Scott Verplank

Born:  July 9, 1964

Birthplace: Dallas, Texas

Height: 5 ft 9 in

College:  Oklahoma State University

Turned Pro: 1986

 
Scott Verplank had an incredible college and amateur career, a successful PGA career and immediate success on the Champions Tour.  In reality, the only thing missing from his resume was a Major Championship on the regular tour. 
 
That fact shouldn’t diminish Verplank’s full body of work.  He attended Oklahoma State University where he won a team championship in 1983 and an individual championship in 1986.  A year earlier, playing as an amateur, Verplank won the PGA Tour’s Western Open.  Just for good measure, Verplank also won the U.S. Amateur. 
 
Verplank captured his first PGA title as a professional, and his second overall, in 1988 at the Buick Open.  He fired a final round 66 to defeat Doug Tewell by a single shot.  He would wait more than 12 years before his next title at the Reno-Tahoe Open.  Verplank would add the 2001 Canadian Open and the 2007 Byron Nelson Championship to his professional resum.e. 
 
Verplank played in 65 Major Championships, making the cut in 39 of his starts.  He recorded 7 top-10’s including ties for 8th at the Masers, 7th at the U.S. Open, 7th at the British Open and 4th at the 2011 PGA Championship as a 47-year old. 
 
Verplank’s two appearances and 4-1 record at the Ryder Cup takes away some of the sting of never having won a Major championship.  Verplank also was the first American player to record a hole-in-one in Ryder Cup history (2006). 
 
After turning 50, Verplank found renewed life on the Champions Tour.  Verplank finished 4th at the 2015 Senior PGA Championship.  Verplank also continues to play on the PGA Tour on a part-time basis.