Ben Crenshaw

JOINED TOUR

• PGA TOUR: 1973
• PGA TOUR Champions: 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 National Team Championship
• 1980 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic
• 1983 Byron Nelson Golf Classic
• 1984 Masters Tournament
• 1986 Buick Open, Vantage Championship
• 1987 USF&G Classic
• 1988 Doral-Ryder Open
• 1990 Southwestern Bell Colonial
• 1992 Centel Western Open
• 1993 Nestle Invitational
• 1994 Freeport-McMoRan Classic
• 1995 Masters Tournament

International Victories (5)

• 1976 Irish Open [Eur]
• 1981 Mexican Open
• 1988 World Cup [indiv]
• 1988 World Cup [with Mark McCumber]
• 2009 Wendy's Champions Skins Game (with Fuzzy Zoeller)

Additional Victories (9)

• 1971 NCAA Championship (indiv.)
• 1972 NCAA Championship [indiv, tie]
• 1973 NCAA Championship (indiv.)
• 1976 Irish Open
• 1981 Mexican Open
• 1985 Shootout at Jeremy Ranch [with Miller Barber]
• 1988 World Cup [indiv]
• 1988 World Cup [with Mark McCumber]
• 1995 PGA Grand Slam of Golf

PLAYOFF RECORD

PGA TOUR (0-8)

• 1978 Lost to Tom Watson, Bing Crosby National Pro-Am
• 1979 Lost to Larry Nelson, Western Open
• 1979 Lost to David Graham, PGA Championship
• 1981 Lost to Bobby Clampett, John Cook, Hale Irwin, Barney Thompson, Bing Crosby National Pro-Am
• 1981 Lost to Bill Rogers, Texas Open
• 1987 Lost to T.C. Chen, Los Angeles Open Presented by Nissan
• 1989 Lost to David Frost, NEC World Series of Golf
• 1992 Lost to Billy Ray Brown, Raymond Floyd, Bruce Lietzke, GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic

National Teams

• 1981, 1983, 1987, 1995 Ryder Cup
• 1999 Ryder Cup Captain
• 1987, 1988 World Cup
• 1995 Dunhill Cup
• 1972 World Amateur Team Championship
• 1983 U.S. vs. Japan
• 1988 Kirin Cup Captain

Personal

• Noted golf historian.
• Introduced to golf by his father and won his first tournament as a fourth-grader.
• 1996 PGA National Golf Day Honorary Chairperson.
• His book, "A Feel for the Game," reached No. 25 on the New York Times best-seller list in 2001.
• Named as a Player Ambassador for the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.
• Also renowned as a golf course designer, having formed a partnership with Bill Coore in 1986. Duo created noted courses like Sand Hills GC in Nebraska, The Plantation Course at Kapalua, site of the PGA TOUR's Hyundai Tournament of Champions and Colorado GC, site of the 2010 Senior PGA Championship and 2013 Solheim Cup.
• Fought winning battle against Graves Disease (disorder of the thyroid) in mid-1980s.
• At one time was appointed to President's Commission on White House Fellowships by former President George W. Bush.
• Lists Bobby Jones as his hero and Pine Valley GC as his favorite course.
• Produced a victory each year from 1992 through 1995. From July 1992 until April 1994, his only three top-10 finishes were victories.

Special Interests

• Fishing, bird watching, collecting golf artifacts, golf course architecture, country music

Career Highlights

2017 Season

Made just two starts during the year.

• Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge: Finished T33 at the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf with partner Jerry Pate.
• Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai: Finished 47th at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

2016 Season

• Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge: Lone start during the year came at April's Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf where he teamed with Jerry Pate to finish T28.

2015 Season

• Masters Tournament: Made his 44th consecutive and final appearance in the Masters Tournament, fourth on the all-time list for consecutive starts at Augusta National. Did not make the cut.

2014 Season

Competed in just 10 events for the second consecutive year.

• Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf presented by Bass Pro Shops: Turned in his best performance in June when he and teammate Jerry Pate finished T12 at the Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf in the Champions Division.
• Masters Tournament: Made his 43rd consecutive appearance in the Masters Tournament, fourth on the all-time list for consecutive starts at Augusta National. Announced during the tournament that 2015 would be his final start at the event.

2013 Season

Played in just 10 Champions Tour events.

• Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf Raphael Division: Teamed with fellow World Golf Hall of Famer Curtis Strange to finish T9 in the unofficial Raphael Division at the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf.

2012 Season

Played in just nine events, the fewest since joining the Champions Tour.

• Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf Raphael Division: Teamed with Curtis Strange to finish T10 in the unofficial Raphael Division of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf.
• Masters Tournament: Made his 41st consecutive start at the Masters (missed cut). Appearance at Augusta National surpassed Jack Nicklaus' string of 40 consecutive starts at the Masters.

2011 Season

• Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach: Teamed with his junior partner Casie Cathrea to win the pro-junior competition at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach by four strokes over the team of Brad Bryant and Brandon Baumgarten
• Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf: Was T2 in the Legends Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with partner Curtis Strange.
• Masters Tournament: Made his 40th consecutive start at the Masters (missed cut), the longest current active streak in that category. Jack Nicklaus also had a string of 40 consecutive appearances in succession.
• Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai: Best finish during the year was a T21 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, where he opened with an 8-under-par 64, matching his career-low round on the Champions Tour (third round, 2005 Blue Angels Classic). It was his best score in relation to par since turning 50.

2010 Season

Made 17 appearances during the season.

• Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai: His best showing of the season was a T17 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in January. After opening with an even-par 72, followed with rounds of 68-67 on Hawaii's Big Island.
• Wendy's Champions Skins Game: Along with Fuzzy Zoeller, finished second in defense of their Wendy's Champions Skins Game title. Duo combined for five skins and $230,000 at Royal Kaanapali GC on Maui in Hawaii.

2009 Season

• AT&T Champions Classic: Was T4 at the AT&T Champions Classic on the strength of a final-round 67 at Valencia CC.
• The ACE Group Classic: Was the leader at The ACE Group Classic early on the back nine before ending T3 at TPC Treviso Bay, two strokes back of Loren Roberts. Final-round 68 gave him his best Champions Tour finish since the 2008 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship (T3).

2008 Season

Came close to victory twice over 18 appearances on the 2008 Champions Tour.

• Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship: Finished T3 at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. His T3 finish proved to be his best effort in a major since finishing solo second at the 2007 U.S. Senior Open. Was the 36-hole leader, a first on Tour since he co-led the 1995 Memorial Tournament (tied with Robert Gamez) on the PGA TOUR. Pulled within one stroke of D.A. Weibring down the stretch but missed a 4-foot birdie putt to tie at No. 17 and then bogeyed the final hole.
• Masters Tournament: Missed the cut in his 37th consecutive Masters appearance (his only PGA TOUR start).
• Toshiba Classic: For the second consecutive year turned in a nice effort at the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach CC. Posted three straight rounds in the 60s to claim a T3 finish, matching his 2007 performance in southern California.

2007 Season

Improved 26 spots on the Champions Tour money list from the previous season and earned a spot at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Season earnings nearly matched the total of his previous four seasons combined.

• U.S. Senior Open Championship: Best finish was a second at the U.S. Senior Open, three strokes back of winner Brad Bryant.
• Masters Tournament: For the second consecutive year, made the cut at the Masters, the first time he appeared on the weekend at Augusta National in consecutive years since 1994-95.

2006 Season

• AT&T Championship: Was T4 at the AT&T Championship. Made just two bogeys over final 36 holes and moved up the leaderboard at Oak Hills with a final-round 68.
• Bank of America Colonial: Birdied his final three holes (Nos. 16-18) to make the cut at the Bank of America Colonial with an even-par 140 total. Became the oldest player since Tom Kite (2005 Booz Allen Classic, 55 years) to make a cut in a PGA TOUR event and eventually finished T71 in Fort Worth.

2005 Season

Among the top 20 four times in 18 starts on the Champions Tour.

• Blue Angels Classic: Shot the lowest round of his Champions Tour career, a 6-under 64, in final round of the Blue Angels Classic.

2003 Season

On the Champions Tour, played in 18 events with two top-10s.

• 3M Championship: Turned in his best Champions Tour performance with a T4 at the 3M Championship in August.
• Masters Tournament: Played in the Masters, missing the cut with rounds of 79-76.

2002 Season

On Nov. 15, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame via the PGA TOUR Ballot. Played in only two PGA TOUR events at the age of 50, concentrating on Champions Tour career, where he made 20 starts. Went 281 holes without a three-putt at one point during the year and had only 15 three-putts in 61 rounds.

• ACE Group Classic: Champions Tour debut came at The ACE Group Classic in Naples, a T43 with a 1-under 215 total at The Club at TwinEagles. Debut was delayed one week by illness.

2001 Season

• Awards: Honored with Payne Stewart Award at THE TOUR Championship.

1999 Season

Appeared in 13 TOUR events but did not make a cut.

• Ryder Cup: Spent most of the season preparing for Ryder Cup. Captain of U.S. team which staged greatest comeback in event's history, winning 8½ points in singles matches on final day to come from four points back for victory. Crenshaw's team was the first U.S. squad to win Ryder Cup since 1993.

1997 Season

Underwent foot surgery.

1995 Season

• Masters Tournament: Prior to being named Ryder Cup Captain, most memorable moment in golf came in winning second Masters. Earlier in week had served as pallbearer at funeral of long-time mentor, friend and teacher Harvey Penick. Closed with a 68 to defeat Davis Love III by one stroke.

1991 Season

• Awards: Won Bob Jones Award from USGA.

1990 Season

• Southwestern Bell Colonial: Earned second Colonial title. Victory was his fifth in home state of Texas among 19 TOUR victories.

1989 Season

• Awards: Won William Richardson Award, given by Golf Writers Association of America.

1987 Season

Placed third on the money list and recorded 14 top-10s.

1986 Season

• Vantage Championship: Won Vantage Championship (now THE TOUR Championship) at Oak Hills CC in San Antonio.

1984 Season

• Masters Tournament: Earned first Masters victory. Two strokes off lead entering final round, shot closing 68 to defeat Tom Watson by two strokes.

1983 Season

• Byron Nelson Golf Classic: Prevailed again in Texas with a win in the Byron Nelson Classic.

1977 Season

• Colonial National Invitation: Claimed the first of two Colonial National Invitation titles.

1976 Season

Won three events and finished second three times on way to second-place finish on money list behind Jack Nicklaus.

• Ohio Kings Island Open: Third victory came at Ohio Kings Island Open.
• Hawaiian Open: The following week, closed with rounds of 65-66 to win Hawaiian Open by four over Larry Nelson and Hale Irwin.
• Bing Crosby National Pro-Am: Despite opening 75, won Bing Crosby National Pro-Am by two over Mike Morley.

1973 Season

• San Antonio Texas Open: In his first start as a PGA TOUR member, defeated Orville Moody by two strokes in the San Antonio-Texas Open.

Amateur Highlights

• Winner of 1971-73 NCAA Championships, sharing title with University of Texas teammate Tom Kite in 1972, the same year he won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur, beating John Paul Cain in Dallas. Winner of Fred Haskins Award as nation's outstanding collegiate g
• Won the 1971 South Amateur at Pinehurst, beating Gary Koch by four strokes.

Q SCHOOL GRADUATE

• PGA TOUR: 1973