Stephen J. Flesch (born May 23, 1967) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He was a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, and worked briefly as a TV golf analyst for Fox Sports and Golf Channel before joining the PGA Tour Champions.
Early life Flesch was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky. After graduation, he played golf at the University of Kentucky and turned professional in 1990.
Professional career Flesch finished in the top ten on the Asia Golf Circuit Order of Merit in 1993, 1994 and 1996. He won the 1997 NIKE Tour Championship to earn a PGA Tour card for the following season, only the second left-hander to win on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour. His first win on the PGA Tour was the 2003 HP Classic of New Orleans, but is probably best known for his come-from-behind victory at the 2004 Bank of America Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings, reaching a career high of 22nd in 2004.
Entering the 2008 Masters Tournament, Flesch was ranked number 107 in the world rankings. After three rounds, he was in third place at eight-under, three strokes behind leader and eventual champion Trevor Immelman. Playing in the penultimate pairing on breezy Sunday, Flesch posted a 78 to finish six strokes back, tied for fifth. This strong showing in a major tournament strengthened his world ranking by 28 slots, improving it to number 79.
Flesch last played a full season in 2011, then missed the cut in the 12 events he played during the 2012 season. In 2015, he finished T7 at the Barracuda Championship, his first top ten in four years.
In 2015, Flesch became an analyst for Fox Sports. He also worked as an analyst for Golf Channel before returning to competition on the PGA Tour Champions in 2017.
Professional wins (13) PGA Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1May 4, 2003 HP Classic of New Orleans−21 (67-70-65-65=267)Playoff Bob Estes2May 23, 2004 Bank of America Colonial−11 (66-69-67-67=269)1 stroke Chad Campbell3Aug 5, 2007 Reno–Tahoe Open−15 (63-69-69-72=273)5 strokes Kevin Stadler, Charles Warren4Sep 23, 2007Turning Stone Resort Championship−18 (66-65-66-73=270)2 strokes Michael Allen
PGA Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12003HP Classic of New Orleans Bob EstesWon with birdie on first extra hole
Asia Golf Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Jan 21, 1996Benson & Hedges Malaysian Open−6 (66-75-71-70=282)Playoff Craig Jones
Asia Golf Circuit playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11993Thai International Thailand Open Hsieh Chin-sheng, Craig MannMann won with birdie on second extra holeFlesch eliminated by par on first hole21996Benson & Hedges Malaysian Open Craig JonesWon with par on second extra hole
Nike Tour wins (1) Legend Tour Championships (1) Other Nike Tour (0) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Oct 19, 1997 Nike Tour Championship−10 (69-68-68-73=278)4 strokes Chris Smith
Hooters Jordan Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Jun 26, 1994Collins Pro Classic−12 (67-72-69-68=276)1 stroke Eric Johnson
Other wins (2) 1991 Kentucky Open 1993 Kentucky Open
PGA Tour Champions wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Apr 14, 2018Mitsubishi Electric Classic−11 (66-71-68=205)Playoff Bernhard Langer, Scott Parel2May 8, 2022Mitsubishi Electric Classic (2)−11 (67-73-65=205)1 stroke Fred Couples, Pádraig Harrington, David Toms3Sep 25, 2022PURE Insurance Championship−11 (66-71-68=205)1 stroke Steven Alker, Ernie Els, Paul Stankowski4Sep 10, 2023Ascension Charity Classic−19 (66-66-62=194)3 strokes Kevin Sutherland
PGA Tour Champions playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult12018Mitsubishi Electric Classic Bernhard Langer, Scott ParelWon with birdie on second extra holeLanger eliminated by birdie on first hole22021Sanford International K. J. Choi, Darren ClarkeClarke won with birdie on second extra holeFlesch eliminated by par on first hole
Results in major championships Tournament1993199419951996199719981999Masters TournamentU.S. Open84CUTCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT13T34
Tournament20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010Masters TournamentCUTT17T29T5T6T38U.S. OpenCUTT18CUTT7T67CUTThe Open ChampionshipT20CUTCUTT5477PGA ChampionshipCUTT13T17CUTT37T10T24T236T32
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 1 2 3 6 5U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 1 2 10 4The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 3PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 2 7 12 10Totals 0 0 0 1 5 13 33 22 Most consecutive cuts made – 11 (2004 Masters – 2008 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (2008 PGA – 2009 Masters)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010The Players ChampionshipCUTT38T40CUTT39CUTT79T63CUTCUTT64T32 CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament200020012002200320042005200620072008Match PlayR64R16R32R64ChampionshipT11NT1T21T23InvitationalT11T48T48 1Cancelled due to 9/11
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play "T" = Tied NT = No tournament
See also 1997 Nike Tour graduates
References
External links