Gary Hallberg
FullnameGary George Hallberg
Birth dateMay 31, 1958 (age 68)
Birth placeBerwyn, Illinois, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight162 lb (73 kg; 11.6 st)
ResidenceBarrington, Illinois, U.S.
CollegeWake Forest University
Yearpro1980
ExtourPGA Tour
Champions Tour
Prowins12
Pgawins3
Japwins1
Nwidewins1
Champwins1
Otherwins6
MastersT6: 1985
UsopenT22: 1980
OpenT32: 1991
PgaT6: 1984
Award 1PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year
Year 11980

Gary George Hallberg (born May 31, 1958) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour.

Amateur career

Hallberg was born in Berwyn, Illinois. He attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and was a member of the golf team. He was a member of the 1977 Walker Cup team. In addition, Hallberg was the individual medalist at the 1979 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships.[1] There were expectations that he would turn pro at this time. However, Hallberg asserted that he intended to return to Wake Forest for his senior year.[1] Hallberg was the first four-time, first-team All-American in the history of intercollegiate golf. As of May 1979, Hallberg intended to try to qualify for the PGA Tour at Fall 1980 PGA Tour Qualifying School.[2]

Professional career

Hallberg was able to circumvent the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, however. He was the first player to obtain his PGA Tour card by winning a set level of money (in this case $8,000 in 1980) rather than by going to q-school.[3]

Hallberg won three PGA Tour events during his career. He was PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1980. His best finish in major championships was a T-6 at both the 1984 PGA Championship and The Masters in 1985.[4] At the 1991 Open Championship, Hallberg was tied for the lead after 36 holes[5] before finishing T32. During his late forties, he played mostly on the Nationwide Tour, winning once.

Hallberg began playing on the Champions Tour in 2008 after turning 50. He won his first title in 2010 at the Ensure Classic at Rock Barn. He shot a final round of 11-under par 61 in the final round to come from behind and win by one over Fred Couples and by two over Bernhard Langer. The win made him the fourth player to win on all the PGA Tour sponsored tours (PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour).[6]

Hallberg has also done some analyst work for CNBC and NBC Sports. He lives in Castle Rock, Colorado. Gary's son Eric is also a professional golfer who qualified for the PGA Tour's 2015 Frys.com Open, and has also qualified to play on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamérica and PGA Tour Canada.

Amateur wins

Professional wins (12)

PGA Tour wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Feb 20, 1983Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego Open−17 (67-67-69-68=271)1 strokeTom Kite
2Sep 20, 1987Greater Milwaukee Open−19 (70-66-67-66=269)2 strokesWayne Levi, Robert Wrenn
3Oct 4, 1992Buick Southern Open−10 (68-69-69=206)[a]1 strokeJim Gallagher Jr.

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11984Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego OpenGary KochLost to birdie on second extra hole
21991H.E.B. Texas OpenBlaine McCallisterLost to birdie on second extra hole

PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1May 2, 1982Chunichi Crowns−8 (69-67-66-70=272)3 strokesShigeru Uchida

Buy.com Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Jun 2, 2002Northeast Pennsylvania Classic−9 (69-68-74-64=275)3 strokesRoger Tambellini

South American Golf Circuit wins (1)

Other wins (5)

Champions Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Oct 3, 2010Ensure Classic at Rock Barn−18 (67-70-61=198)1 strokeFred Couples

Results in major championships

Tournament1976197719781979
Masters TournamentT47
U.S. OpenCUT
The Open ChampionshipCUT
PGA Championship
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Masters TournamentT32T6CUTT42
U.S. OpenT22LAT53CUTCUT73
The Open Championship
PGA ChampionshipCUTCUTT42T6T59CUTCUT
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
Masters TournamentT57
U.S. OpenT44CUTT28CUTT42
The Open ChampionshipT32T68
PGA ChampionshipCUTT56T14CUT

LA = low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament00001165
U.S. Open000001116
The Open Championship00000032
PGA Championship000012115
Totals0000243118
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (1992 U.S. Open – 1993 PGA)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1984 PGA – 1985 Masters)

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995
The Players ChampionshipT8T72CUTT544CUTCUTCUTT50CUTCUTCUTT46T9CUT

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

Notes

  1. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

References

  1. ^ "Hallberg's not ready to go pro-yet". Chicago Tribune. 1979-06-01. p. 66. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  2. ^ "Amateurs Launch Great Debate". The Charlotte Observer. 1979-05-20. p. 34. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  3. ^ "PGA Tour profile". PGA Tor. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  4. ^ "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "British Open lead shared by 3 players". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. July 20, 1991. p. 1B. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  6. ^ "Notebook: 3M makes record contribution to charity". PGA Tour. October 5, 2010. Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2012.