Bobby Clampett
Age: 64
Robert Daniel Clampett, Jr. (born April 22, 1960) is an American television golf analyst, golf course architect, writer, and professional golfer, who played on the PGA Tour from 1980 to 1995. Clampett began playing on the Champions Tour in April 2010.
College and amateur standout
Clampett was born in Monterey, California. He attended Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California. He based his early golf training on the groundbreaking and controversial book "The Golfing Machine," by Homer Kelley, and he worked closely with golf instructor Ben Doyle, the first authorized instructor of the Golfing Machine. From 1978 to 1980, he was a three-time All-American and two-time Collegiate Golfer of the Year at Brigham Young University. His important amateur titles included the Porter Cup, the Sunnehanna Amateur, and the Western Amateur. He also won the 1978 World Amateur medal, in team competition for the Eisenhower Trophy and the 1978 and 1980 California State Amateurs. He was the low amateur at the 1978 U.S. Open and 1979 Masters.
Professional highlights
Clampett turned professional in 1980. From 1980 to 1995, he played on the PGA Tour. Although he won only one tournament, the 1982 Southern Open, he had a moderately successful career. He had almost three dozen top-10 finishes in his career, including nine 2nd or 3rd-place finishes, and had over $1 million in career earnings. His best finish in a major was a T-3 at the 1982 U.S. Open. He was a member of the 1982 World Cup team.
At the 1982 Open Championship played at Royal Troon, Clampett opened with rounds of 67 and 66 and held a five shot lead going into Saturday's play. His lead had increased two shots by the fifth hole. Then Clampett drove the ball into a pot bunker at the sixth hole. It took him three shots to get out. This sparked the beginning of a precipitous collapse by Clampett that saw him finish with rounds of 78 and 77 and finish in a tie for 10th.
During his 40s, Clampett competed periodically on the Nationwide Tour, and qualified into a PGA Tour event in November 2008. He became eligible for the Champions Tour after reaching age 50 in April 2010. On May 14, 2010, he tied for the first round lead in his second tournament on that tour.
Broadcaster, author, designer
Clampett joined CBS Sports as an on-course reporter for the 1991 PGA Championship, and joined CBS Sports full-time as a tower announcer in 1995. Clampett remained stationed at the 15th hole during CBS telecasts until 2006. In 2007, he was replaced by Ian Baker-Finch, coming over from ABC Sports. Clampett continued to work online webcasts streamed by CBS at the major championships.
He was also the lead golf analyst for Turner Sports from 1996-2007.
Clampett and Andy Brumer co-authored the book "The Impact Zone: Mastering Golf's Moment of Truth", published in late 2007. Clampett has become involved in golf course design in recent years.
Clampett lives in Bonita Springs, Florida with his second wife, Marianna, and her two children. He has three children from his first marriage: Katelyn, Daniel, and Michael Clampett.
Amateur wins (6)
- 1978 California State Amateur, Western Amateur, Porter Cup, Western Junior
- 1980 California State Amateur, Sunnehanna Amateur
Professional wins (3)
PGA Tour wins (1)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sep 26, 1982 | Southern Open | −14 (65-69-68-64=266) | 2 strokes | Hale Irwin |
PGA Tour playoff record (0-2)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1981 | Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | John Cook, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Barney Thompson |
Cook won with par on third extra hole Clampett, Crenshaw, and Thompson eliminated with birdie on first hole |
2 | 1981 | Buick Open | Hale Irwin, Peter Jacobsen Gil Morgan |
Irwin won with birdie on second extra hole |
Japan Golf Tour wins (1)
- 1981 ABC Cup Japan vs USA
Other wins (1)
this list may be incomplete
- 1980 Spalding Invitational (as an amateur)
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur
- Eisenhower Trophy: 1978 (team winners and individual winner)
Professional
- World Cup: 1982