Corey Pavin

Corey Pavin Bio

Corey Allen Pavin (born November 16, 1959) is an American professional golfer whose career has spanned more than four decades across the PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions. Known for his tenacity and competitive fire, he earned the nickname Bulldog during his playing days and became one of the most recognizable figures of his generation. Pavin is best remembered for capturing the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, a victory widely regarded as one of the defining moments in American golf.

Beyond his playing career, Pavin served as U.S. captain at the 2010 Ryder Cup and has remained active in senior competition. Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, he combines a compact build with a focused, strategic approach to the game. He is also notable as a Jewish golfer who converted to Christianity in 1991, a personal journey that drew public attention throughout his career.

Early Life and Background

Corey Allen Pavin was born in Oxnard, California, the son of Barbara and Jack Pavin. He grew up in the coastal Southern California city and attended Oxnard High School, where he first began developing his golf game. The mild climate of the region allowed year-round play, helping him hone the fundamentals that would later define his professional approach.

After high school, Pavin enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he continued to refine his game at the collegiate level. In 1981, he represented the United States at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, often called the Jewish Olympics, and brought home two gold medals. His amateur success at UCLA and on the international stage signaled that he was ready to compete professionally.

Path to Professional Golf

Pavin turned professional in 1982 but experienced an early setback when he failed at PGA Tour Qualifying School, unable to advance past the regional qualifying stage. Rather than giving up, he took his game overseas in 1983, joining the Southern African Tour where he won the Lexington PGA in only his fourth tournament as a professional. The victory confirmed that he had the talent to compete at a high level.

Later in 1983, Pavin moved to the European Tour, where he posted strong finishes including a solo third place at the Scandinavian Enterprise Open behind Sam Torrance and Craig Stadler. In August, he won the German Open by three strokes over joint runner-up Seve Ballesteros, finishing the season 13th on the Order of Merit. These international results earned him PGA Tour membership, setting the stage for a remarkable rookie campaign in 1984.

Corey Pavin Career

Early Career (1984–1990)

Pavin burst onto the PGA Tour in 1984 with a victory at the Houston Coca-Cola Open, his first win on American soil. The strong debut earned him the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award, a remarkable turnaround for a player who had failed at Qualifying School just two years earlier. He continued to build momentum through the remainder of the decade, regularly contending and adding further titles to his resume.

Throughout the late 1980s, Pavin established himself as a consistent presence on leaderboards, winning at least one significant domestic or international event nearly every season. His combination of accuracy off the tee and a steady short game made him a tough opponent, and he earned a reputation as a grinder who refused to give up holes easily.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (1991–1995)

The 1991 season marked Pavin’s arrival as one of the Tour’s elite players. He topped the PGA Tour’s money list and was named PGA Player of the Year, capping a campaign that placed him firmly among the game’s best. He continued to contend in major championships, posting strong finishes that included a T4 at The Open Championship in 1993 and a runner-up at the 1994 PGA Championship.

Pavin’s crowning achievement came at the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Entering the final round three strokes behind Greg Norman and Tom Lehman, he produced one of the most memorable shots in tournament history on the 72nd hole. Facing a 450-yard par 4, Pavin hit a four-wood 228 yards to within five feet of the hole, setting up the putt that secured his only major championship title.

Later PGA Tour Years and Senior Career (1996–Present)

Following his U.S. Open triumph, Pavin experienced a long slide down the world rankings despite a win at the 1996 Bank of America Colonial. He did not win another PGA Tour event for a decade, with his 89th-place finish on the 2004 money list marking his first appearance in the top one hundred since 1998. The drought finally ended in 2006 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, where he captured his 15th career PGA Tour title and ended a streak of 242 consecutive tournaments without a win.

Off the course, Pavin was named U.S. captain for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, where the American team fell 13½ to 14½ to the European side. He began playing on the Champions Tour in 2010, and in February 2012, he won the Allianz Championship, his maiden senior victory, defeating Peter Senior with a birdie on the first sudden death playoff hole after finishing regulation at 11 under par.

Notable Events and Milestones

Beyond his U.S. Open triumph, Pavin set a PGA Tour record on July 27, 2006, during the first round of the U.S. Bank Championship, carding an 8-under 26 for nine holes, the fewest strokes ever recorded for nine holes on Tour, surpassing marks held by Mike Souchak, Andy North, Billy Mayfair, and Robert Gamez. His 36-hole total of 125 also tied the all-time PGA Tour record. Pavin was also named the 117th-greatest Jewish athlete in Peter S. Horvitz’s 2007 book The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heroes, an honor reflecting his impact on the sport.

Corey Pavin Career Wins

Across his lengthy career, Corey Allen Pavin has recorded 28 professional victories spanning multiple international tours. His 15 PGA Tour titles include his 1995 U.S. Open championship, while he has also won twice on the European Tour, twice on the Japan Golf Tour, twice on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and once on the PGA Tour Champions. Additional wins have come on the Southern Africa Tour, the Asia Golf Circuit, and in other events around the world.

PGA Tour Highlights

Pavin’s first PGA Tour victory came at the 1984 Houston Coca-Cola Open, launching a career that would include 15 total Tour titles. His most recent PGA Tour win came at the 2006 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, ending a ten-year drought and setting records along the way. The defining moment of his Tour career, however, remains his 1995 U.S. Open victory, where his dramatic closing shot at Shinnecock Hills cemented his place in golf history.

Other Wins and Performances

On the Champions Tour, Pavin secured his lone senior victory at the 2012 Allianz Championship, defeating Peter Senior in a sudden death playoff. His international success includes wins at the 1983 German Open on the European Tour, the Lexington PGA on the Southern Africa Tour, and additional titles on the Japan Golf Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia, reflecting his global reach as a competitor.

Corey Pavin Family

Family Background

Corey Allen Pavin was raised in Oxnard, California, by his parents Barbara and Jack Pavin. He attended Oxnard High School before going on to study at UCLA, where he continued to develop as a golfer and won two gold medals at the 1981 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Personal Life

In April 1983, Pavin married Shannon Healy, with whom he had two children. The couple later divorced, and in 2003, Pavin married Lisa Nguyen. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas. Pavin is also known for his religious journey, converting to Christianity in 1991 after being the only top Jewish player on the PGA Tour. Politically, he identifies as a Republican and famously expressed reluctance to meet President Bill Clinton before the 1993 Ryder Cup due to their differing views.

2025 Season Outlook

Now 65 years old, Corey Pavin continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions, where his lone senior victory came at the 2012 Allianz Championship. He remains a respected figure in senior golf, occasionally appearing in tournaments and exhibition events. His experience and competitive spirit keep him connected to the game he has played professionally since 1982.

Looking ahead to 2025, Pavin is expected to maintain a limited but selective Champions Tour schedule, focusing on events where his course management and veteran savvy can shine. While major victories at this stage of his career are unlikely, his presence in the field continues to draw attention from fans who remember his 1995 U.S. Open heroics. His legacy as a U.S. Ryder Cup captain and major champion also keeps him in demand for sponsor appearances and mentoring roles within the sport.