Rocco Mediate
Encyclopedia
Rocco Anthony Mediate is an American
professional golf
er with multiple PGA Tour wins
.
. According to the Golf Channel, he is the son of a barber and has Italian ancestral heritage. Mediate attended Florida Southern College
and was a member of the golf
team. His close friend Lee Janzen
, another PGA Tour
pro, also played there. They helped lead Florida Southern to the 1985 Division II national team championship
.
using a long putter when he won the Doral-Ryder Open. He picked up another victory at the 1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open, but he then had a long layoff due to a ruptured disk. He underwent major back surgery in 1999, but lost practically five years of his career. Back pain returned in 2004 and later nearly ended his career.
Mediate returned to the Tour in 1996 playing under a special medical extension and performed steadily. He picked up wins on the Tour in 1999, 2000 and 2002. After improving his fitness to minimize his back problems, he returned to using a conventional putter in 2003.
Mediate has been featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings
and considered to be one of the best putters in golf. At the 2006 Masters
, Mediate was in contention to win the event on the final day until he took a septuple-bogey ten on the par three 12th hole. His best finish in a major championship
was a second place showing at the 2008 U.S. Open
at Torrey Pines South Course. Tied with Tiger Woods
at -1 after regular tournament play, then tied again at even par through the 18 hole playoff, Woods finally bested Mediate on the first hole (hole #7) of sudden death, the 91st hole of the tournament. It was only the third time a U.S. Open playoff had gone to sudden death. Mediate's performance gained him 111 spots in the world golf rankings, moving him from 158th to 47th place, and automatic berths in the next four majors.
Mediate earned his first win since 2002 at the 2010 Frys.com Open
by beating Bo Van Pelt
and Alex Prugh
by one shot. The win secures Mediate's tour card for the next two years. During the tournament, Mediate holed out all four days. He started on Thursday, with a hole-in-one on the 189 yard par-3 3rd hole. On Friday, he holed out from 160 yards on the par-4 4th hole for an eagle, followed on Saturday with a hole-out from 111 yards on the par-5 15th hole, also for eagle. On Sunday, he was tied for the lead on the 17th hole when he holed from 116 yards for eagle to take a two shot lead. He parred the 18th to win the tournament. He also became the oldest wire-to-wire winner on the PGA Tour since at least 1970.
Through the end of 2010, Mediate had PGA Tour career earnings of $16,413,964.
's 2007 PGA Tour coverage.
Mediate played in the 2005 World Series of Poker
's Main Event, as well as the 2001 Blem Classic of Las Vegas.
soccer player Domenic Mediate
.
He is a member of the Calusa Pines Golf Club and resides in the Tuscany Reserve subdivision in Naples, Florida
.
PGA Tour playoff record (2-1)
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
1Cancelled due to 9/11
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
WD = Withdrew
"T" = tied
NT = No Tournament
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 with multiple PGA Tour wins
Golfers with most PGA Tour wins
This is a list of golfers who have won five or more official money events on the PGA Tour.Players under 50 years of age are shown in bold. On his 50th birthday a golfer becomes eligible to compete on the Champions Tour, and he is unlikely to add to his tally of PGA Tour wins after that date This is...
.
Early years
Mediate was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Greensburg, PennsylvaniaGreensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
. According to the Golf Channel, he is the son of a barber and has Italian ancestral heritage. Mediate attended Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
and was a member of the 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....
team. His close friend Lee Janzen
Lee Janzen
Lee McLeod Janzen is an American golfer who is best known for twice winning the U.S. Open, in 1993 and 1998.-Early years and amateur career:...
, another 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...
pro, also played there. They helped lead Florida Southern to the 1985 Division II national team championship
NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships, played in late May, is an annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, but there is also an award for the lowest scoring individual competitor. Many of the individual champions have gone on to successful...
.
Career
Mediate turned professional in 1985. His golfing career has been marred by back trouble. Early on, he compensated by using a long putter. In 1991 he became the first player to win on the PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
using a long putter when he won the Doral-Ryder Open. He picked up another victory at the 1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open, but he then had a long layoff due to a ruptured disk. He underwent major back surgery in 1999, but lost practically five years of his career. Back pain returned in 2004 and later nearly ended his career.
Mediate returned to the Tour in 1996 playing under a special medical extension and performed steadily. He picked up wins on the Tour in 1999, 2000 and 2002. After improving his fitness to minimize his back problems, he returned to using a conventional putter in 2003.
Mediate has been featured in the top 20 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...
and considered to be one of the best putters in golf. At the 2006 Masters
2006 Masters Tournament
The 2006 Masters Tournament was the 70th Masters Tournament, played April 6–9 at Augusta National Golf Club. The course was lengthened significantly before the tournament, making the course play 7,445 yards . Phil Mickelson won his second Masters and second consecutive major, winning by two with a...
, Mediate was in contention to win the event on the final day until he took a septuple-bogey ten on the par three 12th hole. His best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
was a second place showing at the 2008 U.S. Open
2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 2008 United States Open Championship was the 108th U.S. Open, played from June 12 to June 16 at Torrey Pines, north of San Diego. The U.S. Open was held at the Torrey Pines for the first time, and took place on the South Course. Tiger Woods won his third U.S...
at Torrey Pines South Course. Tied with 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...
at -1 after regular tournament play, then tied again at even par through the 18 hole playoff, Woods finally bested Mediate on the first hole (hole #7) of sudden death, the 91st hole of the tournament. It was only the third time a U.S. Open playoff had gone to sudden death. Mediate's performance gained him 111 spots in the world golf rankings, moving him from 158th to 47th place, and automatic berths in the next four majors.
Mediate earned his first win since 2002 at the 2010 Frys.com Open
Frys.com Open
The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is a golf tournament in the Fall Series of the PGA Tour. It is played annually in October in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament is held at the TPC at Summerlin and since 2008 it has been hosted by recording star Justin Timberlake.The event...
by beating Bo Van Pelt
Bo Van Pelt
Bo Van Pelt is an American professional golfer who has played on both the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour. He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.Van Pelt was born in Richmond, Indiana...
and Alex Prugh
Alex Prugh
Alexander Prugh is an American professional golfer who has played on the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour.-Early years:...
by one shot. The win secures Mediate's tour card for the next two years. During the tournament, Mediate holed out all four days. He started on Thursday, with a hole-in-one on the 189 yard par-3 3rd hole. On Friday, he holed out from 160 yards on the par-4 4th hole for an eagle, followed on Saturday with a hole-out from 111 yards on the par-5 15th hole, also for eagle. On Sunday, he was tied for the lead on the 17th hole when he holed from 116 yards for eagle to take a two shot lead. He parred the 18th to win the tournament. He also became the oldest wire-to-wire winner on the PGA Tour since at least 1970.
Through the end of 2010, Mediate had PGA Tour career earnings of $16,413,964.
Other activities
On October 9, 2006, it was announced that Mediate would become an on-course reporter for The Golf ChannelThe Golf Channel
Golf Channel, known as The Golf Channel before the July 2008 dropping of The, is an American cable television network with coverage focused on the game of golf. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, the American headquarters and studio are currently located in Orlando, Florida...
's 2007 PGA Tour coverage.
Mediate played in the 2005 World Series of Poker
2005 World Series of Poker
The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15 marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports and/or television history at the time was awarded to the...
's Main Event, as well as the 2001 Blem Classic of Las Vegas.
Personal life
Mediate is a distant cousin of Puerto Rico IslandersPuerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
soccer player Domenic Mediate
Domenic Mediate
Domenic Mediate is a retired American soccer player who last played for the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL First Division.-College and Amateur:...
.
He is a member of the Calusa Pines Golf Club and resides in the Tuscany Reserve subdivision in Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
.
PGA Tour wins (6)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 4, 1991 1991 PGA Tour The 1991 PGA Tour season was played from January 3 to November 3. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Billy Andrade, Mark Brooks, Fred Couples, Andrew Magee, Corey Pavin, Nick Price, Tom Purtzer, and Ian Woosnam won the most tournaments, two, and there were 14 first-time winners... |
Doral-Ryder Open | Playoff |  Curtis StrangeCurtis Strange Curtis Northrup Strange is an American professional golfer. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He spent over 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between their debut in 1986 and 1990.-Early years through college:Strange and his... |
|
| 2 | Apr 25, 1993 1993 PGA Tour The 1993 PGA Tour season was played from January 7 to October 31. The season consisted of 43 official money events. Nick Price won the most tournaments, four, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
KMart Greater Greensboro Open | Playoff |  Steve ElkingtonSteve Elkington Stephen John Elkington is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He spent over 50 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings from 1995 to 1998.-Early years and education:... |
|
| 3 | Jan 31, 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... |
Phoenix Open | 2 strokes | 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... |
|
| 4 | Aug 13, 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... |
Buick Open Buick Open The Buick Open was a PGA Tour golf tournament from 1958 to 2009. In 2007, the tournament was held at the end of June, a change from its traditional spot between The Open Championship and the PGA Championship... |
1 stroke | Chris Perry Chris Perry (golfer) James Christopher Perry is an American professional golfer. He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.-Amateur career:... |
|
| 5 | Apr 28, 2002 2002 PGA Tour The 2002 PGA Tour season was played from January 3 to November 4. The season consisted of 49 official money events. Tiger Woods won the most tournaments, five, and there were 18 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following... |
Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic | 3 strokes | 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,... |
|
| 6 | Oct 17, 2010 2010 PGA Tour The 2010 PGA Tour season ran from January 7 to November 14. The season consisted of 46 official money events. This included four major championships and three World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the European Tour.-Schedule:... |
Frys.com Open Frys.com Open The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is a golf tournament in the Fall Series of the PGA Tour. It is played annually in October in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament is held at the TPC at Summerlin and since 2008 it has been hosted by recording star Justin Timberlake.The event... |
1 stroke | Alex Prugh Alex Prugh Alexander Prugh is an American professional golfer who has played on the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour.-Early years:... , Bo Van PeltBo Van Pelt Bo Van Pelt is an American professional golfer who has played on both the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour. He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.Van Pelt was born in Richmond, Indiana... |
PGA Tour playoff record (2-1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1991 | Doral-Ryder Open | Curtis Strange Curtis Strange Curtis Northrup Strange is an American professional golfer. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He spent over 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between their debut in 1986 and 1990.-Early years through college:Strange and his... |
Won with birdie on first playoff hole |
| 2 | 1993 | KMart Greater Greensboro Open | Steve Elkington Steve Elkington Stephen John Elkington is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He spent over 50 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings from 1995 to 1998.-Early years and education:... |
Won with birdie on fourth playoff hole |
| 3 | 2008 | 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... |
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... |
Lost to par on first sudden-death hole,after 18-hole playoff was tied |
Other wins (4)
- 1999 Callaway Golf Pebble Beach InvitationalCallaway Golf Pebble Beach InvitationalThe Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational is a non-tour professional golf tournament. The event debuted in 1972. The 2011 purse was $300,000 with $60,000 going to the individual winner. There is also a team competition. Professionals from the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour, and Nationwide...
- 2000 Wendy's 3-Tour ChallengeWendy's 3-Tour ChallengeThe Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge is an unofficial golf event held every November at the Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, Nevada. The tournament is a unique stroke play event, and, as the name suggests, pits three-member teams from the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, and Champions Tour against each other...
(with Notah Begay IIINotah Begay IIINotah Ryan Begay III is an American professional golfer. He is the only full-blooded American Indian golfer on the PGA Tour. He is currently an analyst with the Golf Channel.-Amateur career:...
and Phil MickelsonPhil MickelsonPhilip 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...
) - 2002 Franklin Templeton Shootout (with Lee JanzenLee JanzenLee McLeod Janzen is an American golfer who is best known for twice winning the U.S. Open, in 1993 and 1998.-Early years and amateur career:...
) - 2003 CVS Charity Classic (with Jeff SlumanJeff SlumanJeffrey George Sluman is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments including six PGA Tour victories.-Early years:...
)
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | 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 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 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... |
DNP | 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... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T31 | DNP |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | T22 | T37 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T27 |
| 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 | CUT | T44 | T25 | WD | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T34 |
| 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... |
DNP | CUT | T45 | T39 | DNP | DNP | T18 | DNP | DNP | CUT |
| 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... |
T69 | T16 | T40 | T68 | DNP | DNP | T36 | DNP | DNP | T49 |
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | T52 | T15 | T36 | T33 | CUT | DNP | T36 | DNP | DNP | T49 |
| 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... |
T32 | 4 | T37 | CUT | DNP | T6 | CUT | DNP | 2 | T47 |
| 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... |
T52 | WD | T47 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T19 | 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... |
WD | T66 | 6 | T18 | DNP | DNP | DNP | WD | 72 | DNP |
| Tournament | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 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 | DNP |
| 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... |
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... |
DNP | WD |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Results in World Golf Championship events
| Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accenture Match Play Championship WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship is one of the annual World Golf Championships. It is a knockout event and is staged in January or February each year... |
R64 | R64 | DNP | R32 | R32 | R64 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| CA Championship WGC-CA Championship The WGC-Cadillac Championship is one of the four annual World Golf Championships tournaments for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | NT1 | T24 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Bridgestone Invitational WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is one of the annual World Golf Championships for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour and the PGA European Tour... |
DNP | WD | DNP | T15 | T16 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T52 |
1Cancelled due to 9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
WD = Withdrew
"T" = tied
NT = No Tournament
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Equipment
- Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver
- Callaway FT-i Squareway Wood (15º)
- Callaway X Hybrid (18º)
- Callaway X-22 Irons
- Callaway 52º and 56º X Forged Wedges
- Scotty Cameron 009 custom
- Callaway Tour ix Ball
- Callaway Tour Staff Bag
- Footjoy Dry Joy Shoes