-4th 3M Championship. Played once on the PGA Tour missing the cut at the Masters.
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