Exempt status
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PGA TOUR Champions: Top 36 Charles Schwab Points (33rd), All-Time Money List (32nd)
JOINED TOUR
PGA TOUR Victories (4)
1994 Season
2001 Season
- Invensys Classic at Las Vegas
- FedEx St. Jude Classic
2002 Season
PLAYOFF RECORD
PGA TOUR (0-4)
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1989 Lost to Mike Hulbert, B.C. Open
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1993 Lost to Billy Andrade, Mark Brooks, Brad Bryant, John Inman, Buick Southern Open
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2003 Lost to Steve Flesch, HP Classic of New Orleans
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2011 Lost to Bill Haas, Scott Stallings, The Greenbrier Classic
Personal
- Has been a season-ticket holder for University of Texas football since 1989.
- First played golf at age 4 and set sights on playing the PGA TOUR at age 12.
- Once worked for Charles Coody in the bag room of Fairway Oaks Golf and Racquet Club.
- Serves as host for the annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Tom Landry Memorial Golf Tournament in Austin, Texas.
- Works with personal trainer, former world-class pole vaulter Scott Hennig. Follows a strict routine that includes weightlifting, agility exercises, diet and short-distance sprints.
- Played basketball in high school.
- Favorite college team is the Texas Longhorns, and he follows the Dallas Cowboys and San Antonio Spurs.
- Supports Fellowship of Christian Athletes and The First Tee.
Special Interests
- Music, hunting, physical fitness
CURRENT YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
- Rapiscan Systems Classic: Trailing by one entering the final round of the Rapiscan Systems Classic, he finished fourth. Posted scores of 70-64-71.
Career Highlights
2022 Season
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Rapiscan Systems Classic: Trailing by one entering the final round of the Rapiscan Systems Classic, he finished fourth. Posted scores of 70-64-71.
2021 Season
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U.S. Senior Open Championship: Finished T8 at the 2021 U.S. Senior Open after posting rounds of 71-70-71-69.
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Insperity Invitational: Finished T5 after carding 70-68 – 138 at the 2021 Insperity Invitational, which was shortened to 36 holes due to heavy rainfall. Matched Weir for best final-round score at the tournament with 4-under 68.
2020 Season
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Chubb Classic: Closed with a 7-under 64, his best score on PGA TOUR Champions, and finished second at the Chubb Classic. The runner-up finish matched his best on Tour (T2, 2019 Sanford International) and it was his 13th top-10 in 42 starts.
2019 Season
Tallied four top-10s, including the first runner-up of his career at the Sanford International, and finished 33rd in the Charles Schwab Cup. Ranked 16th on Tour with a 70.25 scoring average.
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Sanford International: Birdied five of his last seven holes to post a final-round 67 and finish T2 at the Sanford International.
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The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex: His 5-under 65 was the lowest final round at The Senior Open Championship, and it helped him improve from T46 to T10.
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U.S. Senior Open Championship: Carded a final-round even par to finish the event at 10-under 270. Finished fourth, his best finish in eight major championship starts.
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Oasis Championship: Ranked second in the field in scrambling at the Oasis Championship, saving par 13 of 15 times. Finished in third place after carding round of 67-68-68–203.
2018 Season
Posted six top-10s in 15 starts en route to a 37th-place finish in the Charles Schwab Cup. Finished fourth on Tour in Greens in Regulation (76.19%).
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The Ally Challenge: Estes posted rounds of 68-71-67 and finished T8 at The Ally Challenge, his sixth top-10 of the year and third in his last four starts.
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Boeing Classic: Estes carded rounds of 67-71-68 and finished T8 at the Boeing Classic, his fifth top-10 of the season.
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3M Championship: Opened the 3M Championship with an even-par 72, followed by rounds of 65 and 66 to finish T5 for the second time this season.
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KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship: Estes finished T10 at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, his third top-10 in as many starts in 2018. It was his third top-10 in four senior major starts.
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Regions Tradition: Carded a 14-under-par 274 to finish T8 in his second start of the year at the Regions Tradition.
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Cologuard Classic: In his season debut on PGA TOUR Champions, Estes carded rounds of 71-69-69 and finished T5 at the Cologuard Classic. It was his second top-five of his career, as he also finished T5 at the 2017 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
2017 Season
Split playing time between the PGA TOUR (15 starts) and PGA TOUR Champions (nine starts). Overall, enjoyed his most success on PGA TOUR Champions with a pair of top-10 finishes to his credit. Made just three cuts in 15 starts on the PGA TOUR. Will enter the 2017-18 season on a Major Medical Extension with eight available events to earn 300 FedExCup points or $479,415 to remain exempt for the remainder of the season. Injury dates back to 2013-14 season that limited him to just two starts that year. Made his PGA TOUR Champions debut in late March. Went on to record two top-10 finishes in eight starts on that Tour.
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Shaw Charity Classic: Used three consecutive rounds in the 60s which led to a T10 effort at the Shaw Charity Classic.
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KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship: Was a fixture on the leaderboard for all four rounds at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in May and eventually finished T5 in just his second start on Tour.
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Valero Texas Open: Best finish on PGA TOUR was a T27 at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio in April.
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Tucson Conquistadores Classic: Finished T23 in his PGA TOUR Champions debut at the Tucson Conquistadores Classic which included a final-round 6-under-par 67.
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OHL Classic at Mayakoba: Finished T46 at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
2016 Season
Will enter the 2016-17 season with 23 available starts on a Major Medical Extension to earn 365 FedExCup points or $556,345 to remain exempt for the remainder of the season.
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Sanderson Farms Championship: Played in just one event, the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2015-16, missing the cut.
2015 Season
Did not make a start during the PGA TOUR Season as he continued to rehab a shoulder injury. Will enter the 2015-16 season with 24 available starts to earn 365 FedExCup points or $556,345 as part of his Major Medical Extension.
2014 Season
Did not play on TOUR again after the OHL Mayakoba Classic event in November after injuring his left shoulder.
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OHL Classic at Mayakoba: Made one cut in two starts, finishing T10 at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, with rounds of 68-69-65-69.
2013 Season
Qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the fifth time, making it through the Deutsche Bank Championship.
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Deutsche Bank Championship: His T47 finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship prevented him from finishing inside the top 70 in the FedExCup standings and moving on to the BMW Championship.
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Wyndham Championship: Finished T8 at the Wyndham Championship in his 628th TOUR start. The top-10 is the 90th of his TOUR career. Has at least one top-10 each year on TOUR since 1989.
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Valero Texas Open: In his 25th start at the Valero Texas Open, the Austin resident posted four par-or-better rounds at TPC San Antonio to claim a share of seventh with Jeff Overton and Daniel Summerhays.
2012 Season
Finished with his best-ever FedExCup ranking (No. 58).
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BMW Championship: Saw his Playoffs run come to an end following a T37 at the BMW Championship.
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Deutsche Bank Championship: Finished T42 at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
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The Barclays: Moved to No. 62 in the FedExCup standings with his second top-10 finish of the season–a T10 at The Barclays.
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Valero Texas Open: The former Texas Longhorn was one of only 11 players to break 70 (3-under 69) in the final-round of the Valero Texas Open on the difficult TPC San Antonio. Despite a bogey at the first hole Sunday, rallied with four birdies on the next six holes en route to a T4 finish with Brian Gay, Charlie Wi and defending champion Brendan Steele. It gave him at least one top-10 finish in each of his 24 full seasons on TOUR.
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RBC Heritage: One day after his playing partner Billy Mayfair had a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh hole, had an ace (the 22nd of the season) on the par-3 fourth hole during the second round of the RBC Heritage with a 6-iron from 183 yards. It was the fourth ace of his PGA TOUR career. He went on to finish T24.
2011 Season
Continued his recovery from wrist injury, making only 12 PGA TOUR starts but nearly winning. Finished No. 135 on the final money list.
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PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament: In just his second return to the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament since 1988, closed with a final-round, 5-under 67 at PGA West in Palm Springs, Calif., to earn his TOUR card for 2012.
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The Greenbrier Classic: In his 223rd start since winning the last of his four PGA TOUR titles (2002 Kemper Insurance Open), finished runner-up at The Greenbrier Classic in July for his first top 10 since the 2006 Reno-Tahoe Open. It was the 584th start of his career. Birdied the final two holes well ahead of the final groups for a 6-under 64 (just one stroke shy of his career-low final round score) to sit on the clubhouse lead at 10-under, only to be joined later by Bill Haas and eventual playoff winner Scott Stallings. Is winless in four career playoff appearances.
2010 Season
Finished outside the top 125 for just the second time (2008) since joining the PGA TOUR full-time in 1989, despite a pair of top-10 finishes.
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RBC Canadian Open: Carded three rounds in the 60s at the RBC Canadian Open in July, and along with eight others, finished T4 at St. George's G&CC.
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St. Jude Classic presented by Smith & Nephew: First was a T8 at the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind, site of his 2001 victory.
2009 Season
Playing on a Top 50 Career Money Exemption, earned more than $1 million and finished within the top 100 on the money list.
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AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Finished T4 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, his best finish since a second at the 2006 Shell Houston Open.
2008 Season
Had two top-10s and finished 127th on the money list, his worst placement since 149th in 1996. Used a one-time Top 50 on the PGA TOUR Career Money List exemption for 2009.
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RBC Canadian Open: Next top-10 finish of the year came on Monday at the rain-soaked RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey GC. It marked his fourth top-10 finish at the RBC Canadian Open and best since a T2 in 2001.
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Shell Houston Open: A third-round 64 led to a T6 finish at the Shell Houston Open, four behind first-time winner Johnson Wagner. It was his best finish since a T6 at the 2007 AT&T Classic outside Atlanta.
2007 Season
Three top-10s in April and May assured a spot in the top 125 for the season.
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AT&T Classic: Best finish was a T6 at the AT&T Classic, four strokes out of the Zach Johnson-Ryuji Imada playoff.
2006 Season
Finished in the top 100 on the money list for the 15th time in his career, including each of the last 10 years. Made the cut in 17 of 25 starts and was twice a runner-up.
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Reno-Tahoe Open: Posted his second runner-up finish of the season and second top-10, losing by one to Will MacKenzie at the Reno-Tahoe Open. Set tournament 36-hole record with a 15-under 129. Shared 54-hole lead with MacKenzie. Double bogeyed the first hole of the final round, but rallied to tie MacKenzie entering the 72nd hole. Missed 16-footer for birdie, then MacKenzie made his from 10 feet to win.
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Shell Houston Open: In eighth start of season, finished runner-up, six strokes behind winner Stuart Appleby, at the Shell Houston Open. It was his first top-10 of the season and best performance on TOUR since a second at the 2004 FedEx St. Jude Classic.
2005 Season
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U.S. Open Championship: Closed with an even-par 70 at the U.S. Open to finish T11, his best effort in the U.S. Open in 11 career starts.
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FedEx St. Jude Classic: The 2001 champion of the FedEx St. Jude Classic finished T6 for his lone top-10 of the season and his fifth top-10 in his last seven appearances at TPC Southwind. It was his first top-10 on TOUR since finishing second in Memphis in 2004.
2004 Season
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FedEx St. Jude Classic: Only top-10 of the season came in 13th start, a solo second at the FedEx St. Jude Classic where he won in 2001. Unusual second-round 64 included a bogey on No. 10, a triple bogey on No. 11, followed by seven consecutive birdies (Nos. 12-18) for a back-nine 32.
2003 Season
Despite not winning for the first time since 2000, finished among the top 40 on the money list for the third straight season, thanks to six top-10s.
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HP Classic of New Orleans: Narrowly missed fifth career title at the HP Classic of New Orleans, losing in a sudden-death playoff to Steve Flesch. On the first extra hole, Flesch rolled in a birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole from 40 feet. Career TOUR playoff record fell to 0-3.
2002 Season
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Kemper Insurance Open: Captured fourth career TOUR title (third in last 26 events) at the Kemper Insurance Open. Shared lead at 10-under with Bob Burns after 54 holes, and finished one stroke ahead of runner-up Rich Beem. Recorded 17 pars and one birdie in final-round 70.
2001 Season
Posted two victories and ended season with six consecutive top-10s to place career-high ninth on money list. The $2,795,477 in earnings was also a personal best. One of nine multiple winners on TOUR.
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Invensys Classic at Las Vegas: In contrast, never led after a round until winning the Invensys Classic at Las Vegas by one stroke over Tom Lehman. Was five shots off the pace after 72 holes and closed with a 63, which tied for low finish by winner on the year.
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FedEx St. Jude Classic: Opened with 61 in the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic, a season-low start by a winner, and never trailed en route to winning by one stroke over Bernhard Langer. It was the season's only wire-to-wire victory.
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Fall Finish presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers: Won the Fall Finish presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers with late-season rush.
2000 Season
Fell out of the top 30 on the money list for the first time in two seasons. Recorded seven top-25s and three top-10s and was among the Top 100 on the money list.
1999 Season
Missed only one cut in 28 starts. His nine top-10s were a career high and for third time in his career finished among top 30 on the money list.
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Masters Tournament: Posted T4 at Masters, best career finish in a major.
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Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: Started the season on a positive note with a T4 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
1998 Season
Put together seven top-10s that included a second and third.
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FedEx St. Jude Classic: Shared 54-hold lead at FedEx St. Jude Classic.
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Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic: Finished solo third at Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic. Shared 54-hole lead in Greensboro.
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Bay Hill Invitational: T2 at Bay Hill Invitational.
1997 Season
Rebounded with $340,057 in earnings in 19 starts. Had 25 consecutive rounds of par or better, the second longest on TOUR for the year.
1996 Season
Lost fully exempt status after finishing 149th on money list.
1994 Season
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Texas Open: Earned first TOUR victory at Texas Open. Opened by tying course record of 62 at Oak Hills CC, then cruised to wire-to-wire victory.
1993 Season
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Buick Southern Open: Was part of five-man playoff at Buick Southern Open, won by John Inman.
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PGA Championship: Held lead briefly during final round of 1993 PGA Championship before finishing T6.
1989 Season
Named PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year.
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B.C. Open: Came close to victory in rookie season when he lost playoff to Mike Hulbert at B.C. Open.
Amateur Highlights
- High school teammate of Mike Standly at Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. Was Texas state individual champion in 1983. Played on three state champion teams.
Q SCHOOL GRADUATE
- PGA TOUR: 1988
- PGA TOUR: 2011