BETTER WITH AGE: PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS AGE 30 AND OLDER
Golf is a lifelong sport. Many of the most successful and well-known golfers hit their stride in their 30s and later. Here are a few examples of professional golfers showing that age really is just another number in golf.
Dan McCarthy at 32 years old
At 32, Dan McCarthy (also an Upstate NY native) won four times on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Canada in 2016 – earning him the Order of Merit and more money than anyone in the tour’s history. It also gave McCarthy full status on the 2017 Web.com TOUR.
The rise of upstate NY golf continues with Dan McCarthy’s fourth win of @PGATOURCanada season. What a year for Syracuse native.
— Kevin Prise (@WebTourKevin) September 4, 2016
Bubba Watson at 32 years old
At 32, Bubba Watson – one of the longest hitters on tour – got his first PGA TOUR win at the 2010 Travelers Championship.
Matt Kuchar at 34 years old
At 34, Matt Kuchar won the 2012 Player Championship. This was his first PGA TOUR win. While he had some success in his 20s, he didn’t become the player we all know him as until his 30s.
Jason Dufner at 35 years old
At 35, Jason Dufner won his first PGA TOUR event – the Zurich Classic.
VIDEO: Recapping Jason Dufner’s win at the @Zurich_Classic of New Orleans: http://t.co/w9SZUXif
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 30, 2012
Jimmy Walker at 35 years old
At 35, Jimmy Walker secured his first win on the PGA Tour at the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro/AM
Steve Stricker at 40 years old
Steve Stricker had success in his younger years, but nothing like when he turned 40. This was the year Stricker won the first-ever Fedex Cup Playoff event in 2007.
Ryan Armour at 41 years old
The most recent example of a golf professional taking home a “W” in their 30s and 40s? Ryan Armour, at 41, recently won the Sanderson Farms Championship for his first PGA Tour Victory.
Congratulations to Ryan Armour, our 2017 Champion! #SFChamp pic.twitter.com/nEbT2kHYpW
— Sanderson Champ (@Sanderson_Champ) October 29, 2017
These are just a few examples. Many of the professional golfers age 30 and older on the PGA and other tours are still taking home trophies. It’s one of the many things that makes golf unique: Age doesn’t really impact golf like other professional spots. Professional golfers don’t have to hang up their clubs at a certain age. There’s always another tournament. Another tour. Another opportunity to play… no matter how old you are.
So, never give up on your golf game . Or your golf dreams, for that matter.
Read about Sean McWilliams, a professional golfer in his 30s, journey to the tour.
