Paul Goydos

Early life

Goydos was born and raised in Long Beach, California. He attended Woodrow Wilson Classical High School, Long Beach State University and turned pro in 1989. He started out as a struggling mini-tour player supplementing his income as a substitute teacher.

Professional career

In 1991 and 1992, he played on the Ben Hogan Tour (now Web.com Tour), earning one victory at the 1992 Ben Hogan Yuma Open. He earned his PGA Tour card for 1993 by going through Qualifying School.

Goydos won two PGA Tour events – the 1996 Bay Hill Invitational and the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii. He has amassed more than 40 top-10 finishes and has more than $10 million in career earnings. His best finish in a major was a T-12 at the 1999 U.S. Open.

Goydos had only two starts in 2004, both coming at the end of the year, because of sinus surgery and hip problems; he played in 2005 under a Major Medical Exemption. His victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii in 2007 elevated Goydos into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Goydos lost in a playoff at The Players Championship in 2008 to Sergio García when he put his tee shot on the par-3 17th (the first playoff hole) in the water.

During the first round of the 2010 John Deere Classic, Goydos became the fourth, and oldest player in PGA Tour history to shoot 59. His round included 12 birdies and 6 pars.

Goydos played in six events in 2012 before bone spurts in his left wrist and subsequent surgery forced him out of action for 15 months. He missed the cut in two events in 2013. He started the 2014 season on a Major Medical Extension, but was unable to satisfy the requirements and was demoted to the Past Champions category. At the same time, Goydos became eligible for the Champions Tour.

PGA Tour Champions career

On September 21, 2014, he earned his first Champions Tour victory in the Pacific Links Hawai'i Championship with a tournament record score of 19-under-par. He became the eighth player to win on all the PGA Tour sponsored major tours (PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, and Champions Tour).

On February 8, 2015, he won his second Champions Tour event, the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Florida. He finished his 2015 season with over 1 million dollars earned.

On July 10, 2016, he won his third PGA Tour Champions event, the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, New York. He shot 67-66-69, to win by two shots over Wes Short, Jr. The signature shot for the tournament was his drive of the sub-300 yard, par-4 16th hole, in which on Saturday, his drive landed less than 10 feet from the hole and he would make the putt for an eagle 2. With this victory, in addition to earning a $300,000 first prize check, vaulted him to collect over 15 million dollars from his combined earnings on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.

He would win his fourth PGA Tour Champions event, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship by posting scores of 62-67-66 to hold off the late charges of Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie. This win put him over the million dollar mark in earnings for the second consecutive year, and he finished the overall Charles Schwab Cup Championship points chase in third place.

At the end of July 2017, Goydos had two top-10 finishes to his credit for the season. During the first round of the 3M Championship, he shot a 2-under-par 70, but over the weekend, he had rounds of 60 (a course record) and 66 to finish at 20-under-par and in a tie with Gene Sauers. Then on the first playoff hole, Sauers hit his second shot in the water and had to take a drop. With Goydos safely on in two shots, he two-putted for a birdie and his fifth win on the PGA Tour Champions. For his last 37 holes played, he shot 19-under-par.

Ryder Cup

Goydos has not played in the Ryder Cup but was selected by U.S. team captain Corey Pavin as one of his vice-captains for the 2010 event.

Awards

Goydos was inducted into the inaugural class of the Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame in 1996 and was inducted into the Long Beach State 49er Athletic Hall of Fame the same year. The golf ball that was used when he shot 59 is at the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Goydos has two children, Chelsea and Courtney. Ex-wife Wendy (Medak) died of a possible drug overdose (pending toxicology report) while attempting to treat migraines in 2009.

PGA Tour wins (2)

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

Ben Hogan Tour wins (1)

Other wins (2)

PGA Tour Champions wins (5)

PGA Champions Tour playoff record (1–0)

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

Results in World Golf Championship events

DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.