Loren Roberts
Height: 6 ft. 2 in
Weight: 215 lbs
Birthday: 06/24/1955
College: Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
Turned Pro: 1975
Birthplace: San Luis Obispo, California
Country: United States
Sponsor: Titleist
After the University stopped competing in the NCAA Division 2 Championship, Roberts decided to turn pro in 1975 during his sophomore year. For the first few years out of the amateur ranks, Roberts worked as a club pro. After trying for five consecutive years to gain his PGA Tour card at Q School, Roberts finally achieved the feat in 1980.
In his rookie year, Roberts played 21 events and made the cut eight times. He lost his card after this poor rookie season where he only had two top 25 finishes. He lost his card numerous times over the next few years and managed to successfully regain it through Q School on four more occasions.
It wasn’t until 1994 when Roberts was 38 years old that he captured his first PGA Tour win. This victory came at the Nestle Invitational where he shot a final round of 67 to claim the title by one stroke from a trio of Major Champions; Fuzzy Zoeller, Vijay Singh and Nick Price. Roberts also had three runner-up finishes that breakout season which included a play-off loss at the US Open. There was an 18 hole play-off between Roberts, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie. After the 18 holes, Els and Roberts were still tied. It took a sudden death play-off for Els to claim victory. Roberts finished the season 6th on the money list.
Roberts would defend his Nestle Invitational title the following year and would go on to win a further six times over the next seven seasons. He won twice in 1996, at the MCI Classic and the Greater Milwaukee Open where he defeated Jerry Kelly in a play-off. Roberts claimed his eight and last PGA Tour win in 2002 at the Valero Texas Open. He closed with a round of 64 to win the title by three shots. Roberts made his sole Ryder Cup appearance in 1995. He joined the Champions Tour in 2008 and has had a very successful career since. He has 13 Tour wins to his name, including four Senior Major Championships.