Bruce Lietzke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bruce Lietzke |
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Bruce Alan Lietzke |
| Born | July 18, 1951 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | July 28, 2018 (aged 67) Athens, Texas, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | University of Houston |
| Turned professional | 1974 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 22 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 13 |
| Champions Tour | 7 |
| Other | 2 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
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| The Masters Tournament | 6th/T6: 1979, 1985 |
| U.S. Open | T17: 1981 |
| The Open Championship | T6: 1981 |
| PGA Championship | 2nd: 1991 |
Bruce Alan Lietzke (born July 18, 1951 – died July 28, 2018) was an American professional golfer. He won many tournaments during his career. Bruce won 13 events on the PGA Tour, which is a top golf circuit. This included two victories in the Canadian Open.
His best finish in a major championship was second place. This happened at the 1991 PGA Championship. He finished three strokes behind John Daly. Bruce also won seven tournaments on the Champions Tour. This tour is for older professional golfers. One of his big wins was the 2003 U.S. Senior Open. He also played for the U.S. team in the 1981 Ryder Cup.
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Early Life and Golf Start
Bruce Lietzke was born in Kansas City, Kansas. When he was nine, his family moved to Beaumont, Texas. He lived there until 1977. Bruce went to Forest Park High School. He graduated in 1969.
Bruce started playing golf at age five. He gave credit to his older brother, Duane, for teaching him. He also thanked Henry Homberg, a local golf pro. Both Duane and Henry helped him a lot when he was learning. Bruce later went to the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. He finished college in 1973. He then became a professional golfer in 1974.
Amazing Golf Successes
Bruce Lietzke's first big win on the PGA Tour was in 1977. He won the Tucson Open that year. Overall, Bruce won 20 tournaments across the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. This included his major senior title, the 2003 U.S. Senior Open.
In 1981, Bruce had a fantastic year. He won three PGA Tour tournaments. He also played on the winning U.S. team in the Ryder Cup that year. The Ryder Cup is a famous team golf competition.
Bruce's best finish in a major championship was second place. This was at the 1991 PGA Championship.
Bruce was known for his unique approach to golf. He didn't practice as much as other golfers. He also didn't play in as many tournaments. He preferred to spend more time with his family. He never played more than 25 events in a PGA Tour season. After 1988, he never played more than 20 tournaments a year. Even with less practice, he always did well. He played in 506 PGA Tour events in his career.
Fun Hobbies and Interests
Bruce Lietzke loved collecting classic cars. He even built a special garage for 11 cars at his home. His collection included a yellow 1967 Corvette Stingray. He also had a 1987 Buick GNX.
He enjoyed listening to Bruce Springsteen. His favorite athlete was Don "Big Daddy" Garlits, a famous drag racer. Bruce lived in Dallas, Texas.
Bruce also strongly supported the Sour Mash Open golf event. He played in it many times. This tournament helps fund the Bryce-Lietzke-Martin Scholarship Fund. This fund gives scholarships to students in Wood County, West Virginia who love golf.
Family Life
Bruce Lietzke had a family connection to another golfer. He and Jerry Pate were brothers-in-law. Bruce's wife, Rose, and Jerry's wife, Soozi, are sisters. Bruce and Jerry even played together in the 1981 Ryder Cup.
Later Life and Passing
In April 2017, Bruce Lietzke was diagnosed with a serious illness. He passed away on July 28, 2018, due to complications from his illness.
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