Bruce Lietzke

Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight: 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)

Birthday: July 18, 1951

College: University of Houston

Year turned pro: 1974

Birthplace: Kansas City, Kansas, USA

Country: USA

Sponsor: –

Although he was born in Kanas City, Kansas, Lietzke spent the second half of his childhood in Beaumont Texas, having moved there with his parents. While there he graduated from Forest Park High School in 1969. Lietzke has said that it was his older brother Duane who first introduced him to golf when he was five years old.

After leaving high school Lietzke began studying at the University of Houston, from where he graduated in 1973. The following year he turned professional.  It took four years of playing professionally for Lietzke to achieve his first victory, at the Tucson Open in 1977. Lietzke’s best year on the PGA Tour came in 1981 when he triumphed in three tournaments. The same year he was part of the triumphant US Ryder Cup team, who were victorious at Walton Heath Golf Club in England. Lietzke’s best Major tournament finish did not happen for another ten years, when he finished second at the 1991 PGA Championship.

Lietzke was known throughout his career as a golfer who preferred to spend time with his family than spend too much time on the course. He did not often practice and he never played more than 25 tournaments in any PGA Tour season. In the latter years of his career Lietzke began experiencing problems with a frozen shoulder.

Away from the golf course, Lietzke is a classic car enthusiast and has a large collection of the vehicles. One of his most valued pieces is a 1967 yellow Corvette Stingray convertible. At his home in Dallas, Lietzke often listens to his favorite musician, Bruce Springsteen. Lietzke also supports the Sour Mash Open in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where he has competed on several occasions. The first fund that was established by the tournament was the Bryce-Lietzke-Martin Scholarship Fund, in honor of Lietzke himself, as well as Dr. John Coyle Bryce and Larry Martin. This fund helps to support students from Wood County who show an aptitude for golf.