Craig Robert Stadler (born June 2, 1953) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level, including one major championship, the 1982 Masters Tournament.
Early life Stadler was born in San Diego, California. His father introduced him to golf at age four, and he displayed a talent for golf early in life. Stadler attended La Jolla High School.
Stadler's brother Gary Stadler is a Billboard-charting recording artist.Billboard Magazine, April 28, 2001 through May 17, 2001 - Fairy HeartMagic by Gary Stadler on Sequoia Records, chart position # 24 on Top 25 New Age Albums
Amateur career Stadler won the 1973 U.S. Amateur, while attending the University of Southern California, where he was a teammate of future PGA Tour winners Mark Pfeil and Scott Simpson. Stadler was an All-American all four years – first-team his sophomore and junior years; second-team his freshman and senior years. Stadler finished college in 1975.
Professional career In 1976, Stadler turned professional. He won his first two PGA Tour events in 1980, at the Bob Hope Desert Classic and the Greater Greensboro Open. His career year was 1982 when he won four PGA Tour events including the Masters Tournament after a playoff with Dan Pohl and the World Series of Golf at the end of the year. Stadler won the money list for the only time. His next win was at the 1984 Byron Nelson Classic.
Despite playing relatively well, Stadler did not win a PGA Tour event for over 7 years (May 1984 – November 1991) during the heart of his career. During this period he recorded six runner-up performances and dozens of top-10s on the PGA Tour. He had more success at winning international tournaments. He won the 1985 Swiss Open on the European Tour and the 1987 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on the Japan Golf Tour. He had great success at the Scandinavian Enterprise Open too, an official event on the European Tour, finishing runner-up at the 1983 and 1986 events until finally winning in 1990. His winless streak in America was broken at the final event of the 1991 season, defeating Russ Cochran in a playoff at the Tour Championship. Stadler won the B.C. Open in 2003, becoming the first player over age 50 to win a PGA Tour event in 28 years and the first player ever to win on the PGA Tour after he had won on the Champions Tour. He won 13 PGA Tour events in all, and played on the 1983 and 1985 Ryder Cup teams.
Stadler began playing on the Champions Tour upon becoming eligible in June 2003. His greatest successes came during his first two years of eligibility; he was the leading money winner in his first full year on that tour in 2004. Stadler underwent total left-hip-replacement surgery in Los Angeles on September 15, 2010, which limits his playing time. Stadler announced that the 2014 Masters Tournament, his 38th and in which he played with Kevin, was his last.
Personal life Stadler lives in Evergreen, Colorado. His son Kevin is also a PGA Tour champion. Stadler and his son Kevin are the only father and son who have both won on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
In 1984, United Airlines held a promotion for its frequent flyer members in which any member who flew the airline to all 50 states in the United States in a 50-day period would receive free first-class flights for one year. Stadler was one of 78 people who completed the challenge.
In popular culture
In 1994, he was the featured coach for the Sega Saturn video game Pebble Beach Golf Links.
In 1996, Stadler appeared as himself in the film Tin Cup.
Amateur wins 1973 U.S. Amateur 1975 Southwestern Amateur
Professional wins (30) PGA Tour wins (13) Legend Major championships (1) Tour Championships (1) Other PGA Tour (11) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jan 13, 1980Bob Hope Desert Classic−17 (69-68-70-69-67=343)2 strokes Tom Purtzer, Mike Sullivan2Apr 6, 1980Greater Greensboro Open−13 (67-69-71-68=275)6 strokes George Burns, Billy Kratzert, Jack Newton, Jerry Pate3May 31, 1981Kemper Open−10 (67-69-66-68=270)6 strokes Tom Watson, Tom Weiskopf4Jan 10, 1982Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open−14 (65-64-66-71=266)3 strokes Vance Heafner, John Mahaffey5Apr 11, 1982Masters Tournament−4 (75-69-67-73=284)Playoff Dan Pohl6Jun 6, 1982Kemper Open (2)−13 (72-67-67-69=275)7 strokes Seve Ballesteros7Aug 29, 1982World Series of Golf−2 (70-68-75-65=278)Playoff Raymond Floyd8May 13, 1984Byron Nelson Golf Classic−8 (70-71-64-71=276)1 stroke David Edwards9Nov 3, 1991The Tour Championship−5 (68-68-72-71=279)Playoff Russ Cochran10Aug 30, 1992NEC World Series of Golf (2)−7 (69-65-69-70=273)1 stroke Corey Pavin 11Feb 27, 1994Buick Invitational of California−20 (67-67-68-66=268)1 stroke Steve Lowery12Feb 25, 1996Nissan Open−6 (67-70-73-68=278)1 stroke Mark Brooks, Fred Couples, Scott Simpson, Mark Wiebe 13Jul 20, 2003B.C. Open−21 (67-69-68-63=267)1 stroke Alex Čejka, Steve Lowery
PGA Tour playoff record (3–3) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11982Masters Tournament Dan PohlWon with par on first extra hole21982World Series of Golf Raymond FloydWon with par on fourth extra hole31985Bob Hope Classic Lanny WadkinsLost to birdie on fifth extra hole41987Hawaiian Open Corey PavinLost to birdie on second extra hole51991The Tour Championship Russ CochranWon with birdie on second extra hole62000Shell Houston Open Robert AllenbyLost to par on fourth extra hole
European Tour wins (3) Legend Major championships (1) Other European Tour (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Apr 11, 1982Masters Tournament−4 (75-69-67-73=284)Playoff Dan Pohl2Sep 8, 1985Ebel European Masters Swiss Open−21 (68-65-67-67=267)2 strokes David Feherty, Ove Sellberg3Jun 10, 1990Scandinavian Enterprise Open−20 (68-72-67-61=268)4 strokes Craig Parry
European Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11982Masters Tournament Dan PohlWon with par on first extra hole21986Scandinavian Enterprise Open Greg TurnerLost to birdie on first extra hole
PGA of Japan Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Nov 22, 1987Dunlop Phoenix Tournament−11 (71-65-69-72=277)1 stroke Scott Hoch
South American Tour wins (1) 1992 Argentine Open
Other wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Apr 9, 1978Magnolia State Classic−12 (67-66-72-63=268)1 stroke Bob Eastwood, Bruce Fleisher2Aug 19, 1986Jerry Ford Invitational−9 (67-68=135)2 strokes Mark O'Meara3Aug 22, 1989Fred Meyer Challenge(with Joey Sindelar)−19 (62-63=125)1 stroke Mark Calcavecchia and Bob Gilder4Dec 15, 2002Office Depot Father/Son Challenge(with son Kevin Stadler)−24 (60-60=120)Playoff Hale Irwin and son Steve Irwin
Other playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11982Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge Raymond FloydLost to par on fourth extra hole22002Office Depot Father/Son Challenge(with son Kevin Stadler) Hale Irwin and son Steve IrwinWon with birdie on first extra hole
Champions Tour wins (9) LegendChampions Tour major championships (2)Other Champions Tour (7) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jul 13, 2003 Ford Senior Players Championship−17 (67-73-65-66=271)3 strokes Tom Kite, Jim Thorpe, Tom Watson2Sep 28, 2003Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn−15 (66-69-66=201)2 strokes Larry Nelson3Oct 19, 2003SBC Championship−15 (67-64-67=198)4 strokes Bob Gilder4Feb 15, 2004 ACE Group Classic −10 (67-67-72=206)Playoff Gary Koch, Tom Watson5Jun 27, 2004Bank of America Championship−15 (68-69-64=201)4 strokes Tom Kite, Tom Purtzer, D. A. Weibring6Aug 29, 2004JELD-WEN Tradition−13 (70-70-68-67=275)1 stroke Allen Doyle, Jerry Pate7Sep 5, 2004First Tee Open at Pebble Beach−15 (72-63-66=201)3 strokes Jay Haas8Sep 26, 2004SAS Championship−17 (65-68-66=199)6 strokes Tom Jenkins9Jun 23, 2013Encompass Championship−13 (67-65-71=203)1 stroke Fred Couples
Champions Tour playoff record (1–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult12004ACE Group Classic Gary Koch, Tom WatsonWon with birdie on first extra hole22007Boeing Classic R. W. Eaks, David Eger, Gil Morgan, Naomichi Ozaki, Dana Quigley, Denis WatsonWatson won with eagle on second extra holeEger, Morgan, Ozaki and Quigley eliminated by birdie on first hole32009Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf(with Jeff Sluman) Tom Lehman and Bernhard LangerLost to par on second extra hole
Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1982 Masters Tournament 3 shot lead −4 (75-69-67-73=284) Playoff1 Dan Pohl 1Defeated Pohl with par on first extra hole.
Results timeline Tournament197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentCUTCUTT7U.S. OpenCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA Championship6CUT
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentT26T431T6T35T6CUTT173CUTU.S. OpenT16T26T22T10WDCUTT15T24T25The Open ChampionshipT6CUTT35T12T28CUTWDT8T60T13PGA ChampionshipT55CUTT16T63T18T18T30T28T15T7
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999Masters TournamentT14T12T25T34CUTCUTT29T26T41T38U.S. OpenT8T19T33T33CUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTT101T64T24CUTT45CUTPGA ChampionshipT57T7T48CUTT19T8CUTT53T38CUT
Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009Masters TournamentCUTCUTT3249CUT50CUTT49CUTCUTU.S. OpenCUTT18The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT64
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Masters TournamentCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipPGA Championship
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1975 and 1985 Open Championships) WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 1 0 1 2 5 9 38 21U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 2 9 18 12The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 2 5 18 11PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 4 9 23 18Totals 1 0 1 2 13 32 97 62 Most consecutive cuts made – 11 (1990 PGA – 1993 U.S. Open) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament1977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989The Players ChampionshipCUTCUTT67T67CUTT6T63T3T13CUTCUTT45T21 Tournament199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004The Players ChampionshipT61CUTCUTCUTCUTT14T41CUTT31T62CUTCUTT36T66
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament199920002001Match PlayR32QFChampionshipNT1Invitational 1Cancelled due to 9/11
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play NT = No tournament
Senior major championships Wins (2) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 2003 Ford Senior Players Championship −17 (67-73-65-66=271) 3 strokes Tom Kite, Jim Thorpe, Tom Watson 2004 JELD-WEN Tradition −13 (70-70-68-67=275) 1 stroke Allen Doyle, Jerry Pate
U.S. national team appearances Amateur Walker Cup: 1975 (winners)
Professional Ryder Cup: 1983 (winners), 1985 UBS Cup: 2003 (tie), 2004 (winners) Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing Champions Tour): 2003, 2004, 2005 (winners), 2006
See also Spring 1976 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins
References
External links