Frost regains confidence, game before turning 50

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David Frost won 10 times in his PGA TOUR career and set one impressive TOUR record.

Dec. 16, 2008
By Lauren Deason, PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator

Don't be confused when Googleing the name David Frost if you're seeking information on the famous golfer.

PGA TOUR

David Frost in 1997

The Basics

NAME: David Laurence Frost

HT: 5-11 WT: 190

BIRTHDATE: September 11, 1959

BIRTHPLACE: Cape Town, South Africa

RESIDENCE: Dallas, Texas

TURNED PRO: 1981

TOUR WINS: 10

Photo gallery

Click here for a look back at Frost's PGA TOUR career.

The Ron Howard film "Frost/Nixon" -- about the famous interviews that David Frost conducted with disgraced President Richard Nixon -- is currently earning critical acclaim and Golden Globe nominations.

Note: that's not the same guy.

The PGA TOUR's David Frost won 10 times between 1988-1997. Thanks to an international career that featured 12 wins, Frost was ranked in the top 25 in the Official World Golf Ranking in every year but one between 1987-1996.

He's also the David Frost who relocated from Cape Town, South Africa to Dallas, Texas and embarked on a TOUR career that earned him spots on The Presidents Cup team in 1994 and 1996.

Frost led the TOUR in scoring average in 1987 while averaging 70.09 strokes, and had the lowest putting average in 1993 and 2001. His 10 TOUR victories include the 1989 World Series of Golf and 1993 Canadian Open.

This Frost retired from golf at the end of 2005 because his game was, as he put it, "so bad". Then, while playing a casual round with his son in Orlando, a golf coach noticed his swing and told Frost it was too slow. Though Frost was hesitant to make changes, he finally talked himself into it, got all the latest equipment and slowly found his confidence again.

In the past two years, Frost has re-emerged on the European Tour, where he played in 20 events in 2008. This season, he finished fourth at the European Open in Kent, England, and tied for 51st at the British Open.

Once reluctant to play on the Champions Tour, Frost recently said he's "definitely going to give it a shot."

Frost won't be eligible for the 50-and-over circuit until September 11, which leaves him plenty of time to work on his other passion -- wine-making. Frost was the TOUR's official wine guy long before Greg Norman or Luke Donald started their own ventures. His family has been in the business since 1945 and Frost purchased his 300-acre vineyard in South Africa with his brother Michael in 1994.

"I export about 4,000 cases a year to the U.S.; about 2,000 are sold in South Africa. I want quality over quantity," Frost said in an interview with golf.com. "In wine match play, a bottle of my best beats [Greg Norman's]. Mine is handmade. His is more of a commercial label."

Wine and golf have always gone hand-in-hand for Frost, who used to hit balls in his father's vineyard. He also sold grapes to purchase his first set of clubs and golf balls.

So, what would he pick if he had to choose between wine and golf?

"When you win a tournament, it's instantly gratifying. You get congratulated by all your colleagues. I loved that. I also enjoy showing people the winery and my tasting room," Frost said in 2007 to golf.com. "Give up wine or golf? That's tough. Wine. I'm addicted to golf. Love it too much."

Five things you may not know -- or may have forgotten -- about Frost

1. Frost still holds the record for needing the fewest putts over four rounds. When he won the 2005 MCI Heritage, Frost made just 92 putts and beat Kenny Knox's record of 93 putts that had stood for 16 years. In the first round, Frost one-putted his first 11 greens. He went on to have 49 one-putts that week and holed out two times from off the green. Frost, one of the TOUR's best putters, tied for 38th in that event.

2. Every vintage from Frost's vineyard is named after a different golfer. The past vintages include Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. He produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. One dollar from the sale of each bottle goes to that golfer's charity.

3. When Frost ended a three-year victory drought with a victory at the 1997 MasterCard Colonial, he dedicated the win to Ben Hogan. Frost said he'd admired Hogan since moving to America. In the late 1980s, Frost played Hogan clubs, carried a Hogan bag and wore a Hogan visor.

4. Frost was once a clerk in the South African army and also worked as an errand boy for a South African surveying company. He also sold cigarettes at one point in time. "I've sold cigarettes and now wine. But no, I will not be selling firearms any time soon," Frost once said.

5. At the age of 14, Frost began playing golf after caddying for his father. He attended Paarl Boys' High School, one of the oldest high schools in South Africa.