Brad Faxon

Brad Faxon
Personal information
Full name	Bradford John Faxon Jr.
Born	(1961-08-01) August 1, 1961 Oceanport, New Jersey, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
Sporting nationality	United States
Residence	Barrington, Rhode Island, U.S.
Career
College	Furman University
Turned professional	1983
Current tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	21
Highest ranking	11 (May 25, 1997)
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	8
PGA Tour of Australasia	1
PGA Tour Champions	2
Other	10
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	T9: 1993
PGA Championship	5th: 1995
U.S. Open	T33: 1989, 1994
The Open Championship	7th: 1994
Achievements and awards
Haskins Award 1983 Payne Stewart Award 2005

Bradford John Faxon Jr. (born August 1, 1961) is an American professional golfer. He has won eight times on the PGA Tour.

Early years and amateur career

Faxon was born in Oceanport, New Jersey and raised in Barrington, Rhode Island. He attended Furman University, and earned a Bachelor of Economics degree in 1983.

At Furman, Faxon was a two-time All-American (1982, 1983) as a member of the golf team. He played on the 1983 Walker Cup team. Faxon won the Haskins Award for the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the United States in 1983. He also received that same year's Golf Magazine and NCAA Coaches Awards as the nation's outstanding amateur golfer. He turned professional in 1983.

Professional career

PGA Tour

Faxon has won eight times on the PGA Tour and played on two Ryder Cup teams. While admittedly not a great driver of the golf ball or a great ball-striker, Faxon has built a reputation as one of the best pure putters in golf history. He led the PGA Tour in Putting Average in 1996, 1999, and 2000 (when he set the single-season record with only 1.704 putts/greens in regulation), and finished 13th in 2005 at the age of 44. Faxon explains his success on the greens thus: "My only secret is confidence... I just try to hit every putt as if I've just made a million in a row."

Faxon had been one of the most successful players on the PGA Tour throughout the 1990s, a mainstay in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings, but a knee injury began to hamper his effectiveness in 2003, causing him to suffer through his worst season in 14 years in 2004. Faxon bounced back in 2005, though, winning his first tournament in four years and finishing 45th on the PGA Tour Money List. On September 19, 2005, he underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right knee. Faxon returned to competition for the 2006 season, in which he earned over $500,000.

In addition to his success on the PGA Tour Faxon played quite well on the Australasian Tour. He won the 1993 Australian Open, finished second in the 1993 Air New Zealand Shell Open, and finished in third place at the 1995 Greg Norman Holden International.

Champions Tour

Faxon made his Champions Tour debut at the 2011 3M Championship, where he finished T-31. He won his first title in October at the Insperity Championship.

Other projects

Charitable work

In addition to being one of the PGA Tour's top players over the past 25 years, Faxon is one of the game's most generous figures. In 1991, Faxon along with fellow Tour pro Billy Andrade, formed Billy Andrade/Brad Faxon Charities for Children, Inc., a non-profit organization that (as of 2005) has donated over $3 million to needy children in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. For their charity work, Faxon and Andrade were awarded the 1999 Golf Writers Association of America's Charlie Bartlett Award, given to professional golfers for unselfish contributions to society. Since 1999, Andrade and Faxon have also served as hosts of the CVS Charity Classic, a golf tournament held at the Rhode Island Country Club each June, whose proceeds benefit the two players' charity. He also co-chair's Button Hole with Andrade, a short course that serves as a teaching and learning center for children. Faxon also runs his own junior golf foundation.

Broadcasting

In 2010, Faxon worked for NBC as an analyst on golf broadcasts during the season. It was announced in July 2014 that Faxon would be joining Fox in 2015 as an on-air commentator along with David Fay.

Fight for Furman golf

In 2014, Furman University announced the school was going to discontinue the golf program. Faxon helped lead an alumni drive to save the program.

Personal

Faxon resides in Barrington, Rhode Island with his wife, Dory, and their four daughters.

Amateur wins

• 1975 Rhode Island Junior
• 1979 Rhode Island Amateur
• 1980 New England Amateur, Rhode Island Amateur
• 1981 New England Amateur
• 1982 Sunnehanna Amateur

Professional wins (21)

PGA Tour wins (8)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Aug 4, 1991	Buick Open	−17 (66-68-71-66=271)	Playoff	Chip Beck
2	Jul 26, 1992	New England Classic	−16 (66-67-67-68=268)	2 strokes	Phil Mickelson
3	Aug 23, 1992	The International	14 pts (4-7-7-14=14)	2 points	Lee Janzen
4	Apr 6, 1997	Freeport-McDermott Classic	−16 (68-69-66-69=272)	3 strokes	Bill Glasson, Jesper Parnevik
5	Sep 20, 1999	B.C. Open	−15 (69-67-70-67=273)	Playoff	Fred Funk
6	Jul 23, 2000	B.C. Open (2)	−18 (68-66-68-68=270)	1 stroke	Esteban Toledo
7	Jan 21, 2001	Sony Open in Hawaii	−20 (64-64-67-65=260)	4 strokes	Tom Lehman
8	Aug 28, 2005	Buick Championship	−14 (69-71-65-61=266)	Playoff	Tjaart van der Walt

PGA Tour playoff record (3–6)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1991	Buick Open	Chip Beck	Won with par on first extra hole
2	1992	Infiniti Tournament of Champions	Steve Elkington	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
3	1992	Buick Open	Steve Elkington, Dan Forsman	Forsman won with par on second extra hole Faxon eliminated by par on first hole
4	1996	United Airlines Hawaiian Open	Jim Furyk	Lost to birdie on third extra hole
5	1996	Sprint International	Clarence Rose	Lost to eagle on third extra hole
6	1997	Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic	Frank Nobilo	Lost to par on first extra hole
7	1999	B.C. Open	Fred Funk	Won with par on second extra hole
8	2003	Bell Canadian Open	Bob Tway	Lost to bogey on third extra hole
9	2005	Buick Championship	Tjaart van der Walt	Won with birdie on first extra hole

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)

Legend
Flagship events (1)
Other PGA Tour of Australasia (0)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runners-up
1	Nov 28, 1993	Heineken Australian Open	−13 (65-74-66-70=275)	2 strokes	Mike Clayton, Jeff Woodland

PGA Tour satellite wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Jun 15, 1986	Provident Classic	−19 (67-62-69-63=261)	1 stroke	Scott Hoch

Other wins (9)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Jul 31, 1985	Rhode Island Open	−6 (68-72-67=207)	2 strokes	Jeff Lewis
2	Nov 20, 1994	Franklin Funds Shark Shootout (with Fred Couples)	−26 (68-64-58=190)	2 strokes	Mark O'Meara and Curtis Strange
3	Aug 22, 1995	Fred Meyer Challenge (with Greg Norman)	−13 (65-64=129)	Playoff	Paul Azinger and Payne Stewart
4	Aug 20, 1996	Fred Meyer Challenge (2) (with Greg Norman)	−18 (63-61=124)	1 stroke	Mark Calcavecchia and Billy Mayfair
5	Aug 5, 1997	Fred Meyer Challenge (3) (with Greg Norman)	−19 (60-63=123)	3 strokes	Jay Haas and Phil Mickelson
6	Aug 24, 1999	Fred Meyer Challenge (4) (with Billy Andrade)	−22 (61-61=122)	2 strokes	Steve Elkington and Craig Stadler, Jim Furyk and John Huston
7	Nov 19, 2000	Franklin Templeton Shootout (2) (with Scott McCarron)	−26 (64-66-60=190)	Playoff	Carlos Franco and Scott Hoch
8	Aug 7, 2001	Fred Meyer Challenge (5) (with Billy Andrade)	−24 (60-60=120)	2 strokes	Jean van de Velde and Fuzzy Zoeller
9	Nov 11, 2001	Franklin Templeton Shootout (3) (with Scott McCarron)	−33 (64-62-57=183)	2 strokes	John Daly and Frank Lickliter

Other playoff record (2–3)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponents	Result
1	1995	Fred Meyer Challenge (with Greg Norman)	Paul Azinger and Payne Stewart	Won with birdie on first extra hole
2	2000	Franklin Templeton Shootout (with Scott McCarron)	Carlos Franco and Scott Hoch	Won with birdie on first extra hole
3	2001	CVS Charity Classic (with Gary Player)	Mark Calcavecchia and Nick Price	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
4	2003	Franklin Templeton Shootout (with Scott McCarron)	Chad Campbell and Shaun Micheel, Hank Kuehne and Jeff Sluman	Kuehne/Sluman won with birdie on second extra hole
5	2006	CVS/pharmacy Charity Classic (with Mike Weir)	Tim Clark and Nick Price	Lost to birdie on second extra hole

Champions Tour wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Oct 9, 2011	Insperity Championship	−10 (69-65=134)*	1 stroke	Tommy Armour III
2	Apr 28, 2013	Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf (with Jeff Sluman)	−23 (62-66-65=193)	1 stroke	Fred Funk and Mike Goodes, Kenny Perry and Gene Sauers

*Note: The 2011 Insperity Championship was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Results in major championships

Tournament	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open	CUT	CUT	T50LA		57			CUT	T33
The Open Championship					CUT			T11	T73
PGA Championship					CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Masters Tournament			T31	T9	T15	T17	T25	CUT	T26	T24
U.S. Open	66	CUT	CUT	T68	T33	T56	T82	T65	T49
The Open Championship				CUT	7	T15	T33	T20	T11
PGA Championship	CUT	T48	T15	T14	T30	5	T17	CUT	T13	T61

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Masters Tournament		T10	T12	T23	T31
U.S. Open	CUT	CUT	T66	CUT	CUT
The Open Championship		T47	CUT	T46	T60	T23
PGA Championship	T27	T59	T29	CUT	T13	CUT	CUT

  Top 10

  Did not play

LA = Low Amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	0	0	0	0	2	8	12	11
U.S. Open	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	11
The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	1	6	14	11
PGA Championship	0	0	0	1	1	6	22	12
Totals	0	0	0	1	4	20	66	45

• Most consecutive cuts made – 13 (1993 PGA – 1996 PGA)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (four times)

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
The Players Championship	T33	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	T17	T70	CUT	T67	DQ	T6	T49		4	T35	T46	T77	T26	T36	T11	T42	T46	T16

  Top 10

  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
DQ = disqualified
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Match Play	R64		QF	3	R32	R64
Championship			NT1	T49	T16	T13
Invitational				T63	T9	T32

¹Cancelled due to 9/11

  Top 10

  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

• Walker Cup: 1983 (winners)

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 1995, 1997
• Dunhill Cup: 1997
• UBS Cup: 2003 (tie)

See also

• 1983 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates

External links

• Official website
• Brad Faxon at the PGA Tour official site
• Brad Faxon at the Official World Golf Ranking official site