Stewart Cink Bio
Stewart Ernest Cink is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He is best known for winning the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry, where he defeated Tom Watson in a four-hole aggregate playoff. Over the course of his career, Cink has built a reputation as one of the most consistent and durable players in American golf, collecting victories across developmental tours, the PGA Tour, and the senior circuit.
Born in Huntsville, Alabama, and standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Cink turned professional in 1995 after a standout amateur career. He spent more than 40 weeks inside the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 2004 and 2009, reaching a career-high ranking of fifth in July 2008. He continues to compete at a high level on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has added several titles in recent seasons.
Early Life and Background
Stewart Ernest Cink was born on May 21, 1973, in Huntsville, Alabama. He grew up in nearby Florence, a small city in the northwest corner of the state, and attended Bradshaw High School. The Tennessee Valley region where he was raised has produced a steady stream of college-level talent, and Cink quickly emerged as one of its most promising junior golfers.
After completing high school in 1991, Cink enrolled at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where he played college golf for the Yellow Jackets. He graduated in 1995 with a degree in Management, balancing a demanding academic load with a busy tournament schedule. His amateur résumé included the 1995 Haskins Award, presented annually to the top collegiate golfer in the United States.
Path to Professional Golf
Cink’s amateur success positioned him as a player to watch as he transitioned to the professional ranks. He turned professional in 1995, the same year he finished his collegiate career, and quickly found his footing on the developmental circuits. In 1996, he captured the Mexican Open and added three victories on the Nike Tour, the developmental circuit that later became the Korn Ferry Tour. That season he also earned Nike Tour Player of the Year honors and topped the Nike Tour money list.
His rapid rise earned him a PGA Tour card, and in 1997 he was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after winning the Canon Greater Hartford Open in his first season. The early results confirmed that Cink had the all-around game and temperament to compete week after week against the strongest fields in the world. He also gained experience on the European Tour and the Hooters Tour, broadening his competitive base.
Stewart Cink Career
Early Career (1995–2000)
Cink’s first years on tour were marked by steady progress. After claiming the Mexican Open and three Nike Tour titles in 1996, he joined the PGA Tour in 1997 and immediately lifted the Canon Greater Hartford Open. That debut-season victory established him as a reliable presence on leaderboards and earned him the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award.
Over the next several seasons, Cink continued to build a consistent record. He added another PGA Tour title at the 2000 MCI Classic, demonstrating an ability to close out tournaments under pressure. He also recorded top finishes in major championships, including a T3 at the 1999 PGA Championship, signaling his growing comfort on the biggest stages in the sport.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2001–2008)
In 2001, Cink finished third at the U.S. Open, narrowly missing a playoff after a double-bogey on the 72nd hole. The performance foreshadowed a sustained run of high-level play, and by 2004 he had climbed to fifth on the PGA Tour money list. That year he won the MCI Heritage and the WGC-NEC Invitational, one of the elite World Golf Championships events, cementing his status among the game’s leading players.
On February 24, 2008, Cink reached the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona, where he fell 8 and 7 to top-ranked Tiger Woods in the 36-hole finale. Just months later, in June 2008, he won the Travelers Championship in suburban Hartford, a victory that helped him reach his career-best ranking of fifth in the world. He also finished T3 at the 2008 Masters Tournament, further highlighting his major-championship pedigree.
Major Championship Glory (2009)
On July 19, 2009, Cink captured his first major title at the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry, Scotland. Entering the final round, veteran champion Tom Watson held the lead, but Cink birdied the 72nd hole while Watson bogeyed, forcing a four-hole aggregate playoff. Cink then defeated the 59-year-old Watson by six strokes, posting 14 to Watson’s 20 across the four playoff holes.
The victory was the emotional high point of his career and ended a long wait for a major title. It also propelled him further up the world rankings during a stretch in which he remained a fixture inside the top 10.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2020–Present)
On September 13, 2020, Cink won the Safeway Open for his first PGA Tour victory since the 2009 Open Championship, signaling a late-career resurgence. Less than a year later, on April 18, 2021, he won the RBC Heritage for the third time, breaking the tournament’s lowest 36-hole and 54-hole scoring records. He also became the fourth player to win twice in a PGA Tour season after turning 47, joining Sam Snead, Julius Boros, and Kenny Perry in that select group.
Cink has since transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions, where his experience and length off the tee have translated into consistent success. In 2025, he captured the Charles Schwab Cup, the PGA Tour Champions money title, and Player of the Year honors, capping a dominant senior campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cink’s game is built on length, accuracy, and patience. At 6 feet 4 inches tall, he generates significant power off the tee while maintaining a steady ball-striking foundation. His calm temperament and strategic approach have made him a particularly strong match-play competitor and a dependable closer when in contention.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of his career, the 2009 Open Championship victory stands as the centerpiece. The 2021 RBC Heritage, where he set tournament scoring records, and his 2025 Charles Schwab Cup triumph on PGA Tour Champions also rank among his signature achievements. Earlier milestones include his 1995 Haskins Award, his 1997 Rookie of the Year honors, and his 2017 Payne Stewart Award, presented for character, charity, and sportsmanship.
Stewart Cink Career Wins
Stewart Cink has accumulated 24 recognized professional victories across multiple tours. These include 8 PGA Tour titles, 8 PGA Tour Champions titles, 3 Korn Ferry Tour wins, 2 European Tour wins, 2 Latin American wins, and 1 Hooters Tour title.
PGA Tour Highlights
Cink’s 8 PGA Tour victories span more than two decades, beginning with the 1997 Canon Greater Hartford Open. He added titles at the 2000 MCI Classic, the 2004 MCI Heritage, the 2004 WGC-NEC Invitational, the 2008 Travelers Championship, the 2009 Open Championship, the 2020 Safeway Open, and the 2021 RBC Heritage. The 2021 RBC Heritage was his third win in that event, a feat that underscored his comfort at Harbour Town Golf Links.
PGA Tour Champions and Other Performances
On the PGA Tour Champions, Cink has added 8 victories, including his standout 2025 campaign that produced the Charles Schwab Cup, the money list title, and Player of the Year. His 3 Korn Ferry Tour wins came during the 1996 developmental season, while his 2 European Tour titles reflect his global competitive experience. He also captured 2 Latin American wins and 1 Hooters Tour title early in his professional career.
Stewart Cink Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public records provide limited detail on Cink’s parents, though he has frequently credited his upbringing in Huntsville and Florence, Alabama, for instilling the discipline that shaped his professional career.
Personal Life
Cink is married to Lisa Cink, and the couple has two sons, Connor and Reagan. The family resides in Duluth, Georgia, in the greater Atlanta area. Cink is a Christian and has spoken openly about the role faith plays in his approach to the game and to life on tour.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 PGA Tour Champions season marked one of the most successful campaigns of Stewart Cink’s career. He captured multiple titles throughout the year, building a commanding position in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. His combination of length off the tee and steady ball-striking proved especially effective on the senior circuit, where course setups often reward experience and power.
By the end of the season, Cink had secured the Charles Schwab Cup, the PGA Tour Champions money list crown, and the Player of the Year award, completing a rare senior-sweep. The trio of honors placed him alongside the most accomplished champions of the 50-and-over tour and reinforced his reputation as a generational talent.
Looking ahead, Cink is expected to remain a fixture on the PGA Tour Champions, with opportunities to add to his major and senior-major totals. His durability, course management, and competitive fire suggest that more landmark performances could still lie ahead.
