Corey Pavin

Corey Allen Pavin (born November 16, 1959) is an American professional golfer.

On the 72nd and final hole of the tournament, a 450 yards long par 4, Pavin produced a four wood, considered one of the great shots in U.S. Open history, 228 yards to five feet of the hole to secure the title.

Rather than marking a move to a new level of achievement, however, this was soon followed by a long slide down the world rankings from a high ranking of 2nd.

He won two gold medals at the 1981 Maccabiah Games, the Jewish Olympics in Israel.

In 1982, Pavin turned professional but failed at PGA Tour Qualifying School.

The following year, he turned to overseas where he had much success, winning South Africa's Lexington PGA and Europe's German Open.

In 1982, Pavin turned professional.

He was "an unexpected failure" at 1982 PGA Tour Qualifying School.

He did not move past the regional qualifying section.

He turned to play overseas in 1983.

Early in the year, he played on the Southern African Tour where he "won his first professional tournament" at the Lexington PGA.

It was only his fourth tournament as a professional golfer.

He soon moved onto the European Tour.

In July, he finished solo 3rd, only behind Sam Torrance and Craig Stadler, at the Scandinavian Enterprise Open.

A month later, Pavin won the German Open three strokes ahead of joint runner-up Seve Ballesteros.

In April 1983, Pavin married Shannon Healy.

They have two children.

Pavin's first PGA Tour victory came at the 1984 Houston Coca-Cola Open.

He won at least one event significant domestic or international event over the next decade and topped the PGA Tour's money list in 1991.

Later in the year he earned PGA Tour membership and had much success on tour, winning a number of events, culminating with the 1995 U.S. Open championship.

Soon thereafter, he abruptly lost his game and was rarely a contender.

As a senior, Pavin has played on the PGA Tour Champions, recording one win, at the Allianz Championship.

Pavin was born in Oxnard, California, the son of Barbara and Jack Pavin.

He attended Oxnard High School.

Pavin attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Pavin's success culminated in his only major victory, the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Pavin went into the final round three strokes behind Greg Norman and Tom Lehman.

After Pavin won the Bank of America Colonial in 1996, he did not win another PGA Tour tournament for ten years.

His 89th-place finish on the 2004 money list was the first time he had made the top one hundred since 1998.

Pavin finally won his 15th career title in 2006 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, ending a streak of 242 consecutive tournaments without a win.

On July 27, 2006, during the first round of what would become his 15th tour title, Pavin broke the record for the fewest strokes needed to complete nine holes at a PGA Tour event, with an 8-under par score of 26.

The previous record of 27 strokes was held by Mike Souchak, Andy North, Billy Mayfair and Robert Gamez, with Mayfair and Gamez' scores being 9-under par.

His 36-hole total of 125 also tied the record for fewest shots taken in the first 36 holes of a PGA Tour event held by Tom Lehman, Mark Calcavecchia, and Tiger Woods.

After acting as an assistant to U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman in 2006, Pavin was in December 2008 by the PGA of America, named captain for the U.S. team at the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.

In October 2010, the U.S. Ryder Cup team lost 13½ to 14½, against the European side.

Pavin began playing on the Champions Tour in 2010.

In June 2010, he lost in a sudden death playoff to Bubba Watson at the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour.

In his 35th start, Pavin won his maiden Champions Tour event in February 2012 at the Allianz Championship.

He defeated Peter Senior at the first sudden death playoff hole with a birdie to take the title, after having finished regulation play at 11 under.

He finished 13th on the Order of Merit.