Billy Mayfair Bio
William Fred Mayfair, known professionally as Billy Mayfair, is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions. Born on August 6, 1966, in Phoenix, Arizona, Mayfair built a long career on the PGA Tour, capturing five titles, including the prestigious 1995 Tour Championship. He reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 25th in 1996 and remains a respected figure in American professional golf.
Early Life and Background
William Fred Mayfair was born on August 6, 1966, in Phoenix, Arizona, where he grew up surrounded by year-round golf weather and a strong amateur sporting scene. Before his fifteenth birthday, he had already won numerous junior golf tournaments, showing an early competitive edge that set him apart from his peers. In 1981, he was featured on the cover of Boys’ Life magazine as “golf’s junior hotshot,” a recognition that introduced him to a national audience while still a teenager.
Coming from Arizona, Mayfair developed his game on local courses and quickly built a reputation as one of the most promising young players in the country. His junior success reflected a disciplined work ethic and a natural feel for the game. Those early wins laid the foundation for a smooth transition into the amateur and collegiate ranks.
Path to Professional Golf
Mayfair attended Arizona State University, where he joined the college golf team and refined his competitive game. In 1986, he won the U.S. Amateur Public Links, signaling his arrival on the national amateur stage. The following year, he captured the 1987 U.S. Amateur, defeating University of Tennessee graduate Eric Rebmann 4 and 3 in the final.
That same year, Mayfair received the 1987 Haskins Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate golfer. With two major amateur titles and the top college award in hand, he decided to turn professional in 1988. His amateur résumé gave him both confidence and credibility as he entered the professional ranks.
Billy Mayfair Career
Early Career (1988–1994)
After turning professional in 1988, Mayfair joined the PGA Tour and quickly adapted to the demands of professional competition. He made steady progress through the early 1990s, posting consistent finishes and learning the layouts of regular Tour stops. During this period, he earned his first PGA Tour wins and began building the resume that would eventually include five Tour titles.
He also posted strong showings in major championships, including a T5 at the 1990 PGA Championship and a T12 at the 1991 Masters Tournament. These results confirmed that his amateur form could translate to the highest level of professional golf. By the mid-1990s, Mayfair had established himself as a reliable contender week in and week out.
Breakthrough and Tour Championship (1995–2001)
Mayfair’s biggest early breakthrough came at the 1995 Tour Championship, one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour schedule. The victory cemented his place among the game’s top players and remains the headline win of his career. He followed it with continued strong play, eventually reaching a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 25th in June 1996.
Perhaps his most dramatic moment came at the 1998 Nissan Open, where Mayfair became the only player to ever beat Tiger Woods in a playoff on the PGA Tour. The win added to his reputation as a clutch performer. He later recorded a T3 at The Open Championship in 2001, his best finish in a major, and a T5 at the 2002 U.S. Open, showing that his major-championship game remained sharp into the new millennium.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2016–Present)
In 2016, Mayfair joined PGA Tour Champions, the senior circuit for players aged 50 and over, bringing decades of competitive experience to the new tour. The transition allowed him to extend his professional career while competing against many of his longtime peers. He has continued to play out of Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Club in his hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Earlier in his career, Mayfair had shown resilience off the course as well. On July 31, 2006, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and surgery on August 3 of that year was reported to have contained the illness. In April 2021, he shared that he had been diagnosed as autistic in November 2019, offering a candid look at his personal journey.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mayfair’s career includes five PGA Tour wins, 761 career PGA Tour starts, and over $20.3 million in on-course earnings. He won the 1986 U.S. Amateur Public Links and the 1987 U.S. Amateur, received the 1987 Haskins Award, and captured the 1995 Tour Championship. He also holds the unique distinction of being the only player to beat Tiger Woods in a PGA Tour playoff, doing so at the 1998 Nissan Open.
Billy Mayfair Career Wins
Across his career, Billy Mayfair has recorded five PGA Tour victories, with the 1995 Tour Championship standing as the crown jewel of his résumé. His wins span the 1990s and early 2000s and reflect a player capable of performing on the biggest stages, including playoffs and marquee events.
PGA Tour Highlights
Mayfair’s five PGA Tour wins include the 1995 Tour Championship and the 1998 Nissan Open, the event where he defeated Tiger Woods in a playoff. He also posted top finishes in major championships, with a T5 at the 1990 PGA Championship, a T5 at the 2002 U.S. Open, a T12 at the 1991 Masters Tournament, and a T3 at the 2001 Open Championship. He reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 25th in June 1996.
Other Wins and Performances
At the amateur level, Mayfair won the 1986 U.S. Amateur Public Links and the 1987 U.S. Amateur, the latter by defeating Eric Rebmann 4 and 3. In 2010, he was the medalist at the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School, finishing 142nd on the Tour money list that year to earn conditional status for 2011, before securing his Tour card for 2012 with a 109th-place finish in 2011.
Billy Mayfair Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Billy Mayfair was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and has spent much of his adult life in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he plays out of Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Club. Public records and verified sources do not provide details about his parents or extended family background, so those areas are not detailed here.
Mayfair’s personal life has included meaningful challenges away from competition. In 2006, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery, with the illness reported to have been contained. In 2021, he publicly shared that he had been diagnosed as autistic in 2019, an announcement that broadened public understanding of his life and experiences.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Billy Mayfair continues his career on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has been a regular competitor since 2016. The senior circuit allows him to face many of the players he competed against during his PGA Tour prime, and his experience at courses across the United States remains an asset. He remains based in Scottsdale, Arizona, playing out of Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Club.
Mayfair’s 2025 schedule is expected to include the full slate of PGA Tour Champions events, with a focus on steady contention and selective scheduling. His career earnings of more than $20.3 million on the PGA Tour, combined with his major-championship experience, provide a strong foundation for continued success on the senior tour. As one of the more experienced voices in the game, he continues to be a respected presence in professional golf.