Steven David Bowditch (born 8 June 1983) is an Australian professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Early life and amateur career Bowditch was born in Newcastle, New South Wales. He had a distinguished amateur career, which includes medalist honours at the 2001 Australian Amateur.
Professional career Bowditch plays on the PGA Tour of Australasia and previously played on the developmental Von Nida Tour. He also plays in the United States, where he has alternated between the PGA Tour and its developmental tour for varied success. He won the 2005 Jacob's Creek Open Championship, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Nationwide Tour, on the way to finishing fourth on the Nationwide Tour's money list. This earned Bowditch a PGA Tour card for the first time in 2006. He played in 22 events, but only made two cuts in his debut season and returned to the Nationwide Tour in 2007.
Bowditch won for the second time on the Nationwide Tour in 2010, at the Soboba Golf Classic. He finished the year 17th on the money list and earned his 2011 PGA Tour card. His second full season on the PGA Tour was a greater success, where he played in 28 events and made 15 cuts, including six top-25 finishes.
On 30 March 2014, Bowditch won his maiden title on the PGA Tour, at the Valero Texas Open. He won by a single stroke over Will MacKenzie and Daniel Summerhays, despite shooting a final four-over-par round of 76, which was the highest round shot by a winner on tour since 2004. The victory came in his 110th tour level start. The win qualified Bowditch to play in the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship for the first time in his career.
On 31 May 2015, Bowditch won the AT&T Byron Nelson for his second PGA Tour title. He posted a score of −18 to finish four shots ahead of Charley Hoffman, Jimmy Walker and Scott Pinckney to claim a wire-to-wire victory. He became the third Australian to win the tournament in eight years, following Adam Scott in 2008 and Jason Day in 2010. The victory qualified Bowditch for the 2015 PGA Championship and the 2016 Masters Tournament. His play during the season was good enough to earn a captain's pick for the 2015 Presidents Cup and a career high world ranking of 54th.
Personal life Bowditch has long had a battle with severe depression and is a spokesman for Beyond Blue, an Australian non-profit organisation promoting awareness of depression and related mental disorders.Top young golfer and beyondblue Ambassador Steven Bowditch says: It can happen to anyone
On 3 February 2017, Bowditch was arrested for extreme DUI in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Professional wins (7) PGA Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up130 Mar 2014Valero Texas Open−8 (69-67-68-76=280)1 stroke Will MacKenzie, Daniel Summerhays231 May 2015AT&T Byron Nelson−18 (62-68-65-64=259)4 strokes Charley Hoffman, Scott Pinckney, Jimmy Walker
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up120 Feb 2005Jacob's Creek Open Championship1−11 (67-67-72-71=277)5 strokes Ryan Armour, Nathan Green28 Nov 2009Cellarbrations Queensland PGA Championship−20 (64-64-63-69=260)6 strokes Clint Rice38 May 2010Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship−17 (64-68-64-67=263)2 strokes Gareth Paddison 1Co-sanctioned by the Nationwide Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12005ING New Zealand PGA Championship Peter O'MalleyLost to birdie on first extra hole
Nationwide Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up120 Feb 2005Jacob's Creek Open Championship1−11 (67-67-72-71=277)5 strokes Ryan Armour, Nathan Green23 Oct 2010Soboba Golf Classic−19 (70-64-63-68=265)3 strokes Daniel Summerhays 1Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia
Nationwide Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12005ING New Zealand PGA Championship Peter O'MalleyLost to birdie on first extra hole
Von Nida Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up17 Nov 2004QLD Group Queensland Open−18 (64-66-68=198)5 strokes Richard Ball, Brad McIntosh, Nigel Spence
Playoff record Challenge Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12003BA-CA Golf Open Robert ColesLost to birdie on first extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA Championship
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Masters TournamentT26CUTU.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipT30CUTPGA ChampionshipCUTCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
Results in The Players Championship Tournament201420152016The Players ChampionshipT48CUTCUT CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships Results not in chronological order prior to 2015. Tournament201420152016Championship65Match PlayInvitational44T1258ChampionsT40
"T" = tied
Team appearances Amateur Nomura Cup (representing Australia): 2001 (winners) Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Queensland): 2000, 2001 (winners)
Professional Presidents Cup (representing the International team): 2015
See also 2005 Nationwide Tour graduates 2010 Nationwide Tour graduates 2012 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
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