Wes Short Jr

Wes Short Jr Bio

Wesley Earl Short Jr. (born December 4, 1963) is an American professional golfer who has competed on the PGA Tour, the Nationwide Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, Short turned professional in 1987 and built a steady career through developmental circuits before reaching the highest level of American golf. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions, the senior circuit for golfers aged 50 and over, while residing in his hometown of Austin, Texas.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Short has accumulated six professional victories, including one PGA Tour title, two PGA Tour Champions titles, and three wins across other circuits. His highest Official World Golf Ranking was 72, reached on January 8, 2006. Known for perseverance and late-career breakthroughs, Short has remained active in competitive golf well into his sixties.

Early Life and Background

Wesley Earl Short Jr. was born on December 4, 1963, in Austin, Texas, where he was also raised. He has lived his entire life in the Austin area, developing his game on the local courses of central Texas during his formative years. The Austin golf community provided a familiar setting that has shaped his career from childhood through his ongoing senior tour appearances.

Short attended the University of Texas, where he developed his competitive game before turning professional. His college experience helped bridge the gap between amateur competition and the demands of professional tournament golf. After completing his collegiate career, he made the decision to pursue tournament play full-time in 1987.

Path to Golf

After turning professional in 1987, Short initially worked as a club professional in the Austin area, balancing teaching duties with tournament play. This period allowed him to refine his game while staying connected to the day-to-day operations of a golf facility. His experience at the club level strengthened his understanding of course management, which became a hallmark of his later professional success.

Short transitioned to competitive tournament play on the developmental mini-tours, where he earned his first professional victories. His consistent play eventually earned him a spot on the Nationwide Tour for the 1998 season, marking his entry into the structured pathway that feeds into the PGA Tour. He returned to the Nationwide Tour for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, posting his best Nationwide finish with a T-2 at The Reese’s Cup Classic in 2003. These developmental years laid the foundation for his breakthrough onto the main PGA Tour at the age of 40.

Wes Short Jr Career

Early Career (1987–2003)

Short’s early professional years were spent building experience on the mini-tours and the Nationwide Tour, the secondary circuit that has historically served as the primary proving ground for aspiring PGA Tour players. He worked as a club professional in the Austin area while pursuing tournament opportunities, a balance that required discipline and careful scheduling. His two NGA Hooters Tour wins and one other professional title during this period demonstrated a competitive edge that would eventually translate to the highest levels.

His best Nationwide Tour result came at The Reese’s Cup Classic in 2003, where he finished tied for second. That performance helped position him for a long-awaited opportunity on the PGA Tour, which he earned in 2004 after years of steady work on the developmental circuits.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (2004–2007)

Short earned his PGA Tour card in 2004 and made his rookie season on the main tour at the age of 40. His perseverance through more than fifteen years on the developmental circuits made his rookie campaign one of the more remarkable stories on tour that year. In his second PGA Tour season, Short delivered his breakthrough victory at the 2005 Michelin Championship at Las Vegas.

Short’s lone PGA Tour win came in dramatic fashion, defeating Jim Furyk at the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Notably, Short had entered the week as the fourth alternate to get into the field, underscoring the improbable nature of his victory. The win pushed him to a career-best Official World Golf Ranking of 72 in January 2006, and it remains the signature achievement of his PGA Tour career.

Following his breakthrough season, Short struggled with lingering back problems that kept him off the PGA Tour for roughly three years. He attempted a comeback in 2013, making the cut at the Shell Houston Open, his first made cut on the PGA Tour since 2007. However, he was unable to satisfy the conditions of his medical extension, making only five cuts in fifteen events before stepping back from full-time PGA Tour play.

PGA Tour Champions Era (2013–Present)

Short earned medalist honors at the 2013 Champions Tour qualifying school, becoming eligible for the senior circuit shortly after his PGA Tour comeback attempts wound down. He announced his arrival on the Champions Tour with his first victory at the 2014 Quebec Championship, a win that confirmed he remained a competitive force at the senior level.

In 2016, Short qualified for his first U.S. Open, returning to major championship competition more than a decade after his last PGA Tour start. On September 1, 2019, he captured his second PGA Tour Champions title at the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta. He continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit from his Austin base, contributing regularly to the senior game’s competitive landscape.

Driving Style and Strengths

Short has built his career on accurate ball-striking, dependable course management, and the patience that comes from years of grinding through developmental circuits. His comfort on a wide variety of American course designs reflects his long familiarity with the layouts of Texas and the broader southern United States. That steady, strategic approach proved especially effective in match-play scenarios, most notably during his 2005 playoff victory over Jim Furyk in Las Vegas.

Notable Events and Milestones

Short’s signature moment remains his 2005 Michelin Championship at Las Vegas victory over Jim Furyk in sudden death, captured after entering the week as the fourth alternate. His 2019 Shaw Charity Classic title in Calgary stands as a career milestone at the senior level, while his 2016 U.S. Open qualification completed a long-awaited return to major championship competition. He reached his career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 72 in January 2006.

Wes Short Jr Career Wins

Wesley Earl Short Jr. has recorded six professional wins across multiple tours, a total that reflects his longevity and consistency over nearly four decades in competitive golf. His victories span the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champions, the NGA Hooters Tour, and one additional professional event.

PGA Tour and Champions Highlights

Short’s only PGA Tour victory came at the 2005 Michelin Championship at Las Vegas, where he defeated Jim Furyk in a sudden-death playoff after entering the field as the fourth alternate. On the PGA Tour Champions, he first won at the 2014 Quebec Championship and added a second title at the 2019 Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta. The pair of senior-level victories bookended his Champions Tour career with memorable performances in Canada.

Other Wins and Performances

Short posted two wins on the NGA Hooters Tour during his developmental years, along with one additional professional victory outside the major recognized tours. His best Nationwide Tour finish was a T-2 at The Reese’s Cup Classic in 2003, a result that helped propel him toward his PGA Tour breakthrough in 2004. He has also qualified for one U.S. Open appearance in 2016, completing his major championship résumé.

Wes Short Jr Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Wesley Earl Short Jr. has lived his entire life in Austin, Texas, the community that shaped both his upbringing and his long professional career. His ties to central Texas have remained constant from his birth in 1963 through his ongoing residence in the Austin area.

Personal Life

Short is married to Gail Elizabeth Hardy, and the couple has a daughter. The family has made their home in Austin, Texas, where Short continues to base his Champions Tour activities. His family life has remained closely tied to the city that has been central to his personal and professional identity.

2025 Season Performance

Wesley Earl Short Jr. continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, drawing on the form that delivered his second senior victory at the 2019 Shaw Charity Classic. As a longtime Austin resident and Champions Tour stalwart, his 2025 campaign reflects the steady, experience-driven approach that has defined his late-career play.

Short’s senior circuit schedule typically includes events across the United States and Canada, with stops at familiar venues that reward accurate iron play and disciplined course management. His reputation for perseverance, established during his late PGA Tour breakthrough in 2005, continues to inform his competitive mindset on the Champions Tour.

Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Short remains an active competitor on the PGA Tour Champions, contributing to a deep field of veteran players. His continued presence on the senior circuit underscores the durability of a career that began in 1987 and shows no signs of slowing.