Wrenn focused on business, family as he approaches 50

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Jamie Squire /Allsport

Robert Wrenn, seen here in 1996, captured his lone PGA TOUR title at the 1987 Buick Open.

Dec. 19, 2008
By Lauren Deason, PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator

Robert Wrenn won't turn 50 until 2009, but he's been on the Champions Tour for years.

The former PGA TOUR winner worked as an on-course reporter in the early 2000s when Champions Tour coverage aired on CNBC. He's also worked for ESPN and covered PGA TOUR and Champions Tour events on that network.

Condon/PGA TOUR

Wrenn served as a broadcaster and on-course reporter for seven years.

The Basics

NAME: Robert Brenaman Wrenn, Jr.

HT: 5-10 WT: 170

BIRTHDATE: September 11, 1959

BIRTHPLACE: Richmond, Va.

RESIDENCE: Richmond, Va.

TURNED PRO: 1981

TOUR WINS: 1

"My broadcasting days certainly gave me a leg up on knowing a number of the courses (at least the back nine), hotels and restaurants on the Champions Tour. A lot of feeling 'at home' on any tour is feeling comfortable with those factors along with getting used to, primarily, three-day events," Wrenn said.

Wrenn only expects to play the Champions Tour on a very limited basis -- his game is "in mothballs," Wrenn said, "I am playing infrequently, but contrary to most 'almost 50' year olds, my putting is the best part of my game" -- and expects to continue spending most of his time with family and on his business.

The Wake Forest alum played in 308 events on the PGA TOUR from 1982-1998 and had top-10 finishes 15 times. He finished inside the top 125 on the money list six times.

He captured his lone PGA TOUR title at the 1987 Buick Open. Wrenn almost set a PGA TOUR record with that win when he finished at 26-under par. At the time, that was just one stroke off of Mike Souchak's PGA TOUR record for winning a tournament at the 27-under-par mark. Though the record now stands at 31-under -- Ernie Els set that at the 2003 Mercedes Championship -- it was still an impressive feat.

"I was really trying to push myself to set the records," a 27-year-old Wrenn said when he won. "Every day it was like some outer force was going to lead me around. What amazed me was hitting shot after shot that was not just good, but real good."

It also gave him instant fame on the TOUR, something he'd lacked up until that point. In fact, in the month before he captured that title, Wrenn had a potential clothing sponsor back off from an agreement. He also didn't have an agreement with a club manufacturer. Wrenn had even filled out a form for the PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament that year and had only earned $74,796 in his career before that $108,000 paycheck.

Though he never did reach the winner's circle again, he would go on to have a successful career on the PGA TOUR as well as the Nationwide Tour.

Wrenn spent seven years in broadcasting and is now a partner in MidAtlantic Capital Management, an investment advisory firm that invests money for individuals, families and businesses.

"I would really have to give that up to pursue golf again on a full-time basis, because I know how good those guys are," Wrenn said. "...While I would love to consider playing full time again, I know that I have not continued to stay sharp with my game and I don't really want to give up my "day job" to give the Tour a full time effort again."

While he still has a love for golf, Wrenn hasn't competed in several years.

"The two biggest things I miss about the Tour are the relationships and the competition -- but the last tournament round I believe that I played was about four years ago in my State Open," Wrenn said.

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

1. Wrenn, who lives in Richmond, Va., is on the board of The First Tee there. It's one of the most unique First Tee chapters in the country because it has 18 holes of championship golf, plus a short par three course for beginners and juniors. "I have been on the local First Tee board ever since it started -- over 10 years ago now. A good friend of mine, Fred Tattersall, was the individual responsible for bringing The First Tee to Richmond and he is also a national trustee for The First Tee," Wrenn said. "...I help out where I can -- mostly with fundraisers. There have been over 10,000 kids exposed to golf through The First Tee here locally, and some have gone on to play at the college level. More importantly, the core values that are taught stay with these kids long after they leave the program. Unfortunately, a lot of these values are not taught to many of these children anywhere but at The First Tee."

2. Aside from investing, Wrenn enjoys watching his children play sports and hanging out with his family. One of his sons is an excellent place kicker and could potentially play in college, while the other might have a chance in football or baseball on a collegiate level. His wife is the head of the PE department at their sons' middle school and coaches girl's volleyball.

3. Here's something you don't see every day in a family. Wrenn was born on Sept. 11, a birthday he shares with 49-year-old David Frost as well as Jeff Sluman (his roommate when he won the Buick Open). Wrenn's 16-year-old son Tucker was born on Dec. 7, which was the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. "We've got the terrorist attacks cornered," Wrenn said.

4. His career at Wake Forest almost ended before it even began. Up until the last minute, Wrenn was considering attending the University of Virginia instead. "I can remember to this day that I was on the phone with Bill Roberts (then the coach at UVA) to tell him my decision and I STILL had not made up my mind. I suddenly decided that if I really wanted to give professional golf a shot, I had to go where the best players were -- and that was Wake," Wrenn said. "I loved UVA as a school, but the golf program was in its infancy and they did not have the facilities that they do today."

5. While at Wake Forest, Wrenn was teammates with Gary Hallberg. He still occasionally keeps in touch with Hallberg and also talks every now and then with Lanny Wadkins and Jerry Haas, Wake Forest's golf coach.