Corey Pavin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corey Pavin |
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Pavin in 2008
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Corey Allen Pavin |
| Nickname | Bulldog |
| Born | November 16, 1959 Oxnard, California, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Spouse | Shannon Healy (divorced) Lisa Nguyen (2003-present) |
| Career | |
| College | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Turned professional | 1982 |
| Current tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour European Tour |
| Professional wins | 28 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 15 |
| European Tour | 2 |
| Japan Golf Tour | 2 |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 2 |
| Champions Tour | 1 |
| Other | 6 |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1) |
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| The Masters Tournament | 3rd: 1992 |
| U.S. Open | Won: 1995 |
| The Open Championship | T4: 1993 |
| PGA Championship | 2nd: 1994 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| PGA Tour Rookie of the Year |
1984 |
| PGA Tour money list winner |
1991 |
| PGA Player of the Year | 1991 |
Corey Allen Pavin, born on November 16, 1959, is a professional golfer from the United States. He became a professional golfer in 1982. At first, he played in other countries and won tournaments in South Africa and Europe. Later, he joined the PGA Tour in the U.S. and won many events. His biggest win was the U.S. Open championship in 1995.
After a period where he didn't win as much, Pavin later joined the PGA Tour Champions, which is for older golfers. He has won one tournament there, the Allianz Championship.
Contents
Early Life and Amateur Golf
Corey Pavin was born in Oxnard, California. He went to Oxnard High School.
College Golf and Early Success
Pavin attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While in college, he won two gold medals at the 1981 Maccabiah Games. These games are sometimes called the "Jewish Olympics" and take place in Israel. He also won the North and South Amateur tournament in 1981.
Professional Golf Career
Corey Pavin started his professional golf career in 1982. He didn't pass the PGA Tour Qualifying School that year. So, in 1983, he decided to play golf in other countries.
Playing Overseas
Early in 1983, Pavin played on the Southern African Tour. He won his first professional tournament, the Lexington PGA, in South Africa. This was only his fourth tournament as a professional. He then moved on to the European Tour. In July, he finished third at the Scandinavian Enterprise Open. A month later, Pavin won the German Open by three strokes. He ended up 13th on the European Tour's money list that year.
Success on the PGA Tour
Pavin's first win on the PGA Tour was at the 1984 Houston Coca-Cola Open. For the next ten years, he won at least one important tournament each year. In 1991, he earned the most money on the PGA Tour.
His biggest achievement was winning the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. He was three strokes behind the leaders, Greg Norman and Tom Lehman, going into the final round. On the very last hole, a long par 4, Pavin hit an amazing shot with a four-wood club. The ball traveled 228 yards and landed only five feet from the hole. This incredible shot helped him win the championship.
Later Career and Records
After his U.S. Open win, Pavin's golf game became less consistent. He didn't win another PGA Tour tournament for ten years. In 2006, he finally won his 15th PGA Tour title at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. This ended a long period of 242 tournaments without a win.
During the first round of that 2006 tournament, Pavin set a new record. He completed nine holes with an amazing score of 8-under par, which is 26 strokes. This was the fewest strokes ever needed to finish nine holes at a PGA Tour event. His total score for the first 36 holes, 125 strokes, also tied a record.
Ryder Cup Captain
In 2006, Pavin helped Tom Lehman, who was the captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team. In December 2008, Pavin was chosen to be the captain for the U.S. team at the 2010 Ryder Cup. This big golf event took place in Wales. In October 2010, the U.S. team lost to the European team by a close score.
Champions Tour Play
Pavin started playing on the PGA Tour Champions in 2010. This tour is for professional golfers aged 50 and older. In February 2012, he won his first Champions Tour event, the Allianz Championship. He won in a sudden-death playoff against Peter Senior.
Personal Life
Corey Pavin married Shannon Healy in 1983, and they had two children. He later married Lisa Nguyen in 2003.
Pavin was the only top Jewish golfer on the tour until 1991, when he converted to Christianity. He was recognized in a 2007 book as one of the greatest Jewish athletes.
Pavin is a Republican. During the 1993 Ryder Cup, he was not very excited to meet President Bill Clinton because they had different political views.
Pavin also appeared as himself in the 1996 movie Tin Cup, which starred Kevin Costner.
Awards and Honors
In 2002, Corey Pavin was added to the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.
There is even a stone named after him at Bedlingtonshire Golf Club in England. It's on the 7th hole and is called "Corey Paving Slab."
Amateur Wins
- 1981 North and South Amateur
Professional Wins (Selected)
Corey Pavin has won 28 professional tournaments in total. Here are some of his notable wins:
PGA Tour Wins (15)
- 1984 Houston Coca-Cola Open
- 1985 Colonial National Invitation
- 1986 Hawaiian Open
- 1986 Greater Milwaukee Open
- 1987 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
- 1987 Hawaiian Open (2)
- 1988 Texas Open
- 1991 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (2)
- 1991 BellSouth Atlanta Golf Classic
- 1992 Honda Classic
- 1994 Nissan Los Angeles Open
- 1995 Nissan Open (2)
- 1995 U.S. Open (Major Championship)
- 1996 MasterCard Colonial (2)
- 2006 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee (2)
European Tour Wins (2)
- 1983 Lufthansa German Open
- 1995 U.S. Open (Major Championship)
Other Important Wins
- 1983 Calberson Classic
- 1993 Toyota World Match Play Championship
- 1995 Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge
- 1996 Ssang Yong International Challenge
- 1999 Martel Skins Game
Champions Tour Wins (1)
- 2012 Allianz Championship
Major Championships
Corey Pavin won one major championship:
- 1995 U.S. Open
He also had strong finishes in other major tournaments:
- Masters Tournament: 3rd place in 1992
- The Open Championship: Tied for 4th in 1993
- PGA Championship: 2nd place in 1994
Team Appearances
Corey Pavin has represented the United States in several team golf competitions.
Amateur Teams
- Walker Cup: 1981 (The U.S. team won)
Professional Teams
- USA vs. Japan: 1982
- Nissan Cup: 1985 (The U.S. team won)
- Ryder Cup: 1991 (winners), 1993 (winners), 1995. He was also the non-playing captain in 2010.
- Presidents Cup: 1994 (winners), 1996 (winners)
Images for kids
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Pavin in 2008
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Corey Pavin at the Past Captains Match in 2018
