Shaun Micheel
Age: 55
Shaun Carl Micheel (born January 5, 1969) is an American professional golfer who is best known for his surprise victory at the 2003 PGA Championship.
Micheel was born in Orlando, Florida. He attended Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee and Indiana University and turned professional in 1992. He taught himself how to play golf after his parents bought a home on a golf course in Memphis. He had a very patchy early career, during which he struggled to hold on to membership on the PGA Tour. His successes included a victory in the Singapore Open in 1998 and a win on the Nike Tour (now the Web.com Tour) in 1999.
He went into the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club ranked 169th in the Official World Golf Ranking, becoming one of the biggest underdogs to win a major in recent times. In the first two rounds, he shot 69-68 (−3) to take a two-shot lead over Billy Andrade and Mike Weir. A third round 69 put him at −4, tied for the lead with Chad Campbell and three shots clear of Weir. He shot a par 70 in the final round to defeat Campbell by two strokes. That season, he finished 32nd on the money list. In 2004, he made the top 100 on the PGA Tour money list for the second time in his career, but he did not make the move up to being a regular high finisher. His career high world ranking is 36th, achieved in 2004.
In August 2006, Micheel returned to prominence when he finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club; he followed that with T7 two weeks later at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He was also runner-up at the 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship, after defeating Woods in the first round. On the PGA Tour, he ended the year with nine consecutive cuts and placed in the top 50 on the money list.
Micheel is only the second golfer to make a double eagle (albatross) in U.S. Open history. It came on the 6th hole during the final round of the 2010 U.S. Open.
Micheel is one of the few golfers to have a major as his only PGA Tour win. Micheel leads the list with 386 starts through the end of 2015.
Medical issues
In April 2005, after experiencing months of fatigue, mood changes, and poor play, Micheel began treatment for low testosterone ("Low T", or hypogonadism). He claimed that his testosterone levels had declined to those of "a man in his mid-70s." After beginning treatment, his testosterone levels returned to normal, and he reported that his drive and energy had also returned. His condition was widely publicized during the coverage of the 2006 PGA Championship. On April 18, 2014, after having coped with inability to exercise without being short of breath, Micheel underwent heart surgery and had four stents inserted.
Professional wins
PGA Tour
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aug 17, 2003 | PGA Championship | −4 (69-68-69-70=276) | 2 strokes | Chad Campbell |
Nike Tour
- 1999 Nike Greensboro Open
Other
- 1998 Singapore Open (Asian Tour)
Major championships
Wins (1)
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | PGA Championship | Tied for lead | −4 (69-68-69-70=276) | 2 strokes | Chad Campbell |
Results timeline
Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T22 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | DNP |
U.S. Open | CUT | DNP | T40 | DNP | DNP | T28 | CUT | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T47 | CUT | CUT | T35 | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 | T24 | CUT | 2 | T32 | DNP | CUT |
Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
U.S. Open | T22 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | T48 | T74 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Summary
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
PGA Championship | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 6 |
Totals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 12 |
- Most consecutive cuts made - 6 (2001 U.S. Open - 2004 PGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s - 1 (twice)
Results in World Golf Championship events
Tournament | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accenture Match Play Championship | DNP | R32 | DNP | DNP | R16 |
CA Championship | T44 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Bridgestone Invitational | T23 | T50 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.