Craig Stadler

Height: 5 ft 10 in

Born: June 2, 1953

Turned Pro: 1976

College: University of Southern California

Craig Stadler, the San Diego native known as “the Walrus” by his fans, has won at every level of amateur and professional golf over a career that has spanned nearly four decades.

Stadler’s father put the first golf club in Craig’s hands at age four. Stadler would go on to star at La Jolla High School and the University of South California. Craig won the U.S. Amateur in 1973 while attending USC. Stadler was a four-time All-American on the Trojan golf team and turned professional in 1976 after completing school.

Stadler failed to find instant success on the PGA Tour but he made enough money to stick around. 1980 marked the launching point in Stadler’s professional career. He won his first two starts of the season at the Bob Hope Desert Classic and the Greater Greensboro Open.

Stadler won again in 1981 at the Kemper Open defeating Tom Watson and Tom Weiskopf by six shots.

1982 was Stadler’s best year on the PGA Tour. He won four titles including his only Major, the Masters and he successfully defended his title at the Kemper Open.

In 1984, Stadler won the coveted Byron Nelson Golf Classic in Fort Worth.

Stadler’s last win on the PGA Tour was at the B.C. Open in 2003 a month after his 50th birthday. It had been nearly three decades since a player over 50 had captured a PGA tour win.

Stadler began his “second” career on the PGA Champions Tour in 2003. Stadler found instant success on the Champions Tour, winning the Senior Players Championship (a Major) in 2003 and the Champions Money Title in 2004. In all, Stadler has won 9 times on the Champions Tour and 14 times on the PGA Tour. He played on the 1985 and 1987 Ryder Cup Teams.

Stadler resides in Denver, Colorado with his wife Jan. His son Kevin is currently a member of the PGA Tour.