Russell Earl Cochran (born October 31, 1958) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions, having previously been a member on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. He is one of the few natural left-handed players to win a PGA Tour event. For much of the 1980s through 1992, he was the only left-hander on the PGA Tour.
Early life and amateur career Cochran was born, raised and has lived most of his life in Paducah, Kentucky. He grew up playing on Paxton Park Public Golf Course in Paducah, as did fellow PGA Tour player Kenny Perry, who came along a couple years later.
After graduating from St. Mary High School in Paducah, he attended the University of Kentucky and was a member of the golf team.
Professional career In 1979, Cochran turned pro. He joined the PGA Tour in 1982.
Cochran has about 60 top-10 finishes in official PGA Tour events including a victory at the 1991 Centel Western Open when he made up seven shots over eight holes to beat Greg Norman.Cochran wins Western Open His career year was 1991, when in addition to his win at the Western Open, he had two second-place finishes—including a playoff loss to Craig Stadler at the Tour Championship – and a third and finished 10th on the money list. His best finish in a major was a tie for seventh at the 1992 PGA Championship. Cochran set the Valhalla Golf Club course record (65) in the third round of the 1996 PGA Championship which stood until broken (63) in the same tournament four years later by José María Olazábal. He played some on the Nationwide Tour in his mid-to-late 40s in preparation for the Champions Tour. His best Nationwide finish was a tie for third at the 2003 Chitimacha Louisiana Open.
Senior career Cochran debuted on the Champions Tour with a tie for seventh at the Allianz Championship on February 15, 2009, at Boca Raton, Florida. He finished third at the U.S. Senior Open on August 2, 2009, at Carmel, Indiana, setting the Crooked Stick Golf Club course record with a third-round score of 8-under par 64. He ended the year by winning the Rookie of the Year award. In 2010, he earned his first victory on the Champions Tour, defeating Fred Funk on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff in the Posco E&C Songdo Championship in South Korea, and followed that up with another win in the tour's next event, the SAS Championship in North Carolina.
Cochran won his maiden senior major championship at the 2011 Senior British Open Championship at Walton Heath. Cochran finished two strokes ahead of the third round leader Mark Calcavecchia. He shot a final round 67 which included six birdies in the first ten holes to open up a five stroke advantage. Despite a late charge by Calcavecchia, Cochran parred the last four holes and held on for a two stroke victory. Afterwards Cochran claimed having his son on the bag was a factor in his success. "It feels great, I had my son (Reed) on the bag, I told him I was going to work hard and come away with something good and I think he was the lucky charm."
In June 2013, Cochran won for the fourth time on the Champions Tour at the Principal Charity Classic. He came from two shots back with a final round 67 to finish a single stroke ahead of Jay Don Blake. This ended a two-year title drought that Cochran had spent battling rib and wrist injuries. In October 2013, he won his second title of the year at the SAS Championship, where he finished with four consecutive birdies to beat David Frost by a single stroke.
Personal life Cochran and his wife, Jackie, have four children: three sons and a daughter. His oldest son, Ryan, played golf at the University of Florida and aspires to play professionally like his father. Russ's son Case and nephew Rick III are also professional golfers.
Professional wins (10) PGA Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Jul 7, 1991Centel Western Open−13 (66-72-68-69=275)2 strokes Greg Norman
PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11992The Tour Championship Craig StadlerLost to birdie on second extra hole
Tournament Players Series wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Apr 10, 1983Magnolia Classic−7 (70-70-63=203)2 strokes Sammy Rachels2Jul 24, 1983Greater Baltimore Open−6 (71-70-66-67=274)1 stroke Terry Snodgrass
Other wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Dec 3, 2011LIME Jamaica Open−10 (68-70-68=206)2 strokes Dave Levesque, Dave Rummells2Dec 1, 2012Half Moon Jamaica Open (2)−13 (66-71-66=203)3 strokes Dustin Risdon
Other playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11991Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic Mike Nicolette, Larry SilveiraSilveira won with birdie on first extra hole
Sources:
Champions Tour wins (5) LegendSenior major championships (1)Other Champions Tour (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Sep 12, 2010Posco E&C Songdo Championship−12 (73-65-66=204)Playoff Fred Funk2Sep 26, 2010SAS Championship−14 (64-67-71=202)2 strokes Tom Pernice Jr.3Jul 24, 2011The Senior Open Championship−12 (72-70-67-67=276)2 strokes Mark Calcavecchia4Jun 2, 2013Principal Charity Classic−11 (71-67-67=205)1 stroke Jay Don Blake5Oct 13, 2013SAS Championship (2)−17 (66-66-67=199)1 stroke David Frost
Champions Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12010Posco E&C Songdo Championship Fred FunkWon with birdie on first extra hole22011Boeing Classic Mark CalcavecchiaLost to birdie on first extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentU.S. OpenT66The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT10CUTT28CUTCUT Tournament19901991199219931994199519961997199819992000Masters TournamentCUTT21T33U.S. OpenCUTT33CUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipT28PGA ChampionshipCUTCUTT7T44CUTT17T61T34CUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 2U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 2 3 14 7Totals 0 0 0 0 2 4 23 12 Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (1992 U.S. Open – 1993 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (twice)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament198419851986198719881989The Players ChampionshipT44CUTCUT60CUTCUT Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999The Players ChampionshipCUTWDT4927T69CUTT10CUTT71 Tournament20002001The Players ChampionshipT61CUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew "T" = Tied
Senior major championships Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 2011 The Senior Open Championship Tied for lead −12 (72-70-67-67=276) 2 strokes Mark Calcavecchia
Results timeline Results not in chronological order. Tournament2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024The TraditionT41T18T5T5WDT57T47T43T53NT65T59Senior PGA ChampionshipT33T23T29T612T17CUTT56NTWDU.S. Senior Open3T28T17WDT14T15CUTNTSenior Players ChampionshipT41T5T15T30WD3T3T7170T60WD74The Senior Open ChampionshipT19T31T14T10T31T66T3172CUTNTCUTT58CUTWD
CUT = missed the half-way cut WD = withdrew "T" = tied NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
See also 1982 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1995 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 2001 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 2003 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
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