Robert Gamez Bio
Robert Anthony Gamez (born July 21, 1968) is an American professional golfer whose career has spanned more than three decades. He is best known for one of the most dramatic single shots in PGA Tour history, a fairway hole-out on the 72nd hole that earned him a famous victory in 1990. Over the course of his career, Gamez has collected five professional wins and earned recognition as one of the top amateurs in college golf before turning pro.
Of Mexican descent and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gamez built a reputation as a clutch player early in his career. After his playing days on the main tour wound down, he continued to contribute to the game through charitable work in his adopted hometown of Orlando, Florida.
Early Life and Background
Robert Anthony Gamez was born on July 21, 1968, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States. He grew up in a city that has produced several notable golfers, and the desert climate provided year-round opportunities to play and practice the game. From an early age, Gamez showed promise in golf and quickly developed into one of the top young amateur players in the country.
He is of Mexican descent, a heritage he has carried throughout his career as a representative of the United States in international competition. His upbringing in Las Vegas helped him develop a strong work ethic and a comfort with competitive golf under pressure.
Path to Professional Golf
Gamez attended the University of Arizona, where he joined the college golf team and quickly established himself as one of the best amateurs in the nation. During his time in Tucson, he earned both the Jack Nicklaus Award and the Haskins Award in 1989, honors given to the top college golfer in the United States. He also represented the United States on the 1989 Walker Cup team, a marquee event for elite amateur players.
Following his decorated amateur career, Gamez turned professional in 1989. His transition to the PGA Tour was unusually smooth, and he wasted little time proving that his amateur success could carry over to the professional ranks.
Robert Gamez Career
Early Career (1989–1990)
Gamez wasted no time making an impact after turning professional. In his rookie season on the PGA Tour, he captured two titles, including his very first start as a member of the tour at the Northern Telecom Tucson Open. Winning his debut event placed him in rare company; only a handful of players in PGA Tour history have won their first event as a tour member.
His standout rookie campaign earned him the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award for 1990, a fitting recognition for one of the most promising debuts the tour had seen in years.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1990)
Gamez is perhaps best remembered for his performance at the 1990 Nestle Invitational at Bay Hill. In the final round, he holed his second shot from the fairway on the difficult 18th hole, a 7-iron from 176 yards, to win by one stroke over Greg Norman. The shot remains one of the most celebrated single moments in tournament history, and a commemorative plaque was later placed in the fairway to mark the spot from which he hit it.
That victory helped cement his status as a rising star on the PGA Tour. His highest world ranking came on March 25, 1990, when he reached number 48.
Mid-Career Challenges (1991–2001)
From 1991 to 1997, Gamez remained a consistent presence near the top of leaderboards, recording six runner-up finishes and one third-place finish on the PGA Tour. His best finish in a major championship during this stretch was a tie for 12th at the 1990 Open Championship.
His career took a difficult turn in 1998 when he was injured in a car accident at the Kemper Open. Between 1998 and 2001, he struggled to finish inside the top 125 on the PGA Tour money list, and in 2001 he failed to qualify for the tour altogether. The period marked the lowest point of his professional career.
Comeback Era (2002–2005)
Gamez mounted an impressive comeback beginning in 2002, finishing inside the top 125 on the money list every year from 2002 through 2005. He recorded a tie for fifth at the Bank of America Colonial in 2004 and, in 2005, captured the Valero Texas Open. The victory was his first PGA Tour win in 15 years and 6 months, spanning 394 events, a PGA Tour record for the longest gap between victories.
Later Career and PGA Tour Champions (2006–Present)
After 2005, Gamez’s form gradually declined, and he recorded only a handful of top-10 finishes in the seasons that followed. His last full season on the PGA Tour came in 2008. He later transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions, where he has continued to compete. In 2014, he underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery, a health scare he has since overcome.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gamez’s signature moment remains his fairway hole-out on the 72nd hole at the 1990 Nestle Invitational, a shot that defeated Greg Norman and instantly became part of PGA Tour lore. His 2005 Valero Texas Open win set the tour record for the longest gap between victories, a testament to his perseverance through injury and career struggles.
Robert Gamez Career Wins
Across his professional career, Robert Anthony Gamez has recorded five total wins. Three of those victories came on the PGA Tour, one on the Japan Golf Tour, and one in other professional competition.
PGA Tour Highlights
Gamez’s PGA Tour wins include the 1990 Northern Telecom Tucson Open in his rookie season, the famous 1990 Nestle Invitational at Bay Hill, and the 2005 Valero Texas Open. The Valero win was particularly meaningful, ending the longest victory drought in PGA Tour history at 15 years and 6 months.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his three PGA Tour titles, Gamez won once on the Japan Golf Tour and once in other professional events. He also won three amateur titles during his college career at the University of Arizona.
| Tour | Wins |
|---|---|
| PGA Tour | 3 |
| Japan Golf Tour | 1 |
| Other | 1 |
Robert Gamez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Robert Anthony Gamez is of Mexican descent and was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended the University of Arizona, where he played on the college golf team before embarking on his professional career.
Personal Life
Gamez resides in Orlando, Florida, where he hosts an annual tournament benefiting the Team Gamez Foundation. In 2014, he underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery and has spoken about the importance of health and recovery in the later stages of his career.
2025 Season Performance
Robert Anthony Gamez continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, drawing on more than three decades of professional experience. As a senior tour player, he has taken on a variety of events across the Champions schedule, contributing to a respected veteran presence on the circuit.
Throughout the 2025 season, Gamez has focused on staying competitive while balancing his charitable work with the Team Gamez Foundation in Orlando. His enduring passion for the game remains a defining trait of his career.