Len Mattiace - Media Guide

first cut of the season at THE PLAYERS Championship two weeks later and finished T33...Did not post a top-10 for the first time in his 10-year PGA TOUR career and had just one top-25, a T20 at the John Deere Classic in July. 2003: Playing in his first Masters as a professional and first in 15 years (1988 as an amateur), fired the best round of the tournament, a 7-under 65, in the final round to tie Mike Weir and force the first Masters playoff since 1990. Mattiace began the day five strokes back of the third-round leader Jeff Maggert. Held a two-stroke lead over Weir during the back nine before he bogeyed the 18th hole and Weir birdied No. 15 and made a 6-footer for par on the 18th to force the playoff. Weir won the playoff with bogey on the first extra hole. Had never finished in the top-20 in his 10 previous majors. 2002: Finished in the top 30 on the TOUR money list for the first time on the strength of two victories. Made 25 cuts in 28 starts and collected over $2 million in a single season for the first time...Captured first career PGA TOUR victory at the Nissan Open in 220th start. Tied for the lead on the tournament's 72nd hole, he two-putted from 30 feet while co-leader Scott McCarron was unable to get up-and-down for par. Rounds of 69-65-67-68--269 was one better than McCarron, Brad Faxon and Rory Sabbatini...Won the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic by one stroke over Tim Petrovic. Was seven strokes off the pace after 54 holes and closed with a 64. Paycheck of $684,000 was largest of career. 2001: Finished T6 in the Shell Houston Open...Shared second-round lead at Michelob Championship and closed with 74-67 for a solo fifth. 2000: Steady play at The PLAYERS Championship earned him his second top-10 at that event. Was one stroke back of Hal Sutton after posting a 2-under-par 70 in the first round and finished T9...Second top-10 came at MasterCard Colonial, a T8...In contention after 18 and 36 holes at the Westin Texas Open. His 73-66 on the weekend produced T6 in San Antonio...Best effort of the season came at Tampa Bay Classic, a T3. Stood two strokes back of the lead after 36 and 54 holes. 1999: Best finish of season came in his first start when he finished T2 at the Sony Open in Hawaii...Rest of the year was a struggle with only two more top-25 finishes until final event...In last start of the year, finished T9 at Southern Farm Bureau Classic. 1998: Finished T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship. 1997: Best finish came in second-to-last start of year at Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic. Shot 67-66 and trailed Payne Stewart by one stroke through 36 holes. Third-round 65 produced two-stroke lead over David Duval. Posted final-round 74, falling two strokes shy of Duval-Dan Forsman playoff. 1996: A second at Buick Challenge, along with T4 at LaCantera Texas Open, helped him retain playing privileges for 1997...Shot 68-68 at Callaway Gardens to share 36-hole lead. After final two rounds were canceled due to weather, parred first extra hole of five-man playoff, losing to Michael Bradley's birdie...Won first Compaq World Putting Championship. 1995: Was 27th at Qualifying School, earning membership in 1996...Finished 69th on Nationwide Tour money list with $27,430, driven by T5s at Cleveland Open and Buffalo Open. 1992: First qualified for TOUR at Qualifying Tournament. Amateur: Captured 1984 Florida High School Championship...Member of Wake Forest's 1986 NCAA Championship team, along with current PGA TOUR player Billy Andrade.

after being fully exempt in 1993 and 1996-2004. Struggled in 2005 with only nine made cuts in 34 starts. Best finish was T12 at the 2005 Barclays Classic. Injured both knees in December 2003 while skiing in Vail. Following surgery, made his comeback in March 2004 at The Honda Classic, where he missed the cut. Did not post a top-10 for the first time in his 10-year PGA TOUR career. Playing in his first Masters in 2003 as a professional and first in 15 years (1988 as an amateur), fired the best round of the tournament, a 7-under 65, in the final round to tie Mike Weir and force the first Masters playoff since 1990. Began the day five strokes back of third-round leader Jeff Maggert. Held a two-stroke lead over Weir during the back nine before he bogeyed the 18th hole and Weir birdied No. 15 and made a 6-footer for par on the 18th to force the playoff. Weir won the playoff with bogey on the first extra hole. Career year in 2002 on the strength of two victories. Made 25 cuts in 28 starts and collected more than $2 million in a single season for the first time. Captured first career TOUR victory at the Nissan Open in 220th start. Tied for the lead on the tournament's 72nd hole, he two-putted from 30 feet while co-leader Scott McCarron was unable to get up-and-down for par. Rounds of 69-65-67-68--269 was one better than McCarron, Brad Faxon and Rory Sabbatini. Won the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic by one stroke over Tim Petrovic. Seven strokes off the pace after 54 holes and closed with a 64. Paycheck of $684,000 was largest of career. Career-best five top-10s in 2000, including a T9 at THE PLAYERS Championship. Best effort of the season came at Tampa Bay Classic, a T3. In hometown of Ponte Vedra Beach, finished T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship in 1998. Won first Compaq World Putting Championship in 1996. Earned TOUR membership for 1996 via Qualifying School after finishing 69th on Nationwide Tour money list. Rookie on TOUR in 1993 after earning initial TOUR card through Qualifying School. Captured 1984 Florida High School Championship. Member of Wake Forest's 1986 NCAA Championship team, along with current PGA TOUR player Billy Andrade. Was first encouraged to play golf by his father Louis at age 6. Is left-handed but plays golf right-handed. Has his own charitable organization, "Len's Friends" foundation, that aids Jacksonville, FL, charities with a series of golf events. Web site for event is lensfriends.org.