Russ Cochran

Russ Cochran Bio

Russell Earl Cochran (born October 31, 1958) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He previously held membership on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. Cochran is one of the few natural left-handed players ever to win a PGA Tour event, and for much of the 1980s through 1992, he stood as the only left-hander on the PGA Tour. Across his career, he has built a reputation as a steady ball-striker, a reliable Sunday scorer, and a devoted family man rooted in his hometown of Paducah, Kentucky.

Early Life and Background

Russell Earl Cochran was born and raised in Paducah, Kentucky, where he has lived most of his life. He grew up playing golf at Paxton Park Public Golf Course in Paducah, the same municipal course where fellow PGA Tour player Kenny Perry later developed his game. The small-town golf scene along the Ohio River gave Cochran an early foundation in course management and creative shot-making.

After graduating from St. Mary High School in Paducah, Cochran attended the University of Kentucky, where he played on the college golf team. His time in Lexington helped sharpen his competitive routine and prepared him for the demands of professional tournament golf. He turned professional in 1979 and joined the PGA Tour in 1982, beginning a long career in the paid ranks.

Path to Professional Golf

Cochran’s route to the PGA Tour followed the traditional path of his era: amateur success in college, a quick turn to the professional circuit, and steady play on developmental circuits before reaching the main tour. After turning pro in 1979, he spent his earliest seasons gaining experience on smaller tours before earning his PGA Tour card in 1982. His left-handed swing made him a rare sight on driving ranges and helped him stand out among his peers throughout the 1980s.

By the end of the 1980s, Cochran had become a familiar name on leaderboards, posting consistent finishes and quietly building toward a breakthrough season. Mentors and fellow left-handers were scarce, so much of his development came through self-taught course strategy and tournament repetition. That preparation paid off in the early 1990s, when he elevated his game to a championship level.

Russ Cochran Career

Early Career (1979–1990)

Cochran turned professional in 1979 and joined the PGA Tour in 1982. During the 1980s, he was a regular presence on the PGA Tour and was widely noted as the only natural left-hander competing at that level for much of the decade. He used those seasons to accumulate experience, post steady checks, and earn the respect of his peers without yet breaking through for a victory.

Through repetition and course knowledge, Cochran developed a reputation as a calm presence on Sunday afternoons. The foundation he built during this period set the stage for his most productive stretch in professional golf.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (1991–1992)

The 1991 season marked the high point of Cochran’s PGA Tour career. He captured his lone PGA Tour title at the 1991 Centel Western Open, where he made up seven shots over eight holes to beat Greg Norman. That year he also recorded two second-place finishes, including a playoff loss to Craig Stadler at the Tour Championship, along with a third-place result, and finished 10th on the money list.

In 1992, Cochran reached his career-best major championship finish, a tie for seventh at the PGA Championship. He reached his highest Official World Golf Ranking of 64th on June 14, 1992. Two years later, at the 1996 PGA Championship held at Valhalla Golf Club, he set the course record with a third-round 65, a mark that stood until José María Olazábal broke it with a 63 in the same tournament four years later.

Champions Tour Era (2009–Present)

Cochran debuted on the Champions Tour with a tie for seventh at the Allianz Championship on February 15, 2009, at Boca Raton, Florida. He finished third at the U.S. Senior Open on August 2, 2009, at Carmel, Indiana, setting the Crooked Stick Golf Club course record with a third-round 8-under-par 64. He closed his first Champions Tour season by winning the Rookie of the Year award.

In 2010, Cochran earned his first Champions Tour victory, defeating Fred Funk on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Posco E&C Songdo Championship in South Korea, and followed it up the next week with a win at the SAS Championship in North Carolina. The following year, he captured his maiden senior major championship at the 2011 Senior British Open Championship at Walton Heath, two strokes ahead of Mark Calcavecchia after a closing 67 that included six birdies in his first ten holes.

In June 2013, Cochran won for the fourth time on the Champions Tour at the Principal Charity Classic, coming from two shots back with a final-round 67 to edge Jay Don Blake by a stroke and end a two-year title drought spent battling rib and wrist injuries. Later that October, he won his second title of the year at the SAS Championship, finishing with four consecutive birdies to beat David Frost by a single stroke.

Driving Style and Strengths

As a natural left-hander, Cochran offers a rare perspective on course strategy, with angles into pins that differ from the majority of his peers. His game is built on accurate ball-striking, dependable iron play, and a steady temperament under pressure. He has paired that approach with strong course management and a calm Sunday presence, traits that have made him a frequent contender in both regular and senior events.

Notable Events and Milestones

Cochran’s signature victory remains the 1991 Centel Western Open, where he erased a seven-shot deficit in eight holes to overtake Greg Norman. His course-record 65 at Valhalla during the 1996 PGA Championship and his 2011 Senior British Open win at Walton Heath are also defining achievements. He reached his career-high ranking of 64th in 1992 and earned Champions Tour Rookie of the Year honors in 2009.

Russ Cochran Career Wins

Across all tours, Cochran has accumulated 10 recognized professional victories, including one PGA Tour win, five Champions Tour titles, and four additional wins across developmental and other circuits. He has also posted approximately 60 top-10 finishes in official PGA Tour events. His wins span more than two decades and reflect the longevity of his career.

PGA Tour Champions Highlights

Cochran has recorded five Champions Tour victories. His first came in 2010 at the Posco E&C Songdo Championship in South Korea, where he defeated Fred Funk in a sudden-death playoff. He added a second win that same week at the SAS Championship, and his crowning moment arrived in 2011 with a two-stroke victory at the Senior British Open Championship at Walton Heath. He added two more titles in 2013, winning the Principal Charity Classic and the SAS Championship for the second time, closing the latter with four straight birdies.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond his Champions Tour and PGA Tour victories, Cochran has posted additional wins on developmental circuits. During his mid-to-late 40s, he played the Nationwide Tour in preparation for the Champions Tour, with his best Nationwide finish being a tie for third at the 2003 Chitimacha Louisiana Open. Two of his earlier career victories also came on the Tournament Players Series.

Russ Cochran Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Cochran grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, in a family with strong ties to the game of golf. He developed his game alongside future PGA Tour player Kenny Perry at Paxton Park Public Golf Course, and the two share roots in the same tight-knit western Kentucky golf community. Several members of the Cochran family have followed his path into professional golf, including his son Case and his nephew Rick III, both of whom have played professionally.

Personal Life

Russ Cochran and his wife, Jackie, have four children: three sons and a daughter. His oldest son, Ryan, played golf at the University of Florida and aspires to play professionally. His son Case is a professional golfer, as is his nephew Rick III. Cochran resides in Paducah, Kentucky, the same city where he was born and raised.

2025 Season Performance

Now in his 60s and well into his Champions Tour career, Russ Cochran remains active on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. The 2025 season represents another opportunity for the left-handed veteran to add to his five Champions Tour titles and continue his pursuit of additional senior major contention. His decades of course knowledge and steady ball-striking keep him competitive against a growing field of Champions Tour newcomers.

Cochran’s familiarity with the venues on the Champions Tour schedule, combined with the support of family members who have caddied for him in past events, gives him a steady platform week to week. While a fully verified results table for 2025 cannot be confirmed from available sources, his experience and longevity suggest he will continue to be a respected presence in the senior game.

Looking ahead, Cochran’s goals center on health, family, and the chance to compete at a high level. With his son Case also active in professional golf, the 2025 season offers a meaningful chapter in a career that has already spanned more than four decades and connected two generations of the Cochran family to the game.