Larry Mize Bio
Lawrence Hogan Mize, known professionally as Larry Mize, is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour. Born on September 23, 1958, in Augusta, Georgia, he is best remembered for one unforgettable shot that secured his only major championship. A graduate of Georgia Tech, Mize turned professional in 1980 and built a long, steady career built on accuracy, course management, and a calm temperament under pressure.
Mize is the only winner of the Masters Tournament to have been born in Augusta, the city where the event is held each spring. His career-defining chip-in at the 1987 Masters remains one of the most replayed moments in the history of the sport. He is also notable for his long-running charitable work, including a longtime tournament partnership with Coca-Cola that raised money for cystic fibrosis research.
Early Life and Background
Lawrence Hogan Mize was born on September 23, 1958, in Augusta, Georgia. Growing up in the home of the Masters Tournament gave him an early connection to the game of professional golf. As a teenager, Mize worked at the Masters as a scoreboard operator on the third hole, a role that put him close to the action and to many of the world’s best players each April.
That early experience at Augusta National helped shape his familiarity with the course and the tournament. After completing his early education, Mize attended Georgia Tech, where he continued to develop his golf game. The combination of growing up in Augusta, working the Masters as a teenager, and competing at the collegiate level at Georgia Tech gave him a strong foundation for a career in professional golf.
Path to Golf
Following his time at Georgia Tech, Mize turned professional in 1980 and began competing on the PGA Tour. He finished inside the top 125 on the money list, the level required to keep full tour membership, for 20 consecutive seasons from 1982 to 2001, a remarkable stretch of consistency that showed his ability to compete week after week at the highest level.
His first PGA Tour victory came at the 1983 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, a breakthrough win that confirmed he could finish the job on tour. In 1986, he reached a playoff at the Kemper Open, where he lost a six-hole playoff to Greg Norman, gaining valuable experience in high-pressure situations that would later serve him well. These early results helped him earn a place on the 1987 U.S. Ryder Cup team and established him as a steady presence on tour.
Larry Mize Career
Early Career (1980-1986)
Mize joined the PGA Tour in 1980 and spent his first few seasons working to establish himself. His game was built on straight driving, solid iron play, and a steady short game, and he was known for his calm demeanor on the course. He consistently made cuts and posted steady finishes, building the kind of reliability that keeps a player on tour year after year.
His first tour title arrived at the 1983 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, a win that gave him confidence and full playing privileges. In 1986, he finished second at the Kemper Open, losing a six-hole playoff to Greg Norman. That playoff loss was a setback, but it also sharpened his comfort in sudden-death situations, a skill that would soon become central to his legacy.
The Masters Breakthrough (1987)
At the 1987 Masters Tournament, Mize entered the final round tied with Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman. The three players headed to a sudden-death playoff on Monday after regulation play. Ballesteros was eliminated on the first extra hole after missing a short par putt, leaving Mize and Norman to play on.
On the second playoff hole, Augusta’s par-4 11th, Mize’s second shot landed well to the right of the green, leaving him with a difficult recovery from off the putting surface. Norman, meanwhile, landed his second shot on the edge of the green with a chance for a birdie. Using a sand wedge from around 140 feet, Mize holed a chip-in birdie, a shot that instantly became one of the most famous in Masters history. Norman missed his tying putt, and Mize claimed the green jacket. The win pushed him briefly into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking, peaking at number 10 on June 21, 1987.
Later PGA Tour Years (1988-2001)
After the Masters win, Mize remained a steady performer on the PGA Tour. He added two more PGA Tour titles in 1993, winning the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, Arizona, and the Buick Open in Flint, Michigan. Across his career, he won four times on the PGA Tour, once on the European Tour, three times on the PGA of Japan Tour, and one Champions Tour event in 2010, for a total of 10 professional victories.
His best results in the other major championships included a tie for fourth at the 1987 U.S. Open, a tie for sixth at the 1984 PGA Championship, and a tie for 11th at the 1994 Open Championship. Mize represented the United States in the Ryder Cup in 1987 and in the Dunhill Cup in 2000. He also played in 40 consecutive Masters Tournaments, with 36 of those appearances coming after he earned a lifetime invitation with his 1987 win.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mize was known as a straight, accurate driver of the golf ball, which gave him a strong foundation from tee to green. His iron play and short game, particularly his touch around the greens, were central to his success, and his calm temperament helped him perform in pressure moments. His career-defining chip-in at the 1987 Masters remains the most vivid example of his creativity and confidence with a wedge in his hands.
Notable Events and Milestones
The 1987 Masters chip-in is the signature moment of Mize’s career and one of the most replayed shots in tournament history. Other milestones include four PGA Tour wins, a peak world ranking of number 10, 20 consecutive seasons inside the top 125 on the money list, and a Ryder Cup appearance in 1987. He is also the only Masters champion to have been born in Augusta, the longtime home of the tournament.
Larry Mize Career Wins
Across his professional career, Larry Mize recorded 10 total wins, with success spread across multiple tours. His single major championship came at the 1987 Masters, and he added titles on the PGA Tour, PGA of Japan Tour, European Tour, and PGA Tour Champions, showing his ability to compete and win on a global stage.
PGA Tour and Major Highlights
Mize’s first PGA Tour win came at the 1983 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, and he later added titles at the 1993 Northern Telecom Open and the 1993 Buick Open, for a career total of four PGA Tour victories. He also recorded his only major title at the 1987 Masters Tournament, beating Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros in a sudden-death playoff with a famous chip-in at the 11th hole.
International and Champions Tour Wins
Beyond the PGA Tour, Mize won once on the European Tour and three times on the PGA of Japan Tour, reflecting his ability to compete internationally. After reaching age 50, he added a Champions Tour win in 2010 in Montreal, continuing his long career into the senior ranks.
Larry Mize Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Larry Mize’s parents and family of origin is limited. What is well documented is that he was raised in Augusta, Georgia, the home of the Masters Tournament, which gave him a unique connection to the sport from an early age.
Personal Life
Mize currently resides in Columbus, Georgia, with his wife and three sons. Outside of golf, his hobbies include fishing, basketball, and playing the piano. He has also been active in charitable work, including a long-running charity golf tournament with Coca-Cola that supported cystic fibrosis research, held at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
2025 Season Performance
Larry Mize continues to compete on the Champions Tour in 2025, drawing on decades of professional experience. As a past Masters champion, he remains eligible to play the Masters Tournament each year through the lifetime invitation he earned with his 1987 win. His presence in the field at Augusta each spring remains a connection to one of the tournament’s most memorable moments.
In 2025, Mize’s schedule on the Champions Tour reflects his long-standing approach to the game, focused on course management, accuracy, and steady play. While his major championship appearances and senior results continue to add to his legacy, his primary role in the modern game is that of a respected veteran competing against the top senior players in the world.
His career arc, from a teenage scoreboard operator in Augusta to a Masters champion and longtime tour professional, gives him a unique perspective in the game. Heading through 2025, Mize remains a familiar and respected figure at both Champions Tour events and the annual Masters Tournament, where his name is permanently etched on the green jacket he won in 1987.