Jerry Pate
Jerome Kendrick Pate 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 got him into golf early and the family spent summers in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, playing golf.At a young age, his family moved to Alabama, where Pate learned the game at Anniston Country Club. In 1967 his family moved to Florida because of Pate's fathers work. Pate grew up in the panhandle of Florida in Pensacola.
Amateur career
Pate attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and played on its Crimson Tide golf team.Pate 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
In 1975, Pate turned professional. 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 to defeat runner-up Jack Nicklaus by four strokes.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.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.Awards and honors
- In 1994, Pate was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 2023, Pate was inducted into the Florida State Golf Association Hall of Fame.
- In 2025, Pate was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Amateur wins
- 1974 U.S. Amateur, Florida Amateur
Professional wins (15)
PGA Tour wins (8)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner-up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Jun 20, 1976 | U.S. Open | 71-69-69-68=277 | −3 | 2 strokes |  PGA of Japan Tour wins (2)South American Golf Circuit wins (2)Other wins (1)Champions Tour wins (2)Champions Tour playoff record
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