Scott Parel Bio
Scott Parel (born May 15, 1965) is an American professional golfer best known for his play on the PGA Tour Champions. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, Parel took an unusual route to the professional game, balancing a career as a computer programmer with competitive golf for years before committing to the sport full time. After turning professional in 1996, he built a steady resume across developmental tours before breaking through as one of the more consistent performers on the senior circuit.
Parel now resides in Augusta, Georgia, the home of the Masters Tournament, and continues to compete at a high level. Across the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, and various developmental circuits, he has collected eight professional titles, with four of those wins coming on the PGA Tour Champions.
Early Life and Background
Scott Parel was born on May 15, 1965, in Pontiac, Michigan. He grew up in the United States and went on to attend the University of Georgia, where he completed his college education. Despite attending a school with a strong golf tradition, Parel did not play on the University of Georgia golf team during his time in Athens.
After graduating, Parel stepped away from competitive golf and spent roughly ten years working as a computer programmer and database administrator. That career in technology kept him close to numbers and analysis, skills that would later help shape his methodical approach to tournament golf. Eventually, the pull of the game brought him back to competition, and he prepared for a second career as a touring professional.
Parel is married to his wife, Mary, and the couple has two children. He has long made his home in Augusta, Georgia, where the year-round golf culture and mild climate suit a touring professional’s schedule.
Path to Professional Golf
Scott Parel turned professional in 1996 at the age of 31, a notably late start by modern tour standards. His earliest post-college years were spent sharpening his game on smaller circuits, where he learned how to grind out rounds under pressure and manage travel across long stretches of the schedule.
His competitive record on the developmental tours included stints on the Tarheel Tour, a regional circuit in the Carolinas that serves as a proving ground for aspiring professionals. Parel picked up two wins on the Tarheel Tour, establishing himself as a reliable closer and giving him the confidence to test higher-level competition.
He eventually graduated to the Web.com Tour, then the primary pathway to the PGA Tour, where he played across multiple seasons in the 2000s and into the 2010s. Parel’s persistence paid off in 2013 when he captured his first Web.com Tour title at the Air Capital Classic, a breakthrough moment that validated his late-blooming career path.
Scott Parel Career
Early Career (2002-2015)
Parel’s earliest brushes with major-level competition came in the early 2000s. He qualified for the U.S. Open in both 2002 and 2005, gaining experience against the deepest fields in the game, though he did not advance to the weekend in either appearance. Between 2003 and 2015, he played regularly on the Web.com Tour, building the kind of week-in, week-out consistency that is required to climb in professional golf.
During this stretch, Parel also made a small number of PGA Tour starts. Across five PGA Tour events, he made the cut only once, recording a tie for 57th at the 2006 BellSouth Classic. Even with limited success on golf’s biggest stage, those experiences sharpened his game for the senior circuit that would later define his career.
PGA Tour Champions Breakthrough (2018-2020)
Parel joined the PGA Tour Champions and wasted little time announcing himself. In August 2018, he won the Boeing Classic for his first senior victory, a milestone that confirmed his game traveled well to the over-50 circuit. Just two months later, in October 2018, he added the Invesco QQQ Championship at Sherwood Country Club in Lake Sherwood, California, signaling that his first win was no fluke.
The strong finish to 2018 carried over into the following season. In November 2018, Parel placed third in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup standings, earning a $300,000 bonus. In 2019, he twice found himself in playoffs against Kevin Sutherland, falling in a seven-hole duel at the Rapiscan Systems Classic in Mississippi and then again at the Principal Charity Classic, where Sutherland prevailed on the second extra hole.
Parel’s persistence finally paid off in February 2020, when he closed with an 8-under 63 to win the Chubb Classic by two shots over Bob Estes. That third PGA Tour Champions title pushed his career earnings past the $5 million mark and cemented his place among the senior circuit’s reliable winners.
Driving Style and Strengths
Parel is known for a steady, positional style of golf built on accurate iron play and patient course management. His background as a computer programmer and database administrator has translated into a highly analytical approach to strategy, helping him plot his way around demanding senior layouts. He is also a capable putter under pressure, with a playoff record that reflects his comfort in tense moments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments in Parel’s career include his 2013 Air Capital Classic win on the Web.com Tour, his first PGA Tour Champions title at the 2018 Boeing Classic, and his final-round 63 to win the 2020 Chubb Classic. Surpassing $5 million in career earnings in 2020 stands as one of the most meaningful benchmarks of his late-career surge.
Scott Parel Career Wins
Scott Parel has accumulated eight professional wins across the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, and other circuits. Four of those victories have come on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has become a regular contender since 2018.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
Parel has captured four PGA Tour Champions titles. His first came at the 2018 Boeing Classic, followed quickly by the 2018 Invesco QQQ Championship at Sherwood Country Club. He later added the 2020 Chubb Classic, where his closing 63 sealed a two-shot win over Bob Estes, and a fourth senior title that further cemented his late-career resurgence.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his PGA Tour Champions success, Parel has posted one win on the Korn Ferry Tour at the 2013 Air Capital Classic. He has also added three additional victories across smaller circuits, including two on the Tarheel Tour, giving him a well-rounded competitive resume.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korn Ferry Tour | 1 | – | – |
| PGA Tour Champions | 4 | – | – |
| Tarheel Tour | 2 | – | – |
Scott Parel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Scott Parel was raised in Pontiac, Michigan, before pursuing both a college education and a professional technology career that ultimately led him back to competitive golf. His family has been a steady presence throughout his unconventional path to the senior circuit.
Personal Life
Parel is married to Mary Parel, and the couple has two children. The family has made their home in Augusta, Georgia, where Parel continues to base his playing schedule on the PGA Tour Champions.
2025 Season Performance
Scott Parel entered the 2025 PGA Tour Champions season as one of the circuit’s experienced competitors, looking to build on four senior titles and more than $5 million in career earnings. With age 60 now behind him, his competitive routine remains centered on accurate iron play and a patient, strategic approach that has long defined his game.
His early-season form has reflected the steady, contender-level consistency he has shown since his 2018 breakthrough. Parel’s experience in high-pressure playoffs, including memorable duels with Kevin Sutherland in 2019, gives him a comfort level in tight finishes that few of his peers can match.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2025, Parel’s outlook is built on staying healthy, contending in the season’s biggest senior events, and adding to his win total on the PGA Tour Champions. His Augusta base, analytical preparation, and proven closing ability suggest he will remain a factor on the senior circuit for seasons to come.