Lee Janzen


Lee McLeod Janzen is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open twice in 1993 and 1998. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions, and was an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour.

Early life and amateur career

Janzen was born in Austin, Minnesota, and spent most of his childhood in Baltimore, Maryland, where he played Little League baseball. When Janzen was 12, his father's company transferred him to Florida and his parents started him in golf and tennis, and he continued playing baseball. Janzen liked golf best and started playing that sport exclusively. He won his first tournament at age 15 as a member of the Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association.
Janzen chose to attend a small college – Florida Southern. In 1985 and 1986, Florida Southern won the NCAA Division II national team championship. Janzen was the individual champion in 1986.

Professional career

In 1986, Janzen turned professional later that same year. In 1989, Janzen joined the PGA Tour. He has won eight times on the PGA Tour, most notably the 1993 and 1998 U.S. Opens. In 1993, Janzen defeated Payne Stewart at Baltusrol in Springfield, New Jersey, en route to tying the 72-hole U.S. Open scoring record of 8-under-par. Five years later, he again beat out Stewart to win his second U.S. Open, this time at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. He overcame a five stroke deficit on Sunday, marking the best final-round comeback in a U.S. Open for 25 years since Johnny Miller's win in 1973.
Janzen also notched a victory at The Players Championship in 1995. The Players is a premiere event on the PGA Tour and includes the largest purse of the season. He has been featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Janzen had several opportunities to win additional major golf championships. In 1996, he was in contention at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship before finishing in the top-10 in both events. He finished fourth at the 1997 PGA Championship after sharing the 36-hole lead at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York.
Janzen also played on two American Ryder Cup teams, in 1993 and 1997.

Personal life

Janzen has lived in various places in Central Florida since becoming a professional golfer. He is a Republican.

Professional wins (16)

PGA Tour wins (8)

PGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11995Kemper Open

U.S. Golf Tour wins (2)

Sources:

Space Coast Tour wins (2)

  • 1988 Wedgewood tournament
  • 1989 Poinciana tournament

    Other wins (2)

Other playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
12014Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational

PGA Tour Champions wins (2)

PGA Tour Champions playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
12015ACE Group Classic

Major championships

Wins (2)

Results timeline

Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
Masters TournamentT54T39T30T12T12T26T33T14
U.S. OpenCUTCUT1CUTT13T10T521T46
The Open ChampionshipT39T48T35T24CUTCUTT2470
PGA ChampionshipT21T22T66T23T84CUTCUT

Tournament201020112012201320142015
Masters Tournament
U.S. OpenCUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

CUT = missed the half way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

Wins (1)

Results timeline

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Results in World Golf Championships

1Cancelled due to 9/11
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament

U. S. national team appearances

  • Ryder Cup: 1993 , 1997
  • Dunhill Cup: 1995
  • Presidents Cup: 1998
  • Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge : 1993, 1995, 1999