Jesper Parnevik
Encyclopedia
Jesper Bo Parnevik is a Swedish
professional golf
er. He spent 38 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings
in 2000 and 2001.
. He is the son of the Swedish entertainer Bo Parnevik. At age 15, Parnevik spent 10 days in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
getting a sense of life in the United States. He moved to Palm Beach County, Florida
to attended Palm Beach Junior College in Lake Worth
on a golf scholarship.
, he joined the PGA Tour
in the mid-90s, subsequently winning five events. His playing career also includes three Ryder Cup appearances - in 1997, 1999, and 2002. He has twice been a runner-up in The Open
— in 1994 and 1997. His career best world ranking
of seventh, which he attained on 14 May 2000, was the highest world ranking achieved by a Swedish golfer until Henrik Stenson
reached the top five in February 2007.
In late 2000, Parnevik underwent hip surgery after speaking with Greg Norman
who had undergone similar surgery.
Parnevik finished second in the Valero Texas Open
in October 2007, losing to Justin Leonard
in a playoff. In 2009, after a tie for 17th finish at the SAS Masters in Sweden, Parnevik underwent further hip surgery in Vail, Colorado
, United States
which cut short his 2009 season on the PGA Tour. He also cited the hip injury as the reason for his withdrawal from the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament ("Q-School") in December 2009.
In 2010, Parnevik missed cuts in his first three tournaments and had to withdraw again after a first round 68 at the Northern Trust Open because of an ailing back. He had emergency surgery where it was discovered that he had a broken lumbar vertebrae
that might be career ending. He is seeking advice from a physiotherapist.
Parnevik is currently playing the 2011 PGA Tour season on a fully exempt status for his Top 50 All-Time Earnings ranking. He was allowed to reuse this one-time exemption after being able to play only five tournaments in 2010.
taste in clothes and fashion as well as his playing achievements. His on-course trademark was the upturned bill on his baseball cap. While on the European Ryder Cup
team, he received a customized team cap with the Ryder Cup logo on the bottom of the bill instead of the front, so that it could be seen with the bill turned up. He has since stopped wearing the flipped-bill hat, but retains a flamboyant sense of fashion, such as disco
-style purple trousers and other golf apparel designed by Johan Lindeberg
. He has been politely described as "eclectic", and has been known to change outfits at the halfway stage of a round of tournament golf. Beginning in 2006, one of his new on-course fashion
statements was a necktie
worn under a vest
. He is also known for eating volcanic dust as a dietary supplement. Parnevik's nickname on tour is "Spaceman".
and Elvis Presley
. When told he could only have one, he shot back, "OK, Elvis Einstein."
Parnevik is credited with having introduced fellow professional golfer Tiger Woods
to Swedish au pair Elin Nordegren
(previously employed by Parnevik), whom Woods would eventually marry. Parnevik subsequently stated in 2009 that he regrets his responsibility for this introduction after reports of Woods's infidelity surfaced that year.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
DQ = Disqualified
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Professional
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. He spent 38 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
in 2000 and 2001.
Early years
Parnevik was born and brought up Botkyrka, a southern suburb of Stockholm, SwedenStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He is the son of the Swedish entertainer Bo Parnevik. At age 15, Parnevik spent 10 days in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
getting a sense of life in the United States. He moved to Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
to attended Palm Beach Junior College in Lake Worth
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
on a golf scholarship.
Career
Parnevik turned professional in 1986 and scored four wins in his early years on the European Tour. Based in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, he joined the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in the mid-90s, subsequently winning five events. His playing career also includes three Ryder Cup appearances - in 1997, 1999, and 2002. He has twice been a runner-up in The Open
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
— in 1994 and 1997. His career best world ranking
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
of seventh, which he attained on 14 May 2000, was the highest world ranking achieved by a Swedish golfer until Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson is a Swedish professional golfer who plays both on the US and European tours. He has spent over 100 weeks ranked in the World top ten and his career high ranking of fourth is the best by any Swedish golfer.-Career:...
reached the top five in February 2007.
In late 2000, Parnevik underwent hip surgery after speaking with Greg Norman
Greg Norman
Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
who had undergone similar surgery.
Parnevik finished second in the Valero Texas Open
Valero Texas Open
The Valero Texas Open is an official tournament on the PGA Tour. It dates back to 1922 when it was first called the Texas Open; San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corporation took over naming rights in 2002. It is played at The Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio. In 2003, it was the site of the...
in October 2007, losing to Justin Leonard
Justin Leonard
Justin Charles Garrett Leonard is an American professional golfer.Leonard was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He attended Lake Highlands High School and graduated in 1990. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and was the individual NCAA champion in 1994. He was a two-time All-American...
in a playoff. In 2009, after a tie for 17th finish at the SAS Masters in Sweden, Parnevik underwent further hip surgery in Vail, Colorado
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which cut short his 2009 season on the PGA Tour. He also cited the hip injury as the reason for his withdrawal from the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament ("Q-School") in December 2009.
In 2010, Parnevik missed cuts in his first three tournaments and had to withdraw again after a first round 68 at the Northern Trust Open because of an ailing back. He had emergency surgery where it was discovered that he had a broken lumbar vertebrae
Lumbar vertebrae
The lumbar vertebrae are the largest segments of the movable part of the vertebral column, and are characterized by the absence of the foramen transversarium within the transverse process, and by the absence of facets on the sides of the body...
that might be career ending. He is seeking advice from a physiotherapist.
Parnevik is currently playing the 2011 PGA Tour season on a fully exempt status for his Top 50 All-Time Earnings ranking. He was allowed to reuse this one-time exemption after being able to play only five tournaments in 2010.
Style
Parnevik is known for his distinctive and eccentricEccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
taste in clothes and fashion as well as his playing achievements. His on-course trademark was the upturned bill on his baseball cap. While on the European Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
team, he received a customized team cap with the Ryder Cup logo on the bottom of the bill instead of the front, so that it could be seen with the bill turned up. He has since stopped wearing the flipped-bill hat, but retains a flamboyant sense of fashion, such as disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
-style purple trousers and other golf apparel designed by Johan Lindeberg
Johan Lindeberg
Johan Lindeberg is a Swedish fashion designer.-History:*He was the Marketing Director of Diesel from 1990 until 1996.*He was the CEO of Diesel US from 1994 to 1996....
. He has been politely described as "eclectic", and has been known to change outfits at the halfway stage of a round of tournament golf. Beginning in 2006, one of his new on-course fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
statements was a necktie
Necktie
A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck...
worn under a vest
Vest
A vest is a garment covering the upper body. The term has different meanings around the world:Waistcoat :. This is called a waistcoat in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, or a vest in the US and Canada. It is often worn as part of formal attire, or as the third piece of a lounge...
. He is also known for eating volcanic dust as a dietary supplement. Parnevik's nickname on tour is "Spaceman".
Life outside golf
Parnevik has an eclectic acting career including a cameo in the 2007 comedy, Who's Your Caddy, in which he plays himself. An allegedly thoughtful historian in his free time, and a man with varied tastes, he was recently asked with whom he'd like to have dinner. He quickly replied that it would have to be a choice between Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. When told he could only have one, he shot back, "OK, Elvis Einstein."
Parnevik is credited with having introduced fellow professional golfer Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
to Swedish au pair Elin Nordegren
Elin Nordegren
Elin Maria Pernilla Nordegren is a former Swedish model and the ex-wife of professional golfer Tiger Woods.- Early life :Nordegren was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her mother, Barbro Holmberg, is a politician and the former Swedish migration and asylum policy minister, and the current Governor of...
(previously employed by Parnevik), whom Woods would eventually marry. Parnevik subsequently stated in 2009 that he regrets his responsibility for this introduction after reports of Woods's infidelity surfaced that year.
European Tour wins (4)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 Jul 1993 | Bell's Scottish Open | 5 strokes |  Payne StewartPayne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... |
|
| 2 | 6 Aug 1995 | Volvo Scandinavian Masters | 5 strokes |  Colin MontgomerieColin Montgomerie Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31... |
|
| 3 | 15 Sep 1996 | Trophée Lancôme Trophée Lancôme The Trophée Lancôme was a professional golf tournament which was staged in France from 1970 to 2003.Gaëtan Mourgue D'Algue, a French golf enthusiast from Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, hoped to popularize the then little-known sport of Golf in France during the early 1960s... |
5 strokes | Colin Montgomerie Colin Montgomerie Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31... |
|
| 4 | 2 Aug 1998 | Volvo Scandinavian Masters | 3 strokes |  Darren ClarkeDarren Clarke Darren Christopher Clarke is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who currently plays on the European Tour and has previously played on the PGA Tour. He has won 22 tournaments worldwide on a number of golf's main tours including the European Tour, the PGA Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the... |
PGA Tour wins (5)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 Jan 1998 1998 PGA Tour The 1998 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 1. The season consisted of 45 official money events. David Duval won the most tournaments, four, and there were eight first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
Phoenix Open | 3 strokes | Tommy Armour III Tommy Armour III Thomas Dickson "Tommy" Armour III is an American professional golfer.Armour first joined the PGA Tour in 1981 at the age of 21. He has two career PGA Tour victories, winning the 1990 Phoenix Open and the 2003 Valero Texas Open... , Brent GeibergerBrent Geiberger Brent Andrew Geiberger is an American professional golfer and current player on the PGA Tour. He is a son of the golfer Al Geiberger.... , Steve PateSteve Pate Stephen Robert Pate is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Pate was born in Ventura, California. He attended UCLA and was a member of the golf team; one teammate was Corey Pavin, who joined Pate on the PGA Tour. Pate helped lead the team to... , Tom WatsonTom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
|
| 2 | 25 Apr 1999 1999 PGA Tour The 1999 PGA Tour season was played from January 7 to November 7. The season consisted of 47 official money events. Tiger Woods won the most tournaments, eight, and there were nine first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic | 2 strokes | Jim Furyk Jim Furyk James Michael Furyk is an American professional golfer, 2010 FedEx Cup champion, and 2010 PGA Tour Player of the Year. He has won one major championship, the 2003 U.S. Open. Furyk is known for consistently playing at the top level and for a visibly unconventional, looping golf swing... |
|
| 3 | 23 Jan 2000 2000 PGA Tour The 2000 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to November 12. The season consisted of 49 official money events. Tiger Woods won the most tournaments, nine, and there were nine first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Bob Hope Chrysler Classic The Bob Hope Classic is a professional golf tournament played each January in California's Coachella Valley. Part of the PGA Tour's early season West Coast Swing, this tournament is well known for its celebrity pro-am, as well as having five daily 18-hole rounds of competition vs. the Tour standard... |
1 stroke |  Rory SabbatiniRory Sabbatini Rory Mario Trevor Sabbatini is a South African professional golfer.Rory Sabbatini was born in Durban, South Africa. He started playing golf at age 4, but concentrated on it from age 12. He was recruited by the University of Arizona, turned professional in 1998 and joined the PGA Tour in 1999... |
|
| 4 | 14 May 2000 2000 PGA Tour The 2000 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to November 12. The season consisted of 49 official money events. Tiger Woods won the most tournaments, nine, and there were nine first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
GTE Byron Nelson Classic | Playoff | Davis Love III Davis Love III Davis Milton Love III is an American professional golfer.Love was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 1985. He earned his PGA Tour card in the fall of 1985, on his first attempt. He quickly established himself on the PGA... , Phil MickelsonPhil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
|
| 5 | 11 Mar 2001 2001 PGA Tour The 2001 PGA Tour season was played from January 3 to November 4. The season consisted of 47 official money events and two events were cancelled due to the terrorist attacks on September 11. Tiger Woods won the most tournaments, five, and there were 10 first-time winners... |
Honda Classic Honda Classic The Honda Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament that is played each March in Florida. It was founded in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic. In 1981, American Motors backed the tournament. Since 1982, American Honda Motor Co., Inc... |
1 stroke | Mark Calcavecchia Mark Calcavecchia Mark John Calcavecchia is an American professional golfer and a former PGA Tour member. During his professional career, he has won thirteen PGA Tour events, including the 1989 Open Championship. Calcavecchia currently plays on the Champions Tour.-Early years:Calcavecchia was born in Laurel,... ,  Geoff OgilvyGeoff Ogilvy Geoff Charles Ogilvy is an Australian professional golfer. He won the 2006 U.S. Open and has also won three World Golf Championships.-Professional career:... ,  Craig PerksCraig Perks Craig William Perks is a professional golfer from New Zealand who played on the PGA Tour.Perks was born in Palmerston North. He played college golf at University of Oklahoma and University of Southwestern Louisiana in the United States. He turned professional in 1993 and played on the second tier... |
Other wins (5)
- 1988 Ramlosa Trophy, Odensa Open (both Sweden), Open Passing Shot (France), European Tour Qualifying SchoolEuropean Tour Qualifying SchoolThe European Tour Qualifying School is an annual golf tournament which enables professional golfers to gain a place on the European Tour and its official development tour, the Challenge Tour....
- 1990 Swedish Open International Stroke Play
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T21 | T31 | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T48 | T14 | T17 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T21 | 2 | T24 | T44 | T2 | T4 | T10 |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | CUT | T20 | T5 | T45 | CUT | T10 |
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | T40 | T20 | T39 | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | T30 | T54 | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T74 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T36 | T9 | T28 | DQ | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
T51 | T13 | CUT | T34 | CUT | T28 | CUT | DNP | DNP |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
DQ = Disqualified
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Team appearances
Amateur- Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
(representing Sweden): 1984, 1986 - St. Andrews Trophy (representing Continental Europe): 1986
Professional
- Ryder CupRyder CupThe Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
(representing Europe): 19971997 Ryder CupThe 32nd Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain, marking the first time the event was contested in continental Europe.The European team won the competition by a margin of 14½ to 13½ and retained the Cup....
(winners), 19991999 Ryder CupThe 33rd Ryder Cup Matches, also known as the "Battle of Brookline", were held between September 24–26 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts....
, 20022002 Ryder CupThe 34th Ryder Cup Matches were held between 27–29 September 2002, on the Brabazon Course at The Belfry in Wishaw, Warwickshire, England ....
(winners) - Alfred Dunhill CupAlfred Dunhill CupThe Alfred Dunhill Cup was a team golf tournament which ran from 1985 to 2000. It was for three man teams of professional golfers, one team representing each country, and was promoted as the "World Team Championship". It was a "special approved event" on the European Tour, which means that it was...
(representing Sweden): 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 - World Cup (representing Sweden): 1994, 1995
- Europcar Cup: 1988 (winners)