Doug Barron (born July 24, 1969) is an American professional golfer. Barron had one of the top junior careers in the history his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, winning nearly every Memphis Golf Association tournament in his age group and was ultimately ranked among the top juniors in the country. However, Barron struggled after he turned pro, vacillating between the PGA Tour and its developmental tour, his regular career abruptly ended by a controversial drug suspension. As a senior, however, Barron has enjoyed extraordinary success, winning four tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions so far, including a senior major, the Regions Tradition.
Early life Barron was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was raised in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis. Around the age of 7, he started playing golf. A few years later, he began playing competitively.
At the age of 12 and 13, Barron began to receiving media coverage for a number of victories in junior tournaments around Memphis. In June 1982, Barron played the Memphis Golf Association (MGA) Junior tournament at Chickasaw Country Club. With scores of 91 and 82, Barron won the 12-year-old division. The following month, in August, he played Chickasaw's junior championship. He won the 11-13 age bracket. Later in the summer, he won the junior championship for Windyke Country Club in the same age bracket. In July 1983, Barron finished in second place overall at the MGA Junior and was the lowest scorer in his age group.
In the middle of 1984, during the summer he turned 15, Barron had success at a number of significant events across Tennessee. In July, he played the Tennessee Junior Championship. Barron closed with rounds of 75 "to easily outdistance" the competition, winning by 14 strokes. In August, he played the Bubba Conlee Junior Classic at Farmington Country Club in his hometown of Germantown, Tennessee. Barron closed with an even-par 71 to finish one out of a playoff. His impressive play was worthy of a "special mention," according to The Commercial Appeal. The following summer, in June 1985, Barron played the two-round Tennessee PGA Junior Championship again. It was held at the par-72 Bluegrass Yacht and Country Club in Hendersonville, Tennessee. With rounds of 72 and 75, Barron won the 15-17-year-old division by a shot. In July, he won the MGA Junior Championship once more, this time in the 16-year-old division. He was also the overall winner.
During his junior year of high school, Barron became a "tournament regular around the States," playing significant events outside of Tennessee. Early in the academic year, he played the PGA Junior National at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Barron finished in solo seventh place, defeating a number of future pros like Christian Peña and Mike Sposa. In the middle of the academic year, in December 1985, Barron played the Orange Bowl Festival in Miami, Florida. He would be playing against golfers from 13 countries. In the third round, he shot a 69 to move into a tie for the lead with, among others, Robert Gamez. In the final round, Barron continued to play well, eagling the 11th hole to stay in contention. However, he bogeyed the final hole to lose to Sweden's Magnus Rosenback by a shot. "It was real close and I'll never forget it," Barron said after the tournament. In the summer, his good play continued. In June 1986, Barron played the "prestigious" Southern Junior in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He held the lead after two rounds. He faltered in the final round but still finished in the top three. The following month, in July, Barron played the local version of the Insurors Youth Classic, a two-round event, in Greeneville, Tennessee. The top four would earn rights to play the national tournament. "It's pretty important to me to make the national," he said after the first round. "I really want to go up there and play with big boys." Barron indeed moved on, finishing second. At nationals, held in Springfield, Ohio, Barron continued to play well, finishing in the top five. By the end of the summer, Barron was a nationally known golfer. Among several thousand ranked junior golfers, Barron was ranked #21 in the country by the American Golf Association.
In September, Barron returned to Germantown High School for his senior year and played on the golf team once again. Barron was medalist at the first event, playing against Kirby High School, shooting a 67 at Olive Branch Country Club. During the regular season, Barron usually earned medalist honors and Germantown's team won almost all of its matches. In early October, Germantown played the Disctrict 28 Boys Championship. Germantown won and Barron, shooting a 69, earned medalist honors. The following week, they played the Region 7 Championship. Barron "helped lead" his team to victory, earning medalist honors again. They earned the rights to play the state of Tennessee's high school tournament. Germantown's team finished in 5th place while, among individuals, Barron also finished fifth, three back of champion Shaun Micheel. In the spring, Barron graduated from Germantown High School.
Amateur career In the spring of 1987, Barron committed to Louisiana State University (LSU). He earned a golf scholarship. Early in the freshman year, Barron played the prestigious LSU National Invitational. LSU finished in second place and Barron played well, earning the second-best scores for his team. He outplayed teammates David Toms and Perry Moss, both future PGA Tour pros. Barron did not play as well for the remainder of his freshman year, however. A week later the university golf team played the Southwestern intercollegiate. Barron opened with a "[n]on-scoring" round of 80. Barron produced scoring rounds for the remainder of the tournament but he still finished with the second worst performance for LSU. A month later, Louisiana State played the Hal Sutton Collegiate Invitational. They entered as "a heavy favorite." LSU, however, finished in third place while Barron failed to break 75. In the middle of the academic year, LSU played the Miami-Doral Park Invitational. Barron opened with rounds of 80 and 84 to fall well back among individuals. During his freshman year, he was also diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, a heart condition. He was prescribed a beta blocker, Propranolol, to treat the condition.
In 1988, Barron transferred to Mississippi State University (MSU). He "redshirted" for his first year at MSU. He did not play golf at all for six months. In the summer of 1989, he returned to play golf, playing a number of local Tennessee tournaments. He played in an effort "to improve his swing for college competition this fall at Mississippi State." Barron, however, did not play well in the summer. In June, he played the four-round Birmingham National Men's Invitational. Barron opened well but finished with rounds of 77-73-78 to finish out of contention. Days later, he played the two-round Memphis Metro tournament. At Whitehaven Country Club, Barron opened with a two-under-par 68 to tie for the lead. However, during the second round, held at the Links at Fox Meadows, Barron shot over-par to finish well back of the champion. In addition, after play was concluded he was "assessed a two stroke penalty" for "unsportsmanlike-like conduct" for bashing his putter into the 14th green earlier in the round. The penalty was consequential as he moved from solo third to a tie for third. The tie was resolved by a "scorecard playoff." Barron ultimately finished fifth. "I'm not in the mood to talk," Barron told reporters after the round. In July, he played the Tennessee State Four-Ball. Despite teaming up with fellow PGA Tour pro Shaun Micheel, the pair lost in the first round. In August, Barron played the four-round Tennessee Amateur. He opened with an eleven-over-par 83. Though he played better in the middle rounds he closed with a 79 (+7) to finish well out of contention. Shortly after the tournament he told reporters, "I'm really hitting it bad right now."
In the fall of 1989, Barron started playing for Mississippi State. In October, Barron played the MacGregor's Tournament of Champions. He opened with a 72, in a tie for fifth. He finished in a tie for 13th place and was the second lowest scorer for MSU. The following week, at the Dixie Intercolliegete, Barron finished in the top ten and helped Mississippi State win the tournament. For the remainder of the season, however, Barron did not play as well. In November, he played the Southern intercollegiate. Barron shot over-par in every round, including a second round 80, and finished with the worst scores for his team. Later in the academic year, in March, he played the Imperial Lakes Classic in Lakeland, Florida. Barron played poorly, punctuated by a second round 83, and easily had the worst scores among his team. Mississippi State finished 21st among the 24 teams competing. Later in the month, he played the Louisiana Golf Classics Golf Tournament. Barron was in contention for individual honors but closed with a final round 80 to finish well back. In April, Barron played the Jerry Pate Intercolliegte Invitational. Barron shot rounds of 80–87–77, the worst scores for his team. Among the dozens of individuals competing, only three had worse scores than Barron. In May, he played the NCAA Championships. Barron closed with a final round 80 and finished in a tie for 92nd among 120 players. During this era, Barron began experiencing some isolated panic attacks.
Barron did not play much during the 1990–91 season. He played more during the 1991–92 season. However, his "less than spectacular" college career continued. In September, Barron played the Carpet Capitol Classic. At three-round event, he finished with a 241 total, near last place. In October, he played the MacGregor Tournament of Champions. Barron had the worst scores for his team and Mississippi State finished in 12th place among the 15 universities competing. Later in the month, at the Dixie intercollegiate, Barron played better, shooting under-par in the first round and finished in the top 25. In February 1992, at the Gator Invitational, Barron nearly finished within the top 25 again and had the second best scores for his team. Later in the month, he began play at the Miami National Collegiate Invitational tournament. Barron played well, finishing in the top 15. For the remainder of the season, however, Barron played much worse. In April, at the Augusta Invitational, Barron failed to break 78. In May, at the SEC Invitational, Barron finished with rounds of 80 and 82. Among 60 individuals, Barron finished in 52nd place. Shortly thereafter, Barron graduated from Mississippi State.
Professional career In 1992, Barron turned pro. In the fall, he attempted to qualify for the PGA Tour at PGA Tour Qualifying School. However, he was unsuccessful. The following season, he played his first year on the minitours. In 1993, he began playing the Tommy Armour Tour and Hooters Tour. He did not have much success, however. Barron lived a hedonistic life, drinking and smoking to excess, worsening his play. He thought about quitting pro golf at this time. However, he teamed up with swing instructor Ron Atkins who improved his game. His mental and physical discipline improved. In addition, Barron practiced 10 hours a day. In 1994, he played his second season on the Hooters Tour. Barron had much more success, recording a number of top 25 finishes. Near the end of the season, he was within the top 10 of the points list. Overall, he earned roughly $21,000 on the 1994 Hooters Tour. In the fall he played PGA Tour Qualifying School. At local qualifying, Barron played excellent, earning medalist honors. At regionals, held at Deerwood Golf Club at Kingwood, Texas, Barron again played well, finishing joint fourth. At finals for 1994 PGA Tour Qualifying School, however, Barron was unable to move on, missing the fourth round cut at the six-round tournament.