Curtis Northrup Strange (born January 30, 1955) is an American professional golfer and TV color commentator. He is the winner of consecutive U.S. Open titles and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He spent over 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between their debut in 1986 and 1990.
Early life In 1955, Strange and his identical twin brother, Allan, were born in Norfolk, Virginia. Allan also briefly played as a professional golfer. His father, a local country club owner, started him in golf at age 7. Strange was a natural left-hander but learned to play golf as a right-hander.
In 1973, Strange graduated from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach.
Amateur career In the fall of 1973, Strange enrolled at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He played golf for the Demon Deacons and was part of the NCAA Championship team with Jay Haas and Bob Byman that Golf World has labeled "the greatest of all time". In 1974 Strange was ranked the #2 amateur in the country by Golf Digest. The following year, he was ranked number #3.
In the spring of 1976, Strange intended to transition from amateur to professional despite still being a junior in college. At this point, he was known for having one of the best amateur careers of all time. According to the golf columnist for The Charlotte Observer, Richard Sink, "Strange, only a junior, will leave behind a collegiate record perhaps unmatched." He finished in the top ten in all of his 25 college matches and finished in the top 5 in 21 of those. He won nine individual events and was the youngest NCAA Champion in golf at the time. In 1976, he was ranked #9 amateur in the country by Golf Digest.
Professional career In 1976, Strange turned professional. He attempted to make it onto the PGA Tour at Fall 1976 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He was highly expected to make it into tour and was the favorite to earn medalist honors. However, Strange bogeyed the final three holes of the tournament to miss qualifying by a shot. Afterwards, Strange told The Item, "I thought it was the end of the world. It wasn't something I was ready for. I thought, 'Good God, what am I going to do.' I was scared."
Strange was one of the leading players on the PGA Tour in the 1980s; 16 of his 17 tour victories took place in that decade. He topped the money list in 1985, 1987, and 1988, when he became the first to win a million dollars in official money in a season. His two majors were consecutive U.S. Opens in 1988 and 1989. Since World War II, only three golfers have successfully defended their titles at the U.S. Open; Brooks Koepka in 2018, Strange in 1989, and Ben Hogan in 1951. The 1989 U.S. Open was Strange's last win on tour. In other majors, he led midway through the final round at The Masters in 1985, but finished two strokes back. Strange was also a runner-up at the PGA Championship in 1989, one stroke back. He played on five Ryder Cup teams (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1995) and captained the team in 2002.
Despite skipping the Open Championship several times in his prime, Strange played a considerable amount of international tournaments. He won the 1986 ABC Japan-U.S. Match, an event on the Japan Golf Tour that included many American pros. He also played extensively on the Australasian Tour. He won three events in Australia in the late 1980s and early 1990s and recorded runner-up finishes at the 1976 Australian Open, 1977 Colgate Champion of Champions, 1986 Air New Zealand Shell Open, and the 1990 Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup.
Broadcasting career After reaching the age of 50 in January 2005, Strange began play on the Champions Tour, remarking, "I was getting worse and said, 'To hell with it.'" His only top-five finishes came that first season; third place at the Constellation Energy Classic and a tie for fifth at the FedEx Kinko's Classic. In 1997, he was hired as the lead golf analyst for ESPN/ABC, working alongside host Mike Tirico. He left due to a contract dispute before the 2004 U.S. Open, but rejoined ESPN/ABC at the 2008 U.S. Open, four years after he first left. In 2016, he was hired by Fox as a course reporter for their USGA championships.
In this capacity he has provided commentary for several notable events, including Tiger Woods' playoff win at the 1997 Mercedes Championships, David Duval's final round of 59 at the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Jean van de Velde's collapse at the 1999 Open Championship, Woods achieving the career grand slam at the 2000 Open Championship, Peter Jacobsen becoming one of the oldest Tour winners at age 49 during the 2003 Greater Hartford Open, Woods' U.S. Open winning performance in 2008 (early rounds), Tom Watson nearly winning The Open Championship at age 59 in 2009, and Phil Mickelson's final nine charge to win in 2013.
Awards and honors In 1974, Strange won the Haskins Award, bestowed to the top college golfer of the year Strange led the PGA Tour money list three times: in 1985, 1987, and 1988 In 1988, Strange was selected by fellow tour pros as the PGA Player of the Year In 2004, Strange was elected to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum On April 18, 2007, Strange was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, and was inducted on November 12 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. In May 2009, he was named to the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, which honors athletes, coaches and administrators who contributed to sports in southeastern Virginia.
Amateur wins 1974 Western Amateur, North and South Amateur, NCAA Division I Championship 1975 North and South Amateur, Eastern Amateur
Professional wins (29) PGA Tour wins (17) LegendMajor championships (2) Tour Championships (1)Other PGA Tour (14) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Oct 21, 1979 Pensacola Open69-71-62-69=271−171 stroke Billy Kratzert2May 4, 1980 Michelob-Houston Open66-63-66-71=266−18Playoff Lee Trevino3Aug 17, 1980Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic 69-65-70-69=273−112 strokes Gibby Gilbert4Aug 21, 1983 Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open69-62-69-68=268−161 stroke Jay Haas, Jack Renner5Sep 30, 1984 LaJet Golf Classic68-67-67-71=273−152 strokes Mark O'Meara6Mar 3, 1985Honda Classic 67-64-70-74=275−13Playoff Peter Jacobsen7Mar 24, 1985Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational69-73-64-66-66=338−171 stroke Mike Smith8Jul 7, 1985Canadian Open 69-69-68-73=279−92 strokes Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman9Apr 27, 1986 Houston Open (2)72-68-68-66=274−14Playoff Calvin Peete10Jul 5, 1987 Canadian Open (2)71-70-66-69=276−123 strokes David Frost, Jodie Mudd, Nick Price11Aug 2, 1987Federal Express St. Jude Classic70-68-68-69=275−131 stroke Russ Cochran, Mike Donald, Tom Kite, Denis Watson12Aug 30, 1987NEC World Series of Golf 70-66-68-71=275−53 strokes Fulton Allem13May 1, 1988 Independent Insurance Agent Open69-68-66-67=270−18Playoff Greg Norman14May 29, 1988Memorial Tournament73-70-64-67=274−142 strokes David Frost, Hale Irwin15Jun 20, 1988U.S. Open70-67-69-72=278−6Playoff Nick Faldo16Nov 14, 1988Nabisco Championship64-71-70-74=279−9Playoff Tom Kite17Jun 18, 1989 U.S. Open (2)71-64-73-70=278−21 stroke Chip Beck, Mark McCumber, Ian Woosnam
PGA Tour playoff record (6–3) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11980Michelob-Houston Open Lee TrevinoWon with birdie on first extra hole 21981Tournament Players Championship Raymond Floyd, Barry JaeckelFloyd won with par on first extra hole31983Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open Gil Morgan, Lanny WadkinsMorgan won with birdie on second extra hole41985 Honda Classic Peter JacobsenWon with par on first extra hole51986 Houston Open Calvin PeeteWon with birdie on third extra hole61988Independent Insurance Agent Open Greg NormanWon with birdie on third extra hole71988U.S. Open Nick FaldoWon 18-hole playoff;Strange: E (71),Faldo: +4 (75)81988Nabisco Championship Tom KiteWon with birdie on second extra hole91991Doral-Ryder Open Rocco MediateLost to birdie on first extra hole
PGA of Japan Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Nov 2, 1986ABC Japan-U.S. Match67-68-72-64=271−174 strokes Chip Beck
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Jan 10, 1988Sanctuary Cove Classic67-70-67-68=272−161 stroke Ian Woosnam2Jan 15, 1989Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup66-70-71-73=280−82 strokes Raymond Floyd3Dec 5, 1993Greg Norman's Holden Classic68-67-69-70=274−182 strokes John Wade
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11990Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup Rodger DavisLost to eagle on second extra hole
South American Golf Circuit wins (1) 1981 Panama Open
Other wins (7) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Oct 5, 1980Laurent-Perrier Trophy62-70-68-68=268−2012 strokes Bobby Clampett2Dec 14, 1980JCPenney Mixed Team Classic(with Nancy Lopez)70-65-67-66=268−202 strokes Gibby Gilbert and Sandra Spuzich, Lori Garbacz and Craig Stadler3Aug 19, 1986Fred Meyer Challenge(with Peter Jacobsen)64−8Shared title with Greg Norman and Gary Player4May 26, 1989PGA Grand Slam of Golf73+12 strokes Craig Stadler5Nov 19, 1989RMCC Invitational(with Mark O'Meara)66-62-62=190−266 strokes Bernhard Langer and John Mahaffey, Lanny Wadkins and Tom Weiskopf6Nov 26, 1989Skins Game$265,000$175,000 Jack Nicklaus7Nov 25, 1990Skins Game (2)$220,000$130,000 Greg Norman
Major championships Wins (2) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up1988 U.S. Open 1 shot lead −6 (70-67-69-72=278) Playoff1 Nick Faldo1989 U.S. Open (2) 3 shot deficit −2 (71-64-73-70=278) 1 stroke Chip Beck, Mark McCumber, Ian Woosnam 1Defeated Faldo in 18-hole playoff; Strange: 71 (E), Faldo: 75 (+4).
Results timeline Tournament 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 Masters TournamentCUTT15 LACUTU.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipT58CUT
Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Masters TournamentCUTT19T7CUTT46T2T21T12T21T18U.S. OpenT16T17T39T263T31CUTT411The Open ChampionshipT15T29T14T13T61PGA ChampionshipT5T27T1486CUTCUTCUT9T31T2
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999Masters TournamentT7T42T31WDT279CUTU.S. OpenT21CUTT23T254T36T27CUTCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTT38CUTCUTT72T44T19PGA ChampionshipCUTWDCUTCUTT19T17T26CUT
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT58CUTCUT
LA = Low amateur CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 1 0 1 4 10 20 14U.S. Open 2 0 1 5 5 10 22 15The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 4 13 9PGA Championship 0 1 0 2 3 6 23 12Totals 2 2 1 8 12 30 78 50 Most consecutive cuts made – 13 (1987 Masters – 1990 U.S. Open) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament1978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999The Players ChampionshipCUTCUT21T2T51T8T33T33CUTCUTDQT34T16T6WDCUTCUTT23CUTCUTCUTT23
CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew DQ = disqualified "T" indicates a tie for a place
U.S. national team appearances Amateur Eisenhower Trophy: 1974 (winners) Walker Cup: 1975 (winners)
Professional Ryder Cup: 1983 (winners), 1985, 1987, 1989 (tied), 1995, 2002 (non-playing captain) Dunhill Cup: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989 (winners), 1990, 1991, 1994 Four Tours World Championship: 1985 (winners), 1987 (winners), 1988 (winners), 1989 (winners) UBS Cup: 2001 (winners), 2002 (winners), 2003 (tie), 2004 (winners)
Equipment In 1988 when Strange won the U.S. Open, Ping recognized him with a golden putter replica of the Ping Zing 2 he used to win. A second one was made and placed in the Ping Gold Putter Vault.
See also Spring 1977 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
References
External links