Hal Sutton

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

American professional golfer (born 1958)

title: "Hal Sutton" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-male-golfers", "pga-tour-golfers", "pga-tour-champions-golfers", "ryder-cup-competitors-for-the-united-states", "winners-of-men's-major-golf-championships", "golfers-from-shreveport,-louisiana", "centenary-college-of-louisiana-alumni", "sportspeople-from-bossier-city,-louisiana", "1958-births", "living-people", "presidents-cup-competitors-for-the-united-states", "20th-century-american-sportsmen"] description: "American professional golfer (born 1958)" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Sutton" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American professional golfer (born 1958) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox golfer"]

Field	Value
name	Hal Sutton
imagesize
fullname	Hal Evan Sutton
nickname	Prince Hal, Halimony
birth_date
birth_place	Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
death_date
height	6 ft 1 in
weight	240 lb
nationality
residence	Bossier City, Louisiana, U.S.
spouse	Stacy Sutton
children	5
college	Centenary College
yearpro	1981
tour	PGA Tour Champions
extour	PGA Tour
prowins	15
pgawins	14
champwins
seneurowins
otherwins	1
majorwins	1
masters	10th: 2000
usopen	T4: 1986
open	T10: 1999
pga	Won: 1983
wghofid
wghofyear
award1	[PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year](pga-tour-rookie-of-the-year)
year1	1982
award2	[PGA Tour
money list winner](pga-tour-money-list-winners)
year2	1983
award3	PGA Player of the Year
year3	1983
award4	[PGA Tour
Comeback Player of the Year](pga-tour-comeback-player-of-the-year)
year4	1994
award5	Payne Stewart Award
year5	2007
awardssection
module	{{Infobox person
signature	Hal_Sutton_signature.jpg
::

| name = Hal Sutton | image = | imagesize = | caption = | fullname = Hal Evan Sutton | nickname = Prince Hal, Halimony | birth_date = | birth_place = Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height = 6 ft 1 in | weight = 240 lb | nationality = | residence = Bossier City, Louisiana, U.S. | spouse = Stacy Sutton | partner = | children = 5 | college = Centenary College | yearpro = 1981 | tour = PGA Tour Champions | extour = PGA Tour | prowins = 15 | pgawins = 14 | champwins = | seneurowins = | otherwins = 1 | majorwins = 1 | masters = 10th: 2000 | usopen = T4: 1986 | open = T10: 1999 | pga = Won: 1983 | wghofid = | wghofyear = | award1 = PGA Tour Rookie of the Year | year1 = 1982 | award2 = PGA Tour money list winner | year2 = 1983 | award3 = PGA Player of the Year | year3 = 1983 | award4 = PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year | year4 = 1994 | award5 = Payne Stewart Award | year5 = 2007 | awardssection = | module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes | signature = Hal_Sutton_signature.jpg Hal Evan Sutton (born April 28, 1958) is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the PGA Tour Champions, who achieved 14 victories on the PGA Tour, including the 1983 PGA Championship (a major championship) and the 1983 and 2000 Players Championships. Sutton was also the PGA Tour's leading money winner in 1983 and named Player of the Year.

Early life and amateur career

Sutton was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was a promising player at its Centenary College, and was named ''Golf Magazine'''s 1980 College Player of the Year. At Centenary, Sutton won 14 golf tournaments, was an All-American, led the Gents to the NCAA Tournament, and finished ninth nationally.

Professional career

Sutton quickly established himself as one of the PGA Tour's top young stars in the early 1980s. His first win was at the 1982 Walt Disney World Golf Classic in a playoff with Bill Britton after the two had tied at 19-under-par 269 after 72 holes.

Sutton's most notable year came in 1983, when he won the Tournament Players Championship in March, followed by his only major title, the PGA Championship at Riviera in August. He entered into a long drought shortly thereafter, going from 1987 to 1994 without a PGA Tour victory. He nearly lost his tour card late in the string, maintaining it only by using a one-time-only exemption for players in the top 50 of the all-time PGA Tour career money list. After this disappointing eight years, Sutton rejuvenated his career in 1995 with a win at the B.C. Open.

In 1998, Sutton won the Valero Texas Open and the prestigious Tour Championship to finish fifth on the PGA Tour money list. Other than his spectacular 1983 season, Sutton had his best year to date in 2000 by beating Tiger Woods in the final group of The Players Championship to win. It was on the 72nd hole of this tournament as his 6 iron approach was in the air that he uttered what is now one of the most famous lines in golf "Be the right club. Be the right club today!". He also had an additional win — the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic two starts later. He would go on to finish fourth on the PGA Tour money list. In 2001, Sutton made the cut in 22 of 26 events with one victory at the Shell Houston Open at TPC at The Woodlands and a season winnings total of $1.7 million.

Sutton ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for over 50 weeks from their debut in 1986 to 1987 and then again for over 50 weeks between 1999 and 2001. He has reached the top five of the rankings.

After playing on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams (1985, 1987, 1999, 2002), he was named non-playing captain of the team for 2004. The competition, played at Oakland Hills Country Club, saw Europe beat the US by 18½ to 9½ points. Inevitably, Sutton came in for some criticism of his performance as captain, especially for his decision to pair Tiger Woods with Phil Mickelson on the first day of play.

In 2007, Sutton received the Payne Stewart Award for his charitable efforts, which include the establishment of the Christus Schumpert Sutton Children's Hospital in his hometown of Shreveport. He also teamed up with Louisianans Kelly Gibson and David Toms to raise more than $2 million in aid to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita victims. Sutton was also awarded the Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award in 2004 and the Golf Writers Association of America's 2006 Charlie Bartlett Award with Gibson and Toms for their relief efforts.

Sutton became eligible to play on the Champions Tour in April 2008 and his best finish is a tie for third at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in 2009.

In April 2025, Hal Sutton endorsed Makefield Putters.

Personal life

Sutton is a Republican, having donated money to several GOP causes. He has five children.

Awards and honors

In 1980, Sutton was selected as ''Golf Magazine'''s College Player of the Year.
In 1982, he was selected as the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year.
In 1983, Sutton led PGA Tour's money list.
In 1983, he earned the PGA Player of the Year award.
In 1994, Sutton earned the PGA Tour's Comeback Player of the Year award.
In 2007, Sutton was selected for the Payne Stewart Award.

Amateur wins

1974 Louisiana Junior Amateur
1979 Western Amateur
1980 North and South Amateur, U.S. Amateur, Western Amateur, Northeast Amateur

Professional wins (15)

PGA Tour wins (14)

::data[format=table]

Legend
Major championships (1)
Players Championships (2)
Tour Championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (10)
::

::data[format=table] | No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Oct 31, 1982 | Walt Disney World Golf Classic | 71-63-68-67=269 | −19 | Playoff | USA Bill Britton | | 2 | Mar 28, 1983 | Tournament Players Championship | 73-71-70-69=283 | −5 | 1 stroke | USA Bob Eastwood | | 3 | Aug 7, 1983 | PGA Championship | 65-66-72-71=274 | −10 | 1 stroke | USA Jack Nicklaus | | 4 | Jun 30, 1985 | St. Jude Memphis Classic | 65-76-73-65=279 | −9 | Playoff | USA David Ogrin | | 5 | Sep 22, 1985 | Southwest Golf Classic | 68-67-67-71=273 | −15 | Playoff | USA Mike Reid | | 6 | Jan 26, 1986 | Phoenix Open | 64-64-68-71=267 | −17 | 2 strokes | USA Calvin Peete, USA Tony Sills | | 7 | May 25, 1986 | Memorial Tournament | 68-69-66-68=271 | −17 | 4 strokes | USA Don Pooley | | 8 | Sep 17, 1995 | B.C. Open | 71-69-68-61=269 | −15 | 1 stroke | USA Jim McGovern | | 9 | Sep 27, 1998 | Westin Texas Open | 67-68-67-68=270 | −18 | 1 stroke | USA Jay Haas, USA Justin Leonard | | 10 | Nov 1, 1998 | The Tour Championship | 69-67-68-70=274 | −6 | Playoff | FIJ Vijay Singh | | 11 | Sep 12, 1999 | Bell Canadian Open | 69-67-70-69=275 | −13 | 3 strokes | USA Dennis Paulson | | 12 | Mar 27, 2000 | The Players Championship (2) | 69-69-69-71=278 | −10 | 1 stroke | USA Tiger Woods | | 13 | Apr 23, 2000 | Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic | 67-64-72-71=274 | −14 | 3 strokes | USA Andrew Magee | | 14 | Apr 22, 2001 | Shell Houston Open | 70-68-71-69=278 | −10 | 3 strokes | USA Joe Durant, USA Lee Janzen | ::

PGA Tour playoff record (4–2) ::data[format=table]

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1982	Walt Disney World Golf Classic	USA Bill Britton	Won with birdie on fourth extra hole
2	1985	St. Jude Memphis Classic	USA David Ogrin	Won with birdie on first extra hole
3	1985	Southwest Golf Classic	USA Mike Reid	Won with birdie on first extra hole
4	1989	Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic	USA Mike Donald, USA Tim Simpson	Donald won with birdie on fourth extra hole
Sutton eliminated by par on third hole
5	1994	Federal Express St. Jude Classic	USA Dicky Pride, USA Gene Sauers	Pride won with birdie on first extra hole
6	1998	The Tour Championship	FJI Vijay Singh	Won with birdie on first extra hole
::

Other wins (1)

::data[format=table] | No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runners-up | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Dec 15, 1985 | Chrysler Team Championship (with USA Raymond Floyd) | 63-65-68-64=260 | −28 | Playoff | USA Charlie Bolling and USA Brad Fabel, USA Jim Colbert and USA Tom Purtzer, USA John Fought and USA Pat McGowan, USA Gary Hallberg and USA Scott Hoch | ::

Other playoff record (1–0) ::data[format=table]

No.	Year	Tournament
1	1985	Chrysler Team Championship
(with USA Raymond Floyd)	USA Charlie Bolling and USA Brad Fabel,
USA Jim Colbert and USA Tom Purtzer,
USA John Fought and USA Pat McGowan,
USA Gary Hallberg and USA Scott Hoch	Won with birdie on first extra hole
::

Major championships

Wins (1)

::data[format=table]

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1983	PGA Championship	2 shot lead	−10 (65-66-72-71=274)	1 stroke	USA Jack Nicklaus
::

Results timeline

::data[format=table]

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
Masters Tournament	52	CUT		T27	CUT	T31	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT
U.S. Open	CUT	CUT	T19	6	T16	T23	T4	T31	64	T29
The Open Championship		T47LA	CUT	T29	CUT			T11	CUT
PGA Championship			T29	1	T6	T65	T21	T28	T66	CUT
::

::data[format=table]

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Masters Tournament	CUT		CUT			CUT	CUT			CUT
U.S. Open	CUT	CUT				T36		T19		T7
The Open Championship										T10
PGA Championship	T49	T7	CUT	T31	T55	CUT	CUT	CUT	T27	T26
::

::data[format=table]

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Masters Tournament	10	36
U.S. Open	T23	T24	CUT
The Open Championship	CUT		CUT	CUT
PGA Championship	CUT	T44	T60	T39	CUT	79
::

LA = Low amateur

CUT = missed the half way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

::data[format=table]

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	0	0	0	0	1	1	16	5
U.S. Open	0	0	0	1	3	9	18	13
The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	1	2	10	4
PGA Championship	1	0	0	1	3	4	24	17
::

Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (twice)
Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1999 U.S. Open – 1999 Open Championship)

The Players Championship

Wins (2)

::data[format=table]

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1983	Tournament Players Championship	4 shot deficit	−5 (73-71-70-69=283)	1 stroke	USA Bob Eastwood
2000	The Players Championship (2)	1 shot lead	−10 (69-69-69-71=278)	1 stroke	USA Tiger Woods
::

Results timeline

::data[format=table]

Tournament	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
The Players Championship	1	T41	T22	T7	T24	CUT	T29	CUT	T68	CUT	CUT	T19	CUT	T53	T50	T18	T4	1	T5	CUT	CUT	CUT	WD
::

CUT = missed the halfway cut

WD = withdrew

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Results in World Golf Championships

::data[format=table]

Tournament	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Match Play	R64	QF	R64	R64
Championship	19		NT1
Invitational	T15	T4	T11	T42	T33
::

1Cancelled due to 9/11

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: 1979 (winners), 1981 (winners)
Eisenhower Trophy: 1980 (team winners and individual leader)

Professional

USA vs. Japan: 1983
Ryder Cup: 1985, 1987, 1999 (winners), 2002, 2004 (captain)
Nissan Cup: 1986
Presidents Cup: 1998 (withdrew), 2000 (winners)
UBS Cup: 2003 (tie), 2004 (winners)

References

Diaz, Jaime. (6 June 1988). "The Fall of Prince Hal".
Johnson, Andy. (19 March 2020). "The Bear Apparent". The Fried Egg.
"Hal Sutton, PGA Present Ryder Cup Gift: $100,000 Each to Centenary College & United Way of Northwest Louisiana".
"Today in Golf History: October 31". Golfonline.
Jenkins, Dan. (August 15, 1983). "There's a new bear on the loose".
"Golf Major Championships".
Shipnuck, Alan. (April 3, 2000). "Punched out".
(2020-05-01). "The club behind Hal Sutton’s 'Be the right club today!' moment".
"69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking".
Hack, Damon. (September 18, 2006). "U.S. Turns Its Focus to Playing Like a Team". [[The New York Times]].
Taylor, Kyle. (2025-04-14). "Hall Sutton signs historic agreement with Makefield Putters".
"OpenSecrets".
(8 July 2009). "Hal Sutton returns to pro golf after four-year hiatus, prepares for his first 3M Championship".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::