Andy North Bio
Andrew Stewart North (born March 9, 1950) is an American professional golfer best known for winning the U.S. Open twice during a PGA Tour career that began in 1972. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he turned professional after a distinguished amateur run at the University of Florida and went on to claim three PGA Tour titles, two of them majors. Since 1992, North has served as a golf analyst for ESPN, where he is widely recognized as one of the network’s most respected on-course voices.
Early Life and Background
Andy North was born in Thorp, Wisconsin, and raised in Monona, Wisconsin, where his family roots and small-town upbringing shaped his early connection to the game. He attended Monona Grove High School, graduating in 1968, and quickly began competing at a high level within the state’s amateur circuit. While still in high school, North reached the final match of the Wisconsin State Amateur Match Play Championship at Merrill Hills Country Club, signaling his potential as a future standout.
Two years later, in 1969, he captured the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship at Westmoor Country Club in Brookfield, Wisconsin, defeating Archie Dadian in the match play final. Those state-level wins earned him regional recognition and helped pave the way for a college scholarship. North’s combination of height, calm temperament, and steady ball-striking began to draw attention from college recruiters in the region.
Path to Professional Golf
North accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Buster Bishop’s Florida Gators men’s golf team from 1969 to 1972. He quickly established himself as one of the top college players in the country, earning three consecutive first-team All-Southeastern Conference selections. North was also named an All-American in 1970, 1971, and 1972, an unusually sustained run of national recognition at the amateur level.
He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1972 and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great.” That same year, North decided to forgo the amateur circuit and turned professional, launching a PGA Tour career that would peak with two major championship victories.
Andy North Career
Early Career (1972–1977)
After turning professional in 1972, North spent several seasons building his game on the PGA Tour and adjusting to the demands of weekly tournament competition. His breakthrough arrived in 1977, when he won the American Express Westchester Classic, the first PGA Tour victory of his career. The win provided both confidence and momentum heading into the following season.
U.S. Open Era (1978–1985)
The defining chapter of Andy North’s playing career came at the U.S. Open. In 1978, at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, he moved into the lead after the second round and was one shot ahead heading into Sunday. An erratic final round put his title hopes in jeopardy, but a four-foot putt on the 18th hole, after finding the rough twice and a greenside bunker, delivered a one-stroke victory over J. C. Snead and Dave Stockton.
Seven years later, North captured his second U.S. Open at the South Course at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Entering the final round two shots behind Chen Tze-chung of Taiwan, he watched Chen open with a quadruple-bogey eight on the fifth hole that reshaped the leaderboard. The lead changed hands among North, Chen, Denis Watson, Payne Stewart, and Dave Barr before North arrived at the 18th hole with a two-shot cushion. His closing bogey five was enough to secure a second major championship.
North also played on the 1985 Ryder Cup team and, in 1990, won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, adding another notable title to his resume.
Champions Tour and Later Playing Years (2000–Present)
After turning 50 in 2000, North began playing intermittently on the Champions Tour, where he continued to test his game against the next generation of veteran players. His standout result on that circuit came in 2008, when he won the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, pairing his experience with consistent play on a familiar layout.
Driving Style and Strengths
North built his reputation on patience, course management, and steady ball-striking rather than raw distance. His calm temperament and willingness to grind out difficult finishes served him well in major championships, where U.S. Open setups typically reward strategic play. Those same qualities translated into a measured, detail-oriented broadcasting style after his playing days wound down.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his two U.S. Open titles, North’s signature moments include the 1977 Westchester Classic victory, his appearance on the 1985 Ryder Cup team, and his 1990 PGA Grand Slam of Golf win. His 2008 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf title on the Champions Tour added a notable senior victory to his resume.
Andy North Career Wins
Andy North recorded 15 professional wins across multiple tours during his career, a total that reflects steady play across several decades of competitive golf.
PGA Tour Highlights
North posted three PGA Tour victories, a modest total made remarkable by the fact that two of them came in the U.S. Open. His first tour win came at the 1977 American Express Westchester Classic, followed by the 1978 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club and the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills Country Club.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside the PGA Tour, North added one Champions Tour victory at the 2008 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, the 1990 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, and additional titles on other circuits, including one South American win and additional senior and regular events that brought his overall professional win total to 15.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour | 3 | Not available | Not available |
| PGA Tour Champions | 1 | Not available | Not available |
| Other | 11 | Not available | Not available |
Andy North Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Andy North’s immediate family remain limited, with no widely verified information available about his parents or a multi-generational golf lineage.
Personal Life
Andy North has made his home in Madison, Wisconsin, maintaining close ties to the state where he was raised. He is widely recognized in Wisconsin sports circles, including occasional appearances as a substitute analyst on Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball radio broadcasts.
2025 Season Performance
Andy North’s 2025 calendar year is dominated by his ongoing role as a lead on-course reporter and analyst for ESPN and ABC Sports, a position he has held since being promoted in 2004. He continues to anchor preview shows for major championships, drawing on his experience as a two-time U.S. Open champion to break down course strategy for viewers.
North’s broadcasting segments, including his long-running U.S. Open preview formula, remain a familiar part of ESPN’s major-championship coverage. Tour players have been known to watch his preview segments for course-management insight, underscoring the credibility he carries from his playing career.
While he plays only occasionally on the Champions Tour, North’s professional focus in 2025 stays centered on commentary, with occasional substitute work on Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball broadcasts rounding out his media schedule.