Part of a famous golf family. His great-uncle, Jim, won the 1952 PGA Championship, and his grandfather, Mike, was a six-time winner on the PGA TOUR, who finished second to Ben Hogan in the 1948 PGA Championship. Mike was one of seven brothers, six of whom played on the PGA TOUR. One of those, Joe, was a 15-time PGA TOUR winner. The only brother who didn't turn professional was Willie, the 1938 and 1948 U.S. Amateur champion and 1947 British Amateur winner.

Played at North Carolina State, where teammates included TOUR members Carl Pettersson, Tim Clark and Garth Mulroy. Roomed with Pettersson.

Transferred to North Carolina State after originally enrolling at the University of South Florida.