Robert Bryan Gilder (born December 31, 1950) is an American professional golfer. He won six tournaments on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour, where he has ten wins since joining in 2001.

Early life and amateur career Born in Corvallis, Oregon, Gilder graduated from Corvallis High School. He then attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He walked on to the Sun Devils' golf team and was the 1973 Western Athletic Conference individual golf champion.

Professional career

In 1973, Gilder turned pro and found success soon thereafter. He won a tournament on the New Zealand Golf Circuit in 1974, the New Zealand Open. He shot 283 (−5) and then defeated Jack Newton and Bob Charles in a playoff. He won his first PGA Tour tournament a year and a half later at the 1976 Phoenix Open. He won six times during his career, including three in 1982. Gilder was a tour mainstay for many years and played on the Ryder Cup team in 1983.

Gilder may be best remembered for his double eagle in 1982 at the Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic. It took place during the third round, at the par-5 18th hole of the Westchester Country Club, just north of New York City. Gilder used a 3 wood from away; his second shot carried , landed softly on the green, and rolled into the cup. A plaque on the 18th fairway commemorates the feat. It gave him a 192 (−18) for 54 holes, which tied a tour record. It also doubled his lead to a comfortable six strokes; he won the tournament by five strokes on Sunday with a 69 to finish at 261 (−19).

Gilder won one of the longest sudden death playoffs in PGA Tour history at the Phoenix Open in January 1983. It took him eight holes to defeat Rex Caldwell, Johnny Miller, and Mark O'Meara. It was his second win in Phoenix and sixth and final victory on the PGA Tour.

Senior career At the end of 2000, Gilder became eligible to play on the Senior PGA Tour and found immediate success, winning two tournaments and being named Rookie of the Year in 2001.

After winning tournaments in five out of his first six years on the Champions Tour, Gilder entered a victory drought of almost five years. In the first seven individual events of the 2011 season, he placed no higher than a tie for 56th place, and had struggled to a stroke average of over 73.5 per round. However, Gilder ended his drought with a come-from-behind win in the Principal Charity Classic, a tournament he had previously won in 2002. With three birdies on his final four holes, including a birdie on the notoriously difficult 18th hole, Gilder was the victor by one shot over Champions Tour rookie Mark Brooks, who was seeking his first win on the senior circuit. This victory gave Gilder his milestone 10th victory on the Champions Tour.

Personal life Gilder is a lifelong resident of Corvallis, Oregon. He enjoys auto racing and has competed in Trans-Am races.

Gilder and his wife, Peggy, have a grandson with cystic fibrosis and are involved with several charities that help battle the disease including Doernbecher Children's Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.2006 Platt Classic charity tournament announcement

Awards and honors

In 2001, Gilder earned Rookie of the Year honors on the Senior PGA Tour. In 2002, Gilder was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

Amateur wins 1973 Western Athletic Conference Championship (individual)

Professional wins (24) PGA Tour wins (6) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jan 18, 1976Phoenix Open−16 (68-67-66-67=268)2 strokes Roger Maltbie2Jun 22, 1980Canadian Open−6 (67-67-70-70=274)2 strokes Jerry Pate, Leonard Thompson 3May 2, 1982Byron Nelson Golf Classic−14 (67-65-67-67=266)5 strokes Curtis Strange4Jun 27, 1982Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic−19 (64-63-65-69=261)5 strokes Peter Jacobsen, Tom Kite5Sep 12, 1982Bank of Boston Classic−13 (67-67-70-67=271)2 strokes Fuzzy Zoeller6Jan 30, 1983Phoenix Open (2)−13 (68-68-66-69=271)Playoff Rex Caldwell, Johnny Miller, Mark O'Meara

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11983Phoenix Open Rex Caldwell, Johnny Miller, Mark O'MearaWon with birdie on eighth extra holeMiller and O'Meara eliminated by birdie on second hole Source:

PGA of Japan Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Oct 26, 1980Bridgestone Tournament−5 (71-70-72-70=283)1 stroke Isao Aoki2Nov 7, 1982Goldwin Cup Japan vs USA−10 (65-69=134)Shared title with Calvin Peete3Nov 4, 1990Acom P.T.115 pts (38-39-38=115)1 point Bob Tway

New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Nov 24, 1974New Zealand Open−5 (74-69-68-72=283)Playoff Bob Charles, Jack Newton

New Zealand Golf Circuit playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11974New Zealand Open Bob Charles, Jack NewtonWon with birdie on third extra holeNewton eliminated by par on second hole

Other wins (4) 1987 Northwest Open 1988 Isuzu Kapalua International, Acom Team Championship (with Doug Tewell) (Japan) 1989 Spalding Invitational

Champions Tour wins (10) Legend Tour Championships (1)Other Champions Tour (9) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Feb 18, 2001 Verizon Classic−11 (70-68-67=205)3 strokes Bruce Fleisher, Raymond Floyd, Gil Morgan2Oct 28, 2001Senior Tour Championship−11 (67-68-69-73=277)1 stroke Doug Tewell3Jul 21, 2002 SBC Senior Open−12 (70-63-71=204)Playoff Hale Irwin4Jul 28, 2002FleetBoston Classic−13 (66-67-70=203)Playoff John Mahaffey5Sep 1, 2002Allianz Championship−13 (67-66-67=203)1 stroke John Bland6Sep 8, 2002Kroger Senior Classic−16 (66-65-69=200)Playoff Tom Jenkins7Apr 20, 2003 Emerald Coast Classic−17 (66-64-63=193)4 strokes Vicente Fernández, Larry Nelson, Leonard Thompson8Sep 18, 2005 Constellation Energy Classic−18 (64-67-67=198)4 strokes Morris Hatalsky9Sep 17, 2006 Constellation Energy Classic (2)−14 (69-68-65=202)2 strokes Brad Bryant, Jay Haas10Jun 5, 2011 Principal Charity Classic (2)−14 (68-66-65=199)1 stroke Mark Brooks

Champions Tour playoff record (3–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12002SBC Senior Open Hale IrwinWon with par on first extra hole22002FleetBoston Classic John MahaffeyWon with birdie on third extra hole32002Kroger Senior Classic Tom JenkinsWon with birdie on second extra hole Source:

Results in major championships Tournament1973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentT39U.S. OpenCUTT49T58CUTT44T16The Open ChampionshipT40PGA ChampionshipT69T58T19T16

Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentCUTT1514T44CUTT4437U.S. OpenT32CUTT37T39CUTCUTT58T8CUTThe Open ChampionshipT51T39CUTPGA ChampionshipT55T48T63T37T18T53T6T34

Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999Masters TournamentT42T34U.S. OpenT56T6T33T50CUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT57T5CUT

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 2 10 8U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 2 3 21 13The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3PGA Championship 0 0 0 2 4 7 16 15Totals 0 0 0 2 6 12 51 39 Most consecutive cuts made – 8 (1981 PGA – 1983 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1988 U.S. Open – 1988 PGA)

Results in The Players Championship Tournament19761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995The Players ChampionshipT51T61CUTT43CUTT63T65T35CUTT33CUTT32CUTT34T56CUTCUTCUTT35T43 CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place

U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1983 (winners) World Cup: 1982 UBS Warburg Cup: 2002 (winners)

See also Fall 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1997 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates List of golfers with most PGA Tour Champions wins

Notes

References

External links