Who's who: Lanny Wadkins

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Who's who: Lanny Wadkins

  • Name:

    Jerry Lanston "Lanny" Wadkins Jr
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    Dec 5, 1949 in Richmond, Virginia.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; TV commentator & analyst; course design consultant.
  • Turned Pro:

    1971
  • Website:

    https://www.lannywadkinsdesigngroup.com

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US PGA Ch'ship (1977). US Amateur champion (1970). Walker Cup player (1969, '71). Ryder Cup player (1977, '79, '83, '85, '87, '89, '91, '93); Ryder Cup captain (1995). Total professional wins (31), including PGA Tour (21) and Champions Tour (1). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2009).

Golf course design

Lanny Wadkins Design Group have been involved with several course design projects, including (but not limited to): TPC Myrtle Beach (with Tom Fazio) and Pinnacle GC (Ohio).

Did you know?

After attending Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and winning the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1970, Wadkins turned professional in 1971. He was voted the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1972. In his distinguished career on the PGA Tour, Wadkins recorded 21 wins and appeared in eight USA Ryder Cup teams (with an impressive tally of 21.5 points in total). He started playing on the Champions Tour in 2000, and was joined there by his younger brother Bobby one year later.

Top tournaments won by Lanny Wadkins

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

124 (-20)

Prize money

$200,000

Title sponsor

PNC

Played as the PNC Father/Son Challenge (Dec 12/13; post-season 36-hole scramble event). Lanny & Tucker Wadkins (USA) beat Davis Love III & Davis "Dru" Love IV (USA), Larry & Drew Nelson (USA) and Fred & Taylor Funk (USA) with an eagle at the first playoff hole (the par-5 18th). Tucker rolled in a 40-foot putt to secure the win. [Ritz-Carlton GC, Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL].

2000
America
Pelican Marsh
202 (-14)
$180,000
ACE Group

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Venue

Pelican Marsh

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

ACE Group

Played as the ACE Group Classic (Feb 11-13). 50-year-old Lanny Wadkins (USA) beat José María Cañizares (Esp) with a par at the third playoff hole, to record his first and only Senior PGA Tour win. Tom Watson (USA) and Walter Hall (USA) were eliminated at the first and second playoff holes respectively. [Pelican Marsh GC, Naples, FL].

1992
America
274 (-6)
$180,000
Canon

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

274 (-6)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

Canon

Played as the Canon Greater Hartford Open (Jul 30-Aug 2). Second-placed Nick Price (Zim), Dan Forsman (USA) and Donnie Hammond (USA) finished 2 shots behind Lanny Wadkins (USA), who recorded the last of his 21 PGA Tour wins. [TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT].

1991
America
189 (-27)
$125,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

189 (-27)

Prize money

$125,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Shark Shootout benefiting RMCC (Nov 22-24; played over three rounds: 1-alternate shot; 2-better ball; 3-scramble). Second-placed Greg Norman (Aus) & Jack Nicklaus (USA) finished 4 shots behind the winning team of Tom Purtzer (USA) & Lanny Wadkins (USA). [Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, nr LA, Calif.].

1991
America
270 (-18)
$198,000
United Airlines

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

$198,000

Title sponsor

United Airlines

Played as the United Hawaiian Open (Jan 17-20). Second-placed John Cook (USA) finished 4 shots behind Lanny Wadkins (USA), who recorded his 20th PGA Tour win. [Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii].

1990
America
266 (-18)
$180,000
Anheuser-Busch

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

Anheuser-Busch

Played as the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic (July 5-8). Second-placed Larry Mize (USA) finished 5 shots behind Lanny Wadkins (USA). [River course, Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg, VA].

1988
America
271 (-17)
$108,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

$108,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Hawaiian Open (Feb 11-14). Second-placed Richard Zokol (Can) finished 1 shot behind Lanny Wadkins (USA). [Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

$135,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Colonial National Invitation (May 19-22). Second-placed Mark Calcavecchia (USA), Ben Crenshaw (USA) and Joey Sindelar (USA) finished 2 shots behind Lanny Wadkins (USA). [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].

1987
America
277 (-11)
$180,000
Ryder

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

Ryder

Played as the Doral Ryder Open (Feb 26-Mar 1). Second-placed Tom Kite (USA), Don Pooley (USA) and Seve Ballesteros (Esp) finished 1 shot behind Lanny Wadkins (USA). [Blue Monster course, Doral Resort, Miami, FL].

1985
Awards
x
n/a
PGA of America

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Wadkins (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).

1985
America
267 (-21)
$72,000
Oldsmobile

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

Oldsmobile

Played as the Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic (Oct 10-13). Second-placed Mike Donald (USA) and Scott Hoch (USA) finished 3 shots behind Lanny Wadkins (USA), who recorded his 15th PGA Tour win. [Magnolia course, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL. Earlier rounds also played on the Palm course].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

333 (-27)

Prize money

$90,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Bob Hope Classic (Jan 9-13; PGA Tour 1985 season-opener). Wadkins (USA) beat Craig Stadler (USA) with a birdie at the fifth playoff hole. [Indian Wells CC, Coachella Valley, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Bermuda Dunes CC; Tamarisk CC and La Quinta CC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

264 (-20)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 24-27). Second-placed Hal Sutton (USA) finished 7 shots behind Wadkins (USA). [Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA].

1983
America
Forest Oaks CC
275 (-13)
$72,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Venue

Forest Oaks CC

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (Mar 31-Apr 3). Second-placed Craig Stadler (USA) and Denis Watson (Zim) finished 5 shots behind Wadkins (USA). [Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, NC].

1983
America
280 (-8)
$72,000
MONY

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

MONY

Played as the MONY Tournament of Champions (April 21-24). Second-placed Raymond Floyd (USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Wadkins (USA). [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course].

1982
America
280 (-8)
$63,000
MONY

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

$63,000

Title sponsor

MONY

Played as the MONY Tournament of Champions (April 15-18). Second-placed Andy Bean (USA), David Graham (Aus), Craig Stadler (USA) and Ron Streck (USA) finished 3 shots behind Wadkins (USA). [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course].

1982
America
Phoenix CC, AZ
263 (-21)
$54,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Venue

Phoenix CC, AZ

Score

263 (-21)

Prize money

$54,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Phoenix Open (Jan 21-24). Second-placed Jerry Pate (USA) finished 6 shots behind Wadkins (USA). [Phoenix CC, Phoenix, AZ].

1982
America
Warwick Hills
273 (-15)
$63,000
Buick

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Venue

Warwick Hills

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$63,000

Title sponsor

Buick

Played as the Buick Open (Aug 19-22). Second-placed Tom Kite (USA) finished 1 shot behind Lanny Wadkins (USA), who recorded his tenth PGA Tour win. [Warwick Hills G&CC, Grand Blanc, Michigan].

1980
America
71 (-1)
PGA of America

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

71 (-1)

Prize money

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Played as the PGA Grand Slam of Golf (July 1; unofficial event for the previous year's winners of the three US-based Majors and the Tournament Plyrs). Second-placed Hale Irwin (US Open) finished 2 shots behind Wadkins (Tournament Plyrs). Tied third on 74 were David Graham (US PGA) and Fuzzy Zoeller (The Masters). [Hazeltine National GC, Chaska, Minn.].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tournament Players Championship (March 22-25). Second-placed Tom Watson (USA) finished 5 shots behind Wadkins (USA). [Sawgrass CC, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Played on the Oceanside course, a combination of the East & West nines].

1979
Japan
277 (-11)
US$28,500
Bridgestone

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

US$28,500

Title sponsor

Bridgestone

Played as the Bridgestone Tournament (Oct 25-28; Japan Tr event). Wadkins (USA) recorded his first and only Japan Tour win. [Sodegaura course, Sodegaura CC, Chiba, Jpn].

1979
America
276 (-8)
$45,000
Glen Campbell

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

276 (-8)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

Glen Campbell

Played as the Glen Campbell Los Angeles Open (Feb 22-25). Second-placed Lon Hinkle (USA) finished 1 shot behind Wadkins (USA). [Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA].

1977
America
267 (-13)
$100,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

267 (-13)

Prize money

$100,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the World Series of Golf (Sept 2-5). Second-placed Hale Irwin (USA) and Tom Weiskopf (USA) finished 5 shots behind Lanny Wadkins (USA), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

1977
Majors
282 (-6)
$45,000
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (59th) (Aug 11-14). Wadkins (USA) beat Gene Littler (USA) with a par at the third playoff hole, to record his first and only major championship win. This was the first time a sudden-death playoff was used in a stroke-play major championship. [Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA].

1973
America
Preston Trail
277 (-3)
$30,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Venue

Preston Trail

Score

277 (-3)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Byron Nelson Golf Classic (Apr 26-29). Wadkins (USA) beat Dan Sikes Jr (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole, to record his second PGA Tour win. [Preston Trail GC, Dallas, TX].

1973
America
Pleasant Valley, Mass.
279 (-9)
$40,000
USI

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Venue

Pleasant Valley, Mass.

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

USI

Played as the USI Classic (Aug 16-19). Second-placed Tom Jenkins (USA), Lee Elder (USA) and Rik Massengale (USA) finished 2 shots behind Lanny Wadkins (USA). [Pleasant Valley CC, Sutton, MA].

1972
America
273 (-11)
$27,000
Sahara Hotel

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

$27,000

Title sponsor

Sahara Hotel

Played as the Sahara Invitational (Oct 26-29). Second-placed Arnold Palmer (USA) finished 1 shot behind 22-year-old PGA Tour rookie Lanny Wadkins (USA), who recorded his first win on the Tour. [Las Vegas National GC, Las Vegas, NV; at the time known as Sahara-Nevada CC; originally the Stardust CC].

1970
Amateur
279
amateur
USGA

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Wadkins, Lanny

Score

279

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Amateur Championship (70th) (Sept 2-5). Second-placed Tom Kite (USA) finished 1 shot behind Lanny Wadkins (USA). [Waverley CC, Portland, Oregon].

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