Billy Hurley III

Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)

Weight: 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)

Birthday: June 9, 1982

College: United States Naval Academy

Year turned pro: 2006

Birthplace: Leesburg, Virginia, USA

Country: USA

Sponsor: AUR apparel, Sovereign Insurance Group, non-profit SEAL Legacy Foundation, Charter Financial Group, Secor Group, Dynasplint Systems and Valspar

Hurley was not just a great golfer from a young age, he was also academically gifted. He played golf from high school, then attended the United States Naval Academy from where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Quantitative Economics. Hurley played golf at an amateur level after he was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy in 2004. He gained promotion in his Navy career, and went on to be part of the American team that won the Walker Cup in 2005. Before turning professional, in 2006, Hurley won seven collegiate golf titles.

After turning professional Hurley played mostly on the Nationwide Tour, securing his first PGA Tour Card in 2011, for the 2012 season. During his first season on the PGA Tour, Hurley played at twenty seven events, with his best finish being joint fourth at the AT&T National. Disappointingly for Hurley he finished the 2012 season in 151st place on the money list, which meant that he missed conditional status for the 2013 Tour. Hurley also failed to qualify via qualifying school, so played the 2013 season on the Web.com tour. At the end of that season he managed to again secure a card for the PGA Tour by finishing 26th in the Web.com Tour Finals.

During the following season Hurley secured prize money on a regular basis, including $240,000 for a fifth place finish at The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Hurley also qualified to play in the US Open where he finished in a tie for 48th place.

Hurley’s 2014 winnings, combined with the level of his world ranking, meant that he qualified for a major for the second time; this time The Open Championship which was played from July 17-20 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. Hurley finished the tournament in a tie for 64th place. The 2014 season ended with Hurley having amassed his highest ever season prize money of $1,145,299.

Away from the golf course Hurley is heavily involved with charity work for organizations including World Gospel Outreach, a children's camp in Honduras and Ark Children's House, an orphanage in Ecuador. He is a family man who is married to Heather, with two sons Jacob and Will.

As of the end of 2014 Hurley was still to achieve his first win on the PGA Tour, having amassed prize money of $1,669,679.