Len Mattiace

    Len Mattiace

    Height: 6 ft. 1 in 

    Weight: 185 lbs 

    Birthday:  10/15/1967

    College:  Wake Forest University

    Turned Pro: 1990 

    Birthplace: Mineola, New York

    Country:  United States

    Sponsor: Taylor Made 

      

    Mattiace played college golf at the Wake Forest University and was a member of the team that won the NCAA Championship in 1986. After graduating in 1990, Mattiace turned pro. For a couple of years he played on the various mini Tours before winning a PGA Tour card for the 1993 season after successfully coming through Q School. In his rookie season, he played in 26 events, making the cut in half of them. He registered two top 10s with his best result coming at the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic where he came in a tie for 4th place. He would lose his card after finishing his rookie year 160th on the money list.

    Mattiace regained his card for the 1996 season and would hold onto it until 2006. He had his first runner-up finish that season when he lost to Michael Bradley after a five man play-off at the Buick Challenge. This was one of two top 10s that season on his way to ending the year 92nd in the standings. In 1998, Mattiace famously capitulated at the Players Championship. He was only one shot behind the leader in the final round but managed to score an 8 on the infamous 17th island hole to finish in a tie for 5thplace. Mattiace had the best season of his career in 2002. He captured his first ever Tour title at the Nissan Open in February. Then, after shooting a closing round of 64, he captured his second (and last) PGA Tour win at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, finishing a single stroke ahead of Tim Petrovic. He had a total of four top 10s on his way to finishing a career best 18th on the money list.

    Mattiace would come extremely close to winning a Major Championship in 2003. After shooting a final round of 65 at Augusta, Mattiace found himself in a play-off with Canadian Mike Weir. Mattiace found trees at the first play-off hole and Weir only needed a bogey to capture the Green Jacket. Towards the end of the 2003 season, Mattiace had a bad skiing accident where he tore both of his ACLs and his career was threatened. He has struggled since the accident and now plays mainly on the Web.com Tour.