Ricky Barnes

Born:  February 6, 1981

Birthplace: Stockton, California

Height: 6 ft 2 in

College:  University of Arizona

Turned Pro: 2003

Sponsors:  Wilson Staff, Duff & Phelps, Oakley

 
Ricky Barnes was a dominant amateur golfer.  He played collegiate golf at the University of Arizona where he was a three-time All-American and PAC-10 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2000.  Barnes capped off his career by winning the 2002 U.S. Amateur and then finishing in 21st place at the 2003 Masters. 
 
Barnes turned pro at the end of 2003.  Despite his success in some PGA events as an amateur, Barnes played the majority of 2004-2008 on the Nationwide Tour.  Barnes finished 25th on the money list in 2008 and qualified for his PGA Tour card. 
Barnes had the center of the golf world’s attention in June 2009 at the U.S. Open.  He established the 36-hole scoring record at 8 under par, 132.  Barnes was in terrific position to make his first win on tour a Major championship but he suffered an epic collapse in Sunday’s final round.  He fired 76 on Sunday and finished two shots behind the winner.  It was far and away Barnes’ best finish in 2009.  At the end of the season, he held the 125th and final spot to automatically retain his playing privileges for the 2010 season. 
 
Barnes played well enough to keep his card from 2010-2012.  In 2013, he finished outside the top 125 on the money list and played in the Web.com tour finals and retained his PGA card for the 2014 season.
 
Ricky’s play has heated up in the summer of 2015 with a string of solid performances, but he is still waiting for his first individual win on the PGA Tour.  Barnes did win an unofficial two-person team event with J.B. Holmes at the 2010 CVS Health Charity Classic.