Who's who: Curtis Strange

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Curtis Strange

  • Name:

    Curtis Northrup Strange
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    Jan 30, 1955 in Norfolk, Virginia.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, TV commentator, course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1976

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2). Walker Cup player (1975). Ryder Cup player (1983, '85, '87, '89, '95). Ryder Cup captain (2002). Total professional wins (28), including PGA Tour (17) and Japan Tour (1). PGA Tour leading money winner (1985, '87, '88). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2007).

Golf course design

Strange has partnered with several top golf course architects as a design consultant. Projects worked on include (but are not limited to): Woods course, Kingsmill Resort, VA (with Tom Clark); Virginia Beach Natl (with Pete Dye); King Valley, Ontario (with Doug Carrick).

Did you know?

Strange grew up with his identical twin brother Allan, in Norfolk, Virginia, where his father owned a local country club. After attending Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Curtis Strange turned professional in 1976. He became one of the best golfers of the 1980s, a decade in which most of his 28 professional wins came. In total he won 17 PGA Tour titles, including two U.S. Open Championships. He also won at least three times in Australia. Strange's limited success on the Champions Tour saw him make a move into television, as a lead golf commentator and analyst.

Top tournaments won by Curtis Strange

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

274 (-18)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Holden

Played as the inaugural Greg Norman's Holden Classic (Dec 2-5; Aus Tr event). Second-placed John Wade (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Curtis Strange (USA), who recorded the last of his three Australasian Tour wins. [The Lakes GC, Sydney, Aus].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

8 skins

Prize money

$220,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Skins Game (Nov 24/25; four-man PGA Tour unofficial money event). Defending champion Strange (USA) won with a total of 8 skins worth $220,000. Second was Greg Norman (Aus) 4 skins worth $90,000. Third was Nick Faldo (Eng) 4 skins worth $70,000 and Jack Nicklaus (USA) 2 skins worth $70,000. [Stadium (resort) course, PGA West, La Quinta, CA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

11 skins

Prize money

$265,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Skins Game (Nov 25/26; four-man PGA Tour unofficial money event). Strange (USA) won with a total of 11 skins worth $265,000. Second was Jack Nicklaus (USA) 4 skins worth $90,000. Third was defending champion Raymond Floyd (USA) 2 skins worth $60,000. Fourth was Lee Trevino (USA) 1 skin worth $35,000. [Stadium (resort) course, PGA West, La Quinta, CA].

1989
Majors
278 (-2)
$200,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

278 (-2)

Prize money

$200,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (89th) (June 15-18). Second-placed Chip Beck (USA), Mark McCumber (USA) and Ian Woosnam (Wales) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Strange (USA), who recorded the last of his 17 PGA Tour wins. [East course, Oak Hill CC, Pittsford, Rochester, NY].

1989
America
190 (-26)
$125,000
RMCC

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

190 (-26)

Prize money

$125,000

Title sponsor

RMCC

Played as the inaugural RMCC Invitational (Nov 16-19). Second-placed Tom Weiskopf (USA) & Lanny Wadkins (USA) finished 6 shots behind the winning team of Curtis Strange (USA) & Mark O'Meara (USA). [Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, nr LA, Calif.].

1989
America
Kemper Lakes
73 (+1)
PGA of America

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Kemper Lakes

Score

73 (+1)

Prize money

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Played as the PGA Grand Slam of Golf (May 29); unofficial event for the previous year's four Major winners ... three of whom were otherwise engaged: Sandy Lyle (The Masters), Seve Ballesteros (The Open) and Jeff Sluman (US PGA). Their alternates were previous major winners. Second-placed Craig Stadler (1982 major winner) finished 2 shots behind Strange (US Open). Third was Ian Baker-Finch (1991 major winner); fourth was Greg Norman (1986, 1993 major winner). [Kemper Lakes GC, Kildeer, nr Chicago, Illinois].

1988
Majors
278 (-6)
$180,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

278 (-6)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (88th) (June 16-20). Strange (USA) beat Nick Faldo (Eng) in an 18-hole playoff: Strange 71 (E), Faldo 75 (+4). [The Country Club, Brookline, Boston, MA].

1988
America
270 (-18)
$126,000
Independent Ins

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

$126,000

Title sponsor

Independent Ins

Played as the Independent Insurance Agent Open (Apr 28-May 1). Curtis Strange (USA) beat Greg Norman (Aus) with a 25-foot birdie putt at the third playoff hole. [Tournament course (known as TPC at The Woodlands), Woodlands CC, nr Houston, TX].

1988
America
279 (-9)
$360,000
Nabisco

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

$360,000

Title sponsor

Nabisco

Played as the Nabisco Championship (Nov 10-13). Strange (USA) beat Tom Kite (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole (par-3 17th). Strange became the first player to win over $1 million in a single year on the PGA Tour. [Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA].

1988
Awards
$1,147,644
see Score
PGA Tour

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Score

$1,147,644

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

PGA Tour

Strange (USA) won his second straight Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour 1988 leading money winner, with earnings of $1,147,644 on the Tour. Chip Beck (USA) was second with $916,818; Joey Sindelar (USA) was third with $813,732.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$160,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Memorial Tournament (May 26-29). Second-placed Hale Irwin (USA) and David Frost (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Strange (USA). [Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, nr Columbus, OH].

1988
Awards
x
n/a
PGA of America

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Strange (USA) won the PGA of America Player of the Year Award (based on points allocated for PGA Tour wins, money-list position and scoring average).

1987
Awards
$925,941
see Score
PGA Tour

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Score

$925,941

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

PGA Tour

Strange (USA) won the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour 1987 leading money winner, with earnings of $925,941 on the Tour. Paul Azinger (USA) was second with $822,481; Ben Crenshaw (USA) was third with $638,194.

1987
America
Colonial CC, Tenn
275 (-13)
$130,328
FedEx

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Colonial CC, Tenn

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$130,328

Title sponsor

FedEx

Played as the Federal Express St Jude Classic (Jul 30-Aug 2). Second-placed Denis Watson (Zim), Tom Kite (USA), Russ Cochran (USA) and Mike Donald (USA) finished 1 shot behind Strange (USA). [South course, Colonial CC, Cordova, nr Memphis, TN].

1987
America
276 (-12)
$108,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

$108,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (Jul 2-5). Second-placed David Frost (RSA), Jodie Mudd (USA) and Nick Price (Zim) finished 3 shots behind Curtis Strange (USA), who recorded his second win in this event in three years and tenth PGA Tour title overall. [Glen Abbey GC, Oakville, nr Toronto, Ont.].

1987
America
275 (-5)
$144,000
NEC

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

275 (-5)

Prize money

$144,000

Title sponsor

NEC

Played as the NEC World Series of Golf (Aug 27-30). Second-placed Fulton Allem (USA) finished 3 shots behind Curtis Strange (USA). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

1986
America
274 (-14)
$90,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$90,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Open (April 24-27). Curtis Strange (USA) beat Calvin Peete (USA) with a birdie at the third playoff hole. [Tournament course (known as TPC at The Woodlands), Woodlands CC, nr Houston, TX].

1986
Japan
Sports Shinko CC
271 (-17)
¥6.5million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Sports Shinko CC

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

¥6.5million

Title sponsor

x

Played as the ABC Japan-US Match (Oct 30-Nov 2; Japan Tr event; individual low score winner). Second-placed Chip Beck (USA) finished 4 shots behind Strange (USA), who recorded his first and only Japan Tour win. [Sports Shinko CC, Kawanishi, Hyogo, Japan].

1985
Awards
$542,321
see Score
PGA Tour

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Score

$542,321

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

PGA Tour

Strange (USA) won the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour 1985 leading money winner, with earnings of $542,321 on the Tour. Lanny Wadkins (USA) was second with $446,893; Calvin Peete (USA) was third with $384,489.

1985
America
338 (-22)
$171,000
Panasonic

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

338 (-22)

Prize money

$171,000

Title sponsor

Panasonic

Played as the Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational (March 20-24). Second-placed Mike Smith (USA) finished 1 shot behind Strange (USA). [Las Vegas CC, Las Vegas, NV. Earlier rounds also at: Desert Inn CC (now Wynn G&CC) and Tropicana CC].

1985
America
279 (-9)
$86,506
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

$86,506

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (July 4-7). Second-placed Jack Nicklaus (USA) and defending champion Greg Norman (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Curtis Strange (USA). This was the last of Jack Nicklaus's seven runner-up finishes in the Canadian Open, one of a few top-level PGA Tour titles he failed to win in his career. [Glen Abbey GC, Oakville, nr Toronto, Ont.].

1985
America
Eagle Trace, FL
275 (-13)
$90,000
Honda

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Eagle Trace, FL

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$90,000

Title sponsor

Honda

Played as the Honda Classic (Feb 28-Mar 3). Curtis Strange (USA) beat Peter Jacobsen (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Eagle Trace GC, Coral Springs, FL; at the time called TPC Eagle Trace].

1984
America
Fairway Oaks, TX
273 (-15)
$63,000
LaJet

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Fairway Oaks, TX

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$63,000

Title sponsor

LaJet

Played as the LaJet Golf Classic (Sept 27-30). Second-placed Mark O'Meara (USA) finished 2 shots behind Strange (USA), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [Fairway Oaks CC, Abilene, TX. Now known as the Fairway course, Abilene CC].

1983
America
Wethersfield CC
268 (-16)
$54,000
Sammy Davis, Jr.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Wethersfield CC

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$54,000

Title sponsor

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Played as the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open (Aug 18-21). Second-placed Jay Haas (USA) and Jack Renner (USA) finished 1 shot behind Curtis Strange (USA). [Wethersfield CC, nr Hartford, CT].

1981
America
204
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Venue

Score

204

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Panama Open. Won by Strange (USA). Tournament reduced to 54 holes.

1980
America
273 (-11)
$72,000
Manufactures Hanover

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

Manufactures Hanover

Played as the Manufactures Hanover Westchester Classic (Aug 14-17). Second-placed Gibby Gilbert (USA) finished 2 shots behind Strange (USA). [West course, Westchester CC, Rye, NY].

1980
America
266 (-18)
$63,000
Michelob

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

$63,000

Title sponsor

Michelob

Played as the Michelob Houston Open (May 1-4). Curtis Strange (USA) beat Lee Trevino (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole, to claim his second PGA Tour win. [The Woodlands CC, nr Houston, TX].

1980
America
268 (-20)
$36,000
JCPenney

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

$36,000

Title sponsor

JCPenney

Played as the JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (Dec 11-14; two-person team event; one PGA Tr, one LPGA Tr). Second-placed team of Craig Stadler (USA) & Lori Garbacz (USA) and Gibby Gilbert (USA) & Sandra Spuzich (USA) finished 2 shots behind Curtis Strange (USA) & Nancy Lopez (USA). [Bardmoor CC, Largo, FL].

1979
America
271 (-17)
$36,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Strange, Curtis

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

$36,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Pensacola Open (Oct 18-21). Second-placed Billy Kratzert (USA) finished 1 shot behind Strange (USA), who recorded the first of his 17 PGA Tour wins. [Perdido Bay GC, Pensacola, FL].

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Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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