Jerry Pate

Jerome Kendrick Pate (born September 16, 1953) is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour Champions, formerly on the PGA Tour. As a 22-year-old rookie, he won the U.S. Open in 1976.

Early life

Born in Macon, Georgia, he was one of six children in his family. His father and grandfather get him into golf early and the family spend summers in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, playing golf.

At young age the family moved to Alabama, where Pate learned the game at Anniston Country Club. In 1967 they moved to Florida because of Pate's fathers work and Pate grew up in the panhandle of Florida at Pensacola.

Amateur career

He attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and played on its Crimson Tide golf team.

He had a distinguished amateur career with a win at the U.S. Amateur in and was a member of victorious U.S. teams at the Eisenhower Trophy competition, also winning individually, later that year and at the Walker Cup in May 1975 at St Andrews in Scotland. A few weeks later, he tied Walker Cup teammate Jay Haas of Wake Forest for low amateur at the U.S. Open, finishing in a six-way tie for eighteenth place at Medinah, outside Chicago.

Professional career

Pate turned professional in 1975. Late in the year he was the medalist at Fall 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School. During his rookie season he won the 1976 U.S. Open. He also won the Canadian Open that year. Pate closed with a 63 (-7) to defeat runner-up Jack Nicklaus by four strokes. Pate was selected as the Rookie of the Year and Co-Player of the Year.

Six more tour victories followed in ensuing years as well as several other titles around the world. He was a member of the victorious Ryder Cup team in 1981, but shoulder injuries curtailed his career. His final win on the PGA Tour came at age 28. That final victory was at the 1982 Tournament Players Championship, the first held at TPC at Sawgrass. Pate celebrated by throwing course designer Pete Dye and PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman into the lake adjacent to the 18th green, then jumped in himself. He had also jumped in the water after a victory the previous June, after going nearly three years without a win.

Later career

Pate later served as a golf broadcaster for ABC, CBS, and BBC. He also set up a golf course design practice and a turf and irrigation company. He designed the Kiva Dunes in 1995 and the Ol' Colony Golf Complex in 2000, which is the home course for the Alabama Crimson Tide golf team. In 2006, he earned his first Champions Tour win at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. Pate has been forced by health problems, including arthroscopic left-knee surgery in 2010, to begin limiting his Champions Tour appearances.

Honors

Pate was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, the Florida State Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2025 .

Personal life

In the late 1990s, Pate returned to the University of Alabama to complete his bachelor's degree in administrative science. His daughter, Jenni, received her degree at the same graduation ceremony in 2001.

Amateur wins

*1974 U.S. Amateur, Florida Amateur

Professional wins (15)

PGA Tour wins (8)

PGA Tour playoff record (1–2)

PGA of Japan Tour wins (2)

South American Golf Circuit wins (2)

Other wins (1)

Champions Tour wins (2)

Champions Tour playoff record (0–1)

Major championships

Wins (1)

Results timeline

LA = Low amateur

CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1976 Open Championship)

WD = withdrew

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

*Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1980 Open Championship – 1982 Masters)
*Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

The Players Championship

Wins (1)

Results timeline

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur
*Eisenhower Trophy: 1974 (team winners and joint individual leader)
* Walker Cup: 1975 (winners)

Professional
* Ryder Cup: 1981 (winners)
* World Cup: 1976

See also

* Fall 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pate, Jerry
American male golfers
Alabama Crimson Tide men's golfers
PGA Tour golfers
PGA Tour Champions golfers
Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
Winners of men's major golf championships
American golf commentators
American golf course architects
Golfers from Georgia (U.S. state)
Golfers from Florida
Sportspeople from Macon, Georgia
Sportspeople from Pensacola, Florida
1953 births
Living people
20th-century American sportsmen