Bruce Lietzke
Bruce Lietzke | |
---|---|
Personal information | |
Full name | Bruce Alan Lietzke |
Born | Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. | July 18, 1951
Died | July 28, 2018 Athens, Texas, U.S. | (aged 67)
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |
Sporting nationality | ![]() |
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 |
PGA Tour Champions | 7 |
Other | 2 |
Best results in major championships | |
Masters Tournament | 6th/T6: 1979, 1985 |
PGA Championship | 2nd: 1991 |
U.S. Open | T17: 1981 |
The Open Championship | T6: 1981 |
Bruce Alan Lietzke (July 18, 1951 – July 28, 2018) was an American professional golfer who won 13 tournaments on the PGA Tour between 1977 and 1994, including two victories in the Canadian Open. His best finish in a major championship was at the 1991 PGA Championship where he finished second, three strokes behind John Daly. He had seven victories on the Champions Tour, including one senior major title, the 2003 U.S. Senior Open. He played in the 1981 Ryder Cup.
Early life[]
Lietzke was born in Kansas City, Kansas.[1][2] He moved to Beaumont, Texas with his parents in 1960 and lived there until 1977, graduating from Forest Park High School in 1969.[3]
Acknowledgments[]
Lietzke credited his older brother, Duane, for introducing him to the game of golf at age five. He also credits Henry Homberg, a local Beaumont professional, along with Duane for having the greatest influences on his game when he first started playing. Lietzke attended the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. He graduated in 1973 and turned pro in 1974.
Successes[]
Lietzke's first PGA Tour victory was in the 1977 Tucson Open. Although he had to wait until the Champions Tour to win a major in the 2003 U.S. Senior Open, Lietzke had a relatively successful career, winning a combined total of 20 tournaments on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. His career year on the PGA Tour was 1981, when he had three tournament victories. He played on the winning 1981 U.S. Ryder Cup team at Walton Heath Golf Club.
Lietzke's best finish in a major on the PGA Tour was a solo second place at the 1991 PGA Championship.[4]
Lietzke was well known for not practicing a great deal, and not playing in a large number of tournaments compared to his fellow competitors, electing to spend more time with his family. He did not play more than 25 events in any PGA Tour season and never played more than 20 tournaments in a single season after 1988.[5] Despite this he never finished below 74th on the money list. During his career, Lietzke played in 506 PGA Tour events.
Hobbies[]
Lietzke enjoyed collecting classic cars and built an 11-car garage at his home in which to store his large collection; among the crown jewels were a 1967 yellow Corvette Stingray convertible and a 1987 Buick GNX. He listed Bruce Springsteen as his favorite entertainer and Don "Big Daddy" Garlits as his favorite athlete. He made his home in Dallas, Texas.
Lietzke was an avid supporter of the Sour Mash Open in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He played in the event numerous times. "The Bryce-Lietzke-Martin Scholarship Fund was the first fund established by the Sour Mash Open Golf Tournament Committee in 1990 in honor of the late Dr. John Coyle Bryce, PGA Golf Professional, Bruce Lietzke, and Larry Martin. The earnings of the fund are used to provide scholarships to worthy Wood County students who have shown an interest in golf."[6][failed verification]
Personal life[]
Lietzke and Jerry Pate were brothers-in-law. Lietzke's wife, Rose, and Pate's wife, Soozi, are sisters. Lietzke and Pate played together in the 1981 Ryder Cup.[7]
Medical problems and death[]
In April 2017, Lietzke was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.[8] He died on July 28, 2018 from complications of the disease and attempts at treating it, which his body rejected.[9][10]
Professional wins (22)[]
PGA Tour wins (13)[]
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jan 16, 1977 | Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open | −13 (70-66-70-69=275) | Playoff | ![]() |
2 | Feb 6, 1977 | Hawaiian Open | −15 (67-70-67-69=273) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
3 | Jun 25, 1978 | Canadian Open | −1 (76-67-67-73=283) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
4 | Feb 18, 1979 | Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open (2) | −15 (63-66-68-68=265) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
5 | May 18, 1980 | Colonial National Invitation | −9 (63-68-71-69=271) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
6 | Jan 18, 1981 | Bob Hope Desert Classic | −25 (65-66-65-70-69=335) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
7 | Feb 8, 1981 | Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open | −10 (68-72-70-68=278) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
8 | May 10, 1981 | Byron Nelson Golf Classic | +1 (68-74-69-70=281) | Playoff | ![]() |
9 | Aug 1, 1982 | Canadian Open (2) | −7 (68-68-68-73=277) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
10 | Mar 4, 1984 | Honda Classic | −8 (72-70-70-68=280) | Playoff | ![]() |
11 | May 15, 1988 | GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic (2) | −9 (66-69-66-70=271) | Playoff | ![]() |
12 | May 24, 1992 | Southwestern Bell Colonial (2) | −13 (69-68-64-66=267) | Playoff | ![]() |
13 | Oct 23, 1994 | Las Vegas Invitational | −28 (66-67-68-66-65=332) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
PGA Tour playoff record (6–6)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1977 | Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on fourth extra hole |
2 | 1977 | MONY Tournament of Champions | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on third extra hole |
3 | 1978 | Tallahassee Open | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
4 | 1981 | Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open | ![]() ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole Jenkins eliminated by par on first hole |
5 | 1981 | Byron Nelson Golf Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
6 | 1984 | Honda Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
7 | 1988 | GTE Byron Nelson Classic | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
8 | 1992 | GTE Byron Nelson Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brown won with birdie on first extra hole |
9 | 1992 | Southwestern Bell Colonial | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
10 | 1992 | Canadian Open | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
11 | 1995 | Mercedes Championships | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
12 | 1998 | Bob Hope Chrysler Classic | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
Other wins (1)[]
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nov 16, 1997 | Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout (with ![]() |
−30 (68-59-59=186) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Champions Tour wins (7)[]
Legend |
Senior major championships (1) |
Other Champions Tour (6) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aug 12, 2001 | 3M Championship | −9 (72-66-69=207) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
2 | Sep 23, 2001 | SAS Championship | −15 (69-66-66=201) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
3 | Feb 24, 2002 | Audi Senior Classic | −8 (75-66-67=208) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
4 | May 12, 2002 | TD Waterhouse Championship | −11 (69-64=133)* | 2 strokes | ![]() |
5 | Sep 22, 2002 | SAS Championship (2) | −14 (72-63-67=202) | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
6 | Apr 27, 2003 | Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf | −10 (70-65-71=206) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
7 | Jun 29, 2003 | U.S. Senior Open | −7 (69-71-64-73=277) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
*Note: The 2002 TD Waterhouse Championship was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.
Other senior wins (1)[]
- 2002 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Raphael Division (with Bill Rogers)
Results in major championships[]
Tournament | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T28 | 6 | ||||||
U.S. Open | CUT | CUT | T47 | T19 | T20 | T41 | ||
The Open Championship | ||||||||
PGA Championship | T38 | T15 | 62 | T16 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | T11 | T20 | T42 | T33 | T6 | T31 | 49 | T34 | |
U.S. Open | T38 | T17 | CUT | CUT | T31 | |||||
The Open Championship | T19 | T6 | CUT | |||||||
PGA Championship | T30 | T4 | T16 | T6 | T65 | T18 | T5 | T28 | T62 | T46 |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T13 | T31 | T31 | |||
U.S. Open | ||||||
The Open Championship | ||||||
PGA Championship | CUT | 2 | T73 | CUT | T23 |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary[]
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 13 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 7 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 17 |
Totals | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 47 | 39 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 13 (1983 PGA – 1989 PGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1981 Open Championship – 1981 PGA)
Results in The Players Championship[]
Tournament | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | CUT | CUT | T40 | CUT | CUT | T24 | T4 | 4 | T3 | T12 | T7 | T40 | CUT | CUT | 3 |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | T11 | T6 | T46 | T28 | CUT | T43 | CUT | T13 | T32 |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Senior major championships[]
Wins (1)[]
Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | U.S. Senior Open | −7 (69-71-64-73=277) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
U.S. national team appearances[]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Bruce Lietzke". PGA Tour. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- ^ Official 1991 PGA Tour Media Guide. PGA Tour Creative Services. 1991. p. 104.
- ^ "Bruce Lietzke". Museum of the Gulf Coast. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved December 4, 2013.
- ^ "Bruce Lietzke – Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "Bryce-Lietzke-Martin Scholarship Fund". Retrieved December 4, 2013.
- ^ "Jerry Pate – Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ Rosaforte, Tim (June 22, 2017). "Family and friends rally around Bruce Lietzke as he takes diagnosis in stride". Golf Digest.
- ^ McCabe, Jim (28 July 2018). "Lietzke passes away at age 67". PGA Tour.
- ^ Strege, John (July 28, 2018). "Bruce Lietzke, 67, succumbs to brain cancer". Golf Digest.
External links[]
- Bruce Lietzke at the PGA Tour official site
- Bruce Lietzke at the Official World Golf Ranking official site
- Texas Golf Hall of Fame – Bruce Lietzke
- American male golfers
- Houston Cougars men's golfers
- PGA Tour golfers
- PGA Tour Champions golfers
- Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
- Winners of senior major golf championships
- Golfers from Kansas
- Golfers from Dallas
- Sportspeople from Kansas City, Kansas
- Sportspeople from Beaumont, Texas
- People from Athens, Texas
- Forest Park High School (Beaumont, Texas) alumni
- Deaths from brain tumor
- 1951 births
- 2018 deaths