John Cook Bio
John Neuman Cook (born October 2, 1957) is an American professional golfer who won eleven times on the PGA Tour and was a member of the Ryder Cup team in 1993. He was ranked in the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking for 45 weeks in 1992 and 1993. Cook currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions and works as a studio analyst on the Golf Channel.
Nicknamed “Cookie,” Cook earned the 1992 PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year award after a resurgent season. He remains a respected figure in American golf, recognized for his steady play, longevity, and contributions both on the course and in broadcasting.
Early Life and Background
John Neuman Cook was born on October 2, 1957, in Toledo, Ohio. He is the son of PGA Tour official Jim Cook and grew up in southern California. Cook attended Miraleste High School in Rancho Palos Verdes, graduating in 1976. In addition to golf, Cook was a promising but undersized quarterback in football through his sophomore year.
His high school golf coach, Wilbur Lucas, who also coached football, advised Cook to concentrate on golf, believing it would give him his best opportunity for a collegiate scholarship. Lucas later noted it was the only time he suggested an athlete drop a sport. Cook was also coached by former PGA Tour star Ken Venturi during his formative years.
Path to Golf
Cook was offered a scholarship to Ohio State University in Columbus, and was personally advised to accept by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. He became a member of the Buckeyes’ 1979 NCAA Championship team, which also included fellow golfer Joey Sindelar. Cook won the U.S. Amateur in 1978 at age 20, and nearly won it again in 1979, falling to Mark O’Meara in the finals.
Cook also won the Sunnehanna Amateur in 1977 and 1979, the California State Amateur in 1975, the Ohio Amateur in 1978 and 1979, and the Northeast Amateur in 1978 and 1979. Following the 1979 U.S. Amateur in early September, Cook turned professional.
John Cook Career
Early Career (1979-1981)
Cook played his first PGA Tour event as a professional in September 1979 at the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic in Napa County, California, on a sponsor’s exemption. His first PGA Tour victory came at the 1981 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, shortened to 54 holes due to weather. Cook won on the third extra hole of a five-way sudden-death playoff that included Hale Irwin, Bobby Clampett, Ben Crenshaw, and Barney Thompson.
Cook’s second PGA Tour win came in 1983 at the Canadian Open, where he made a birdie putt on the sixth extra hole of a playoff against Johnny Miller. These early victories established Cook as a steady presence on the PGA Tour throughout the 1980s.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1990-1993)
At the 1990 Las Vegas Invitational, Cook lost a memorable playoff to Bob Tway after a sand wedge shot from 95 yards bounced out of the hole. In 1992, Cook won three tour events, including a two-shot victory at the United Airlines Hawaiian Open, and moved into the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. He reached a career-high ranking of seventh on October 11, 1992.
Cook came closest to winning a major at The Open Championship at Muirfield in 1992. He led by two shots late in the final round but missed a two-foot birdie putt on the 17th and bogeyed the 18th, losing to Nick Faldo by one stroke. He was named PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year in 1992 and was a member of the 1993 Ryder Cup team.
Later PGA Tour Years (1996-2001)
Cook had at least one PGA Tour win from 1996 through 1998. His victory in the 1996 FedEx St. Jude Classic came after opening rounds of 64-62-63, breaking the PGA Tour record for the lowest 54-hole total at 189. Cook appeared as himself in a non-speaking role in the 1996 film Tin Cup.
The last of his eleven PGA Tour wins came at the 2001 Reno-Tahoe Open at age 43. Cook’s PGA Tour playoff record stands at 3-3.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2007-Present)
In October 2007, Cook became eligible for the Champions Tour. In his second start, he won the AT&T Championship in San Antonio, nineteen days after his 50th birthday, two strokes ahead of Mark O’Meara. A year later, he captured his second Champions Tour win at the same event with a final-round 65.
Cook won his third Champions Tour title in 2009 at the Administaff Small Business Classic and followed it two weeks later with a five-stroke victory at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, setting a tournament scoring record at 22-under-par. He successfully defended the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in 2010. Cook has also experienced near-misses in senior majors, including playoff losses at the 2008 Senior British Open, the 2009 Tradition, and the 2011 Senior Players Championship.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cook’s career is defined by resilience, highlighted by his 1992 Comeback Player of the Year award, his seven top-10 finishes in major championships, and his 2010 Charles Schwab Cup defense. His 1996 FedEx St. Jude Classic record-setting performance and his Ryder Cup appearance in 1993 remain signature moments.
John Cook Career Wins
John Neuman Cook has recorded 28 professional wins across multiple tours, including 11 PGA Tour victories, 10 PGA Tour Champions titles, and 7 other professional victories. His career spans more than four decades, with consistent results on both the regular and senior tours.
PGA Tour Highlights
Cook’s 11 PGA Tour wins include his first victory at the 1981 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am and his last at the 2001 Reno-Tahoe Open. He won three events in 1992 alone, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors. His PGA Tour playoff record stands at 3-3.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
On the Champions Tour, Cook has won 10 events, including the AT&T Championship in 2007 and 2008, the 2009 Administaff Small Business Classic, and back-to-back Charles Schwab Cup Championships in 2009 and 2010. His Champions Tour playoff record stands at 2-6.
John Cook Family
Family Background and Golf Lineage
John Neuman Cook is the son of PGA Tour official Jim Cook. He has a sister, Cathy Cook, a former standout player at Ohio State, who helped him design a golf course in Ashville, Ohio, formerly known as Cooks Creek Golf Club, now permanently closed.
Personal Life
Cook currently resides in Windermere, Florida, with his wife Jan. The couple has three children. His son, Jason, played golf for Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Cook is a Republican and was unwilling to meet President Bill Clinton at the White House before the 1993 Ryder Cup due to Clinton’s tax hikes. He was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1986.
2025 Season Performance
John Neuman Cook continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, building on a senior career highlighted by 10 Champions Tour wins. His previous Champions Tour titles, including the Charles Schwab Cup Championship victories in 2009 and 2010, remain benchmarks of his late-career success.
As a veteran competitor on the senior circuit, Cook draws on decades of professional experience. His consistent play and course management skills have made him a steady presence in Champions Tour events.
Beyond competitive golf, Cook serves as a studio analyst on the Golf Channel, offering insights informed by his extensive playing career. His dual role as player and broadcaster underscores his ongoing contribution to the sport in 2025.