Mark O'Meara

Mark Francis O'Meara (born January 13, 1957) is an American professional golfer. He was a tournament winner on the PGA Tour and around the world from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. He spent nearly 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking from their debut in 1986 to 2000.[3] He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.[4]

For the Florida criminal defense attorney associated with the Trayvon Martin case, see Mark O'Mara.

Mark O'Meara
O'Meara in 2005
Personal information
Full nameMark Francis O'Meara
Born (1957-01-13) January 13, 1957
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st)
Nationality United States
ResidenceSouthern Highlands, Nevada [1]
Spouse
Alicia Lauria O'Meara
​
​
(m. 1980⁠–⁠2009)​

Meredith O'Meara
ChildrenMichelle, Shaun, Aidan Berkman (stepson)
Career
CollegeLong Beach State University
Turned professional1980
Current tour(s)PGA Tour Champions (joined 2007)
Former tour(s)PGA Tour (joined 1981)
Professional wins34
Highest ranking2 (September 6, 1998)[2]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour16
European Tour5
Japan Golf Tour2
PGA Tour of Australasia1
PGA Tour Champions3
Other10
Best results in major championships
(wins: 2)
Masters TournamentWon: 1998
PGA ChampionshipT4: 1998
U.S. OpenT3: 1988
The Open ChampionshipWon: 1998
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame2015 (member page)
PGA Player of the Year1998
PGA Tour
Player of the Year		1998

Early years

O'Meara was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, but grew up in southern California in Mission Viejo. He took up golf at age 13, sneaking on to the nearby Mission Viejo Country Club. O'Meara later became an employee of the club and played on his high school golf team. He was an All-American at Long Beach State,[5] and won the U.S. Amateur in 1979, defeating defending champion John Cook 8 & 7 in the final.[6][7][8][9] He also won the California State Amateur Championship that year.

O'Meara was a former resident of Orlando, Florida and lived in the same neighborhood as Tiger Woods. The two became good friends and frequently golfed together during this time. O'Meara now resides in Houston, Texas.

Professional career

After graduating with a degree in marketing in 1980, O'Meara turned professional and would win 16 events on the PGA Tour, beginning with the Greater Milwaukee Open in 1984. He won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am five times, but he passed his 41st birthday in January 1998 without having won a major championship as a professional.

In a late finale to his PGA Tour winning career, O'Meara won two majors in 1998, The Masters and the British Open. O'Meara's victory in The Masters came at his 15th attempt. O'Meara attributed this resurgence partly to the inspiration of working with Tiger Woods, the new superstar of the game at the time, with whom O'Meara had become good friends.[10] In the same year, he won the Cisco World Match Play Championship and reached a career best of second in the Official World Golf Ranking.

O'Meara is known for competing outside the United States more often than most leading American golfers, and has won tournaments in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. A man with a genial demeanor, he is one of the most popular figures in international golf. In the new millennium his form took a downturn and he began to struggle with injuries, but in 2004 he won an official tour event for the first time since 1998, taking the Dubai Desert Classic title, which despite being played in the Middle East is a European Tour event.

After the European Tour tournament Lancome Trophy at Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, 30 km west of Paris, France in September 1997, which was won by O'Meara, he was involved in a controversy. Runner-up was Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden. A television viewer in Sweden observed that, on the 15th green in the final round, O'Meara, facing a two and a half foot putt, had replaced his ball half an inch closer to the hole than had been indicated by his marker. Sandelin wrote to O'Meara in March 1998, sent a video recording of the incident and asked for an explanation. O'Meara insisted he had not intended to gain any advantage and sought advice from the PGA and European Tours, who informed him that the tournament was over and the result stood. Sandelin went public with the story and demanded that O'Meara should hand back the trophy and the prize money.[11] O'Meara admitted in April 1998, he may, without intention, have broken the rules of golf on his way to winning the 1997 Lancome Trophy.[12]

Champions Tour

In 2007, O'Meara began play on the Champions Tour; he had many top-10 finishes in his first three seasons including several runner-up finishes, but no wins. In 2010, he broke through with a win in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with Nick Price, followed by his first senior major victory in the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. O'Meara was sidelined by a rib injury for several months starting in April 2012; he missed the majors on both tours and did not compete until August.[13][14]

O'Meara has begun to develop a golf course design practice and enjoys fishing in his off time. He is currently a brand ambassador for Pacific Links International.

In March 2019, O'Meara won the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Arizona. He shot a final round seven-under 66, to win by four shots. This win ended an eight-year win drought on the PGA Tour Champions.

Amateur wins

Professional wins (34)

PGA Tour wins (16)
Legend
Major championships (2)
Other PGA Tour (14)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Sep 16, 1984 Greater Milwaukee Open 67-68-69-68=272 −16 5 strokes Tom Watson
2 Feb 3, 1985 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am 70-72-68-73=283 −5 1 stroke Kikuo Arai, Larry Rinker,
Curtis Strange
3 Feb 10, 1985 Hawaiian Open 67-66-65-69=267 −21 1 stroke Craig Stadler
4 Jan 29, 1989 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (2) 66-68-73-70=277 −11 1 stroke Tom Kite
5 Feb 4, 1990 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (3) 67-73-69-72=281 −7 2 strokes Kenny Perry
6 Oct 7, 1990 H.E.B. Texas Open 64-68-66-63=261 −19 1 stroke Gary Hallberg
7 Oct 19, 1991 Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic 66-66-71-64=267 −21 1 stroke David Peoples
8 Feb 2, 1992 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (4) 69-68-68-70=275 −13 Playoff Jeff Sluman
9 Mar 12, 1995 Honda Classic 68-65-71-71=275 −9 1 stroke Nick Faldo
10 Sep 10, 1995 Bell Canadian Open 72-67-68-67=274 −14 Playoff Bob Lohr
11 Jan 7, 1996 Mercedes Championships 68-69-66-68=271 −17 3 strokes Nick Faldo, Scott Hoch
12 Apr 28, 1996 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic 75-68-62-69=274 −14 2 strokes Duffy Waldorf
13 Feb 2, 1997 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (5) 67-67-67-67=268 −20 1 stroke David Duval, Tiger Woods
14 Feb 9, 1997 Buick Invitational 67-66-71-71=275 −13 2 strokes David Ogrin, Donnie Hammond,
Jesper Parnevik, Craig Stadler,
Lee Janzen, Mike Hulbert,
Duffy Waldorf
15 Apr 12, 1998 Masters Tournament 74-70-68-67=279 −9 1 stroke Fred Couples, David Duval
16 Jul 19, 1998 The Open Championship 72-68-72-68=280 E Playoff Brian Watts

PGA Tour playoff record (3–4)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1981 Tallahassee Open Dave Eichelberger, Bob Murphy Eichelberger won with birdie on first extra hole
2 1983 Phoenix Open Rex Caldwell, Bob Gilder,
Johnny Miller		 Gilder won with birdie on eighth extra hole
Miller and O'Meara eliminated with birdie on second hole
3 1991 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Corey Pavin Lost to birdie on first extra hole
4 1992 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic John Cook, Rick Fehr,
Tom Kite, Gene Sauers		 Cook won with eagle on fourth extra hole
Fehr eliminated with birdie on second hole
Kite and O'Meara eliminated with birdie on first hole
5 1992 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Jeff Sluman Won with par on first extra hole
6 1995 Bell Canadian Open Bob Lohr Won with par on first extra hole
7 1998 The Open Championship Brian Watts Won four-hole aggregate playoff;
O'Meara: −1 (4-4-5-4=17),
Watts: +1 (5-4-5-5=19)

European Tour wins (5)
Legend
Major championships (2)
Other European Tour (3)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 Aug 23, 1987 Lawrence Batley International 71-64-70-66=271 −17 3 strokes Carl Mason
2 Sep 14, 1997 Trophée Lancôme 69-67-66-69=271 −13 1 stroke Jarmo Sandelin
3 Apr 12, 1998 Masters Tournament 74-70-68-67=279 −9 1 stroke Fred Couples, David Duval
4 Jul 19, 1998 The Open Championship 72-68-72-68=280 E Playoff Brian Watts
5 Mar 7, 2004 Dubai Desert Classic 70-64-68-69=271 −17 1 stroke Paul McGinley

European Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1998 The Open Championship Brian Watts Won four-hole aggregate playoff;
O'Meara: −1 (4-4-5-4=17),
Watts: +1 (5-4-5-5=19)

Japan Golf Tour wins (2)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1 May 12, 1985 Fujisankei Classic 67-67-66-73=273 −11 3 strokes Masashi Ozaki
2 Oct 4, 1992 Tokai Classic 66-68-72-71=277 −11 1 stroke Tom Kite

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1 Feb 23, 1986 Australian Masters 74-66-71-73=284 −8 1 stroke David Graham

South American Tour wins (1)

Other wins (9)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 Nov 16, 1985 Isuzu Kapalua International 67-70-70-68=275 −13 Playoff Corey Pavin
2 Nov 19, 1989 RMCC Invitational
(with Curtis Strange)		 66-62-62=190 −26 6 strokes Bernhard Langer and John Mahaffey,
Lanny Wadkins and Tom Weiskopf
3 Aug 23, 1994 Fred Meyer Challenge
(with John Cook)		 63-62=125 −17 Playoff Ben Crenshaw and Phil Mickelson
4 Oct 18, 1998 Cisco World Match Play Championship 1 up Tiger Woods
5 Nov 29, 1998 Skins Game $430,000 $10,000 Tom Lehman
6 Nov 21, 1999 World Cup of Golf
(with Tiger Woods)		 140-133-130-142=545 −23 5 strokes  Spain – Santiago Luna and Miguel Ángel Martín
7 Aug 8, 2000 Fred Meyer Challenge (2)
(with John Cook)		 64-61=125 −19 Playoff David Frost and Jim Furyk
8 Dec 1, 2002 Skins Game (2) $405,000 $105,000 Phil Mickelson
9 Aug 21, 2007 Champions Challenge
(with Mike Reid)		 55 −16 2 strokes Todd Miller and Daniel Summerhays

Other playoff record (3–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1985 Isuzu Kapalua International Corey Pavin Won with birdie on third extra hole
2 1994 Fred Meyer Challenge
(with John Cook)		 Ben Crenshaw and Phil Mickelson Won with par on second extra hole
3 2000 Fred Meyer Challenge
(with John Cook)		 David Frost and Jim Furyk Won with birdie on first extra hole

PGA Tour Champions wins (3)
Legend
PGA Tour Champions major championships (1)
Other Champions Tour (2)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Apr 25, 2010 Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf
(with Nick Price)		 62-64-62=188 −28 Playoff John Cook and Joey Sindelar
2 Oct 10, 2010 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship 68-68-69-68=273 −7 Playoff Michael Allen
3 Mar 3, 2019 Cologuard Classic 66-70-66=202 −17 4 strokes Willie Wood, Darren Clarke,
Kirk Triplett, Scott McCarron

PGA Tour Champions playoff record (2–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 2010 Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf
(with Nick Price)		 John Cook and Joey Sindelar Won with par on second extra hole
2 2010 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship Michael Allen Won with par on first extra hole
3 2011 Songdo IBD Championship Jay Don Blake, John Cook,
Peter Senior		 Blake won with birdie on fifth extra hole
O'Meara and Senior eliminated with par on third hole
4 2012 Boeing Classic Jay Don Blake Lost to birdie on second extra hole

Major championships

Wins (2)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreTo parMarginRunner(s)-up
1998Masters Tournament2 shot deficit74-70-68-67=279−91 stroke Fred Couples, David Duval
1998The Open Championship2 shot deficit72-68-72-68=280EPlayoff1 Brian Watts

1Defeated Brian Watts in 4-hole playoff: O'Meara (4-4-5-4=17), Watts (5-4-5-5=19)

Results timeline
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Masters Tournament CUT 24 48 T24 T39 T11
U.S. Open CUT CUT 58 T7 T15 T41 CUT T3 CUT
The Open Championship T47 T3 T43 T66 27 T42
PGA Championship T70 CUT T25 T28 CUT CUT T9 CUT
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
Masters Tournament CUT T27 T4 T21 T15 T31 T18 T30 1 T31
U.S. Open CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT T16 T36 T32 CUT
The Open Championship T48 T3 T12 CUT T49 T33 T38 1 CUT
PGA Championship T19 CUT CUT CUT T6 T26 T13 T4 T57
Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
Masters Tournament CUT T20 CUT T8 T27 T31 CUT CUT CUT CUT
U.S. Open T51 CUT T18 T35 CUT
The Open Championship T26 T42 T22 T65 T30 CUT T63 T60 CUT T70
PGA Championship T46 T22 CUT CUT CUT
Tournament201020112012201320142015201620172018
Masters Tournament CUT CUT CUT CUT T22 CUT CUT CUT
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT CUT T58 T78 T63 CUT
PGA Championship
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

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

Summary
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament10023113419
U.S. Open0011252311
The Open Championship1023353124
PGA Championship0001372212
Totals2037112811066
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 11 (1995 Masters – 1999 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1998 Open Championship – 1998 PGA)

Results in The Players Championship
Tournament 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
The Players Championship T26 T77 T49 T5 T17 T33 3 CUT CUT WD CUT T9 5 CUT CUT T29 T70 T42 T6
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
The Players Championship T9 CUT CUT CUT 74
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships
Tournament199920002001200220032004
Match Play R64 R32
Championship NT1
Invitational T25 T27 T72

1Cancelled due to 9/11

  Did not play

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

Senior major championships

Wins (1)
YearChampionshipWinning scoreTo parMarginRunner-up
2010Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship68-68-69-68=273−7Playoff Michael Allen

Senior results timeline

Results not in chronological order before 2017.

Tournament20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
The Tradition T14 T31 T11 T38 T12 T36 T35 T38 T17 T40 T13 NT
Senior PGA Championship T12 T24 T14 4 T18 4 T45 T14 T46 T38 NT
U.S. Senior Open T11 CUT T6 CUT 2 19 T38 WD CUT CUT CUT T38 NT
Senior Players Championship T31 T32 T9 1 5 T39 T6 WD T36 70 T72 WD 66
Senior British Open Championship T2 T34 T25 T39 T26 WD T18 NT
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

References
  2. "Week 36 1998 Ending 6 Sep 1998" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  3. "69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking" (PDF). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  4. McAllister, Mike (October 15, 2014). "Class of 2015 Hall of Famers receive surprise calls". PGA Tour.
  5. Foster, Chris (March 9, 2007). "O'Meara Comes Home For Toshiba Classic". Long Beach State.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  6. "Ohio State's Cook makes Am finals". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. September 2, 1979. p. 5C.
  7. "O'Meara dethrones Cook, easily wins U.S. Amateur". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. September 3, 1979. p. 32.
  8. "U.S. Amateur Results: 1895 to Present". USGA. February 15, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  9. Chmiel, David (August 18, 2015). "Mark O'Meara: U.S. Amateur Victory Provided Crucial Confidence". USGA. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  10. An Interview with: Mark O'Meara Archived October 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. Glover, Tim (June 20, 1999). "Golf: First Night - Jarmo Sandelin: The maverick of the fairways Europe's newest Ryder Cup player will test the team ethic". Independent.
  12. "O'Meara admits to possible misplacing". The Irish Times. April 30, 1998.
  13. "O'Meara withdraws from Masters before 1st round". April 5, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  14. "Former champ Mark O'Meara to miss British Open". July 10, 2012.
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