Bud Cauley

Exempt status

• PGA TOUR: Top 125 in 2019-20 FedExCup standings (thru 2020-21)

JOINED TOUR

• PGA TOUR: 2012

Korn Ferry Tour Victories (1)

• 2014 Hotel Fitness Championship

National Teams

• 2009 Palmer Cup
• 2009 Walker Cup

Personal

• Supports Birdies for the Brave. His father and grandfather are both U.S. Navy veterans. His father, Bill, retired in 2010 after 20 years of service. His mother is a reading coach at an elementary school.
• His father, Bill, introduced him to the game, at age 5.
• Was homeschooled so he could practice golf during the day.
• Favorite quote is "Winners never quit, and quitters never win."
• Bucket list includes scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Special Interests

• Ping pong, watching movies, Alabama football, spending time with family and friends

Career Highlights

2020 Season

Qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and fifth total, finishing the season No. 83 in the FedExCup standings. Recorded two top-10s, highlighted by a T4 at The American Express, and made the cut in 13 of 20 starts. Led the PGA TOUR in Sand Save Percentage (66.99%).

2019 Season

Qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the third consecutive season and fourth total, finishing the season at No. 95 in the FedExCup standings. Recorded two top-10s and made 16 cuts in 25 starts.

• the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide: After suffering season-ending injuries from a car accident at the 2018 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, returned to Muirfield Village and finished T9. Represented best finish on TOUR since a T8 at The 2017 RSM Classic.
• Shriners Hospitals for Children Open: Recorded first top-10 since June 2018 car accident, closing the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with a 65 to tie for 10th. Made six birdies on the par-3s, most in the field.

2018 Season

Began the season with two top-10s in his first four starts and followed with five additional top-25 finishes before being forced to end his season at the Memorial Tournament in June after just 17 starts. Following a missed cut at the Memorial Tournament, was a passenger in a Friday night car accident which left him hospitalized with multiple injuries. After the accident, sat No. 84 in the FedExCup, but fell to No. 122 at the close of the Regular Season, advancing to the FedExCup Playoffs for the second consecutive season. Did not recover in time and was unable to compete at THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first of four Playoffs events, closing the season at No. 124.

• the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide: After rounds of 77-76 to miss the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, was a passenger in a Friday night car accident which left him hospitalized with multiple injuries, including five broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a fractured lower left leg.
• The RSM Classic: Spurred on by a second-round bogey-free 7-under 63 on the Seaside Course, finished T8 and eight strokes behind runaway winner Austin Cook at The RSM Classic. Snapped a streak of three missed cuts at the event. Second-round 63 fell one shy of his personal-best score on the PGA TOUR – 62 during round one at The RSM Classic in 2012.
• Safeway Open: Needed only 27 putts en route 6-under 66 in the third round of the Safeway Open to sit T3 after 54 holes. Closed with his only over-par score for the week, a 74, to finish T7.

2017 Season

Made the cut in 18 of 28 starts during the 2016-17 season, with five top-10 finishes and a season-best T3 at the CareerBuilder Challenge.

• BMW Championship: Wrapped up the season with a T27 at the BMW Championship, finishing the season No. 65 in the FedExCup standings, his best finish since his rookie season in 2012 (No. 38).
• AT&T Byron Nelson: With a T5 finish at the AT&T Byron Nelson, upped his streak to four consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR. At 8-under 272, finished four strokes out of the Billy Horschel-Jason Day playoff. After missing the cut in Las Colinas in his inaugural start in 2014, has now finished inside the top five in back-to-back seasons (T4 in 2016, T5 in 2017). It marked his fifth top-10 of the season.
• Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Teamed with Justin Thomas to finish T5 at 19-under, helped by final-round 61, in Foursomes/Four-ball format at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
• Valero Texas Open: A week later at the Valero Texas Open, started strong with opening rounds of 70-66 to claim a share of the 36-hole lead at 8-under 136 with Tony Finau. Lost some steam on the weekend, posting scores of 74-72 to finish T10 at 6-under 282 with Camilo Villegas and Branden Grace.
• RBC Heritage: Opened the RBC Heritage with an 8-under 63, falling just one stroke shy of his personal-best PGA TOUR score at the 2012 RSM Classic (round one) and the best opening-round score at the RBC Heritage, set by Davis Love III in 2002 and Peter Lonard in 2005. Held a two-stroke lead over Luke Donald, Graham DeLaet and Sam Saunders after day one, later adding scores of 72-71-69 to finish T9, four strokes behind champion Wesley Bryan.
• CareerBuilder Challenge: In his 100th career start on the PGA TOUR at the CareerBuilder Challenge, snapped a streak of four straight missed cuts with a T3 finish in the Coachella Valley. It marked his best showing since finishing alone in third at the 2012 Wyndham Championship. In the final round, holed his third shot for an eagle on the par-5 11th hole from 103 yards to take a share of the lead. Added a birdie at No. 14 to post a 3-under 69 and finish two strokes back at 18-under 270 with Brian Harman.

2016 Season

Began the season needing to earn 458 FedExCup points or $742,470 to satisfy the requirements of the Major Medical Extension. Finished inside the top 125 on the money list at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, but did not qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs. With the finish at the Wyndham Championship, jumped from No. 137 to No. 119 to claim exempt status for 2016-17. Will have three events remaining in medical extension to earn 49 FedExCup points that would qualify him for invitationals such as THE PLAYERS Championship.

• Wyndham Championship: Finished in the top 10 in his next start, the Wyndham Championship, after rounds of 67-69-64-67 to finish T10. Marked the first time since 2012 he posted back-to-back top-10s.
• John Deere Classic: Posted four rounds in the 60s at the John Deere Classic in August to claim a share of eighth place with five others. With two eagles, a birdie and a par, played the par-5 17th hole in 5-under par for the week at TPC Deere Run.
• AT&T Byron Nelson: With a T4 finish at the AT&T Byron Nelson, recorded his first top-10 finish since a T4 at the 2014 Greenbrier Classic. Moved into contention with a birdie on the seventh hole, moving to 14-under at the time, but a bogey-double bogey stretch on Nos. 8-9 derailed his title hopes. Added two birdies on the back nine to close with a 72-hole total of 13-under 267, two strokes out of the Sergio Garcia-Brooks Koepka playoff. Had missed the cut in his only other appearance at the TPC Four Seasons (2014).

2015 Season

After shoulder surgery in September 2014, did not make a start during the PGA TOUR season. Will have 17 events during the 2015-16 campaign to earn 458 FedExCup points or $742,470 to satisfy the requirements of the Major Medical Extension.

2014 Season

Made nine cuts in 19 starts. Finished 143rd in the FedExCup standings, making him eligible to try and regain his exempt status for the 2014-15 PGA TOUR Season via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Prior to the Finals, had made just one start (Wyndham Championship, missed cut) after suffering a dislocated shoulder at the John Deere Classic in July.

• Chiquita Classic: Missed the cut at the Chiquita Classic, before his season ended abruptly when he made the decision to undergo shoulder surgery the following week. Had surgery on Sept. 12 and was in a sling for six weeks.
• Hotel Fitness Championship: In August, won his first event as a professional when he captured the Hotel Fitness Championship, the first of four Korn Ferry Tour Finals events. Two shots off the pace entering the final round, he birdied five of the first six holes on Sunday. Finished with a 7-under 65, good enough to overtake third-round leader Colt Knost and win by one shot, securing his place on the PGA TOUR for 2014-15. Completed his four trips around Sycamore Hills CC in 20-under 268. Knost missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff. Win came after 80 PGA TOUR starts and in his ninth on the Korn Ferry Tour.
• The Greenbrier Classic: Posted a T4 finish at The Greenbrier Classic in late June for his first top-10 since finishing T10 at The Barclays in 2012 (45 starts later). Final-round, 6-under 64 included an ace on the par-3 18th, with a 7-iron from 176 yards, his first hole-in-one on TOUR. As a result, and courtesy of the Quicken Loans Hole-in-One Sweepstakes, Angelisa Annichiarico from Hasbrouck, N.J., received a year's worth of mortgage payments. In addition, courtesy of The Greenbrier Classic, all fans on the hole at the time of the ace received $100, while he received $25,000 to donate to a charity of his choice.
• El Bosque Mexico Championship: In April, finished T29 at the El Bosque Mexico Championship, his only Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season start.

2013 Season

Made the cut in 10 of 24 PGA TOUR starts. Finished 131st in FedExCup points.

• Hotel Fitness Championship: Opened with a 65 at the first Korn Ferry Tour Finals' event, the Hotel Fitness Championship. Followed that round with scores of 69-68-69 to finish T5. Final-day charge was derailed when he double bogeyed the par-5 15th hole. Finished three shots back of winner Trevor Immelman.
• Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial: A T14 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where he picked up a check for $112,000 was a highlight of the season.
• Shell Houston Open: Top-25 finish came at the Shell Houston Open (T16).
• Waste Management Phoenix Open: Top-25 finish came at the Waste Management Phoenix Open (T24).

2012 Season

First rookie of the season to record top-10 finishes in successive weeks. Concluded the FedExCup season No. 38 in the standings.

• BMW Championship: Finished T56 at the BMW Championship.
• Deutsche Bank Championship: Finished T57 at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
• The Barclays: Began his first Playoffs season with a T10 at The Barclays, highlighted by a final-round, 4-under 67 at Bethpage State Park's Black Course.
• Wyndham Championship: Finished third at the Wyndham Championship after entering the final round one shot behind the leader, giving him top-four finishes in three of his last four starts on TOUR. Matched his previous-best finish on TOUR at the 2011 Frys.com Open (third).
• RBC Canadian Open: Had another fourth-place showing a week later, at the RBC Canadian Open. Opened with an even-par 70 then played his final 54 holes in 14-under to finish three strokes behind winner Scott Piercy. His second-round 63 established a career-best 18-hole PGA TOUR round.
• True South Classic: Third top-10 finish of the season came at the end of July, at the True South Classic. Posted four sub-par rounds at Annandale GC, highlighted by 6-under 66s in the second and final rounds to finish solo-fourth. Dominated the par-5 11th hole all week, playing it in 5-under (three birdies and an eagle).
• Shell Houston Open: Collected his second top-10 finish of the season, a T8, at the Shell Houston Open.
• Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard: Posted his third career-top-10 finish (18 starts), with a T4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (third at the 2011 Frys.com Open, T4 at the 2011 Viking Classic). Had veteran caddie Tony Navarro on his bag at Bay Hill.

2011 Season

Turned professional prior to the U.S. Open (T63) in June after a stellar amateur and college career at the University of Alabama. Earned PGA TOUR card for the 2012 season off of the PGA TOUR non-member money list in just eight starts. Joined a short list of players who earned their PGA TOUR card straight from college without having to go to the Qualifying School: Gary Hallberg, Scott Verplank, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore.

• Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open Presented by Planters: Playing on a sponsor's exemption, carded rounds of 72-68-67 to sit in a tie for fifth after the third round of the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open. A final-round 77 left him T26.
• The McGladrey Classic: By virtue of the top-10 finish at the Frys.com Open, his second of the season, he earned a spot in the field at the McGladrey Classic the following week, where he finished T15 on the strength of a final-round 66.
• Frys.com Open: Best finish as a professional came at the Frys.com Open in the Fall Series. Playing on a sponsor's exemption, carded four rounds in the 60s to earn solo third-place honors to earn $340,000 to clinch his TOUR card for 2012.
• Utah Championship Presented by Utah Sports Commission: Continued to impress when he moved to the Korn Ferry Tour, Playing as a sponsor's exemption, he shot four rounds in the 60s at the Utah Championship outside Salt Lake City to finish T4. It was his first made cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event and earned him a spot in the following week's Cox Classic.
• Viking Classic: Picked up his first career top-10 in his fourth career start on TOUR with a T4 at the Viking Classic. Recorded all four rounds in the 60s at Annandale GC (68-67-66-67).

Amateur Highlights

• Was a member of the 2006 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. Also played on the U.S. Junior World Golf Championships team. As a junior golfer, he was the No. 1-ranked player in the country. Was a three-time All-American at Alabama and represented the U.S. at the