Fred Funk

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox golfer Frederick Funk (born June 14, 1956) is an American professional golfer. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He previously played on the PGA Tour, where he was an eight-time winner. Funk's signature win came at The Players Championship in 2005.

Early life

Funk was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. He tried several sports, and even boxed for eight years for a junior boys club. He played on the golf team at High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland.[1]

Amateur career

Funk went to the University of Maryland (UM) but was cut from the golf team in 1975. He transferred to Prince George's Community College and then returned to UM two years later to earn a top spot with the Terrapins golf team.[2] At the time he also held a job as a circulation supervisor for the Washington Star.[1] He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1980 with a degree in law enforcement.

Professional career

In 1981, Funk turned professional. He worked as the golf coach for University of Maryland from 1982 to 1988.[2]

After playing in a few PGA Tour events for several years beginning in 1982 but with little success,[3] Funk finally became a member of the PGA Tour in 1989, playing in 29 official tournaments. He earned his biggest paycheck with $12,500 in a tie for ninth in the Chattanooga Classic.[3]

In 1990, he struggled with consistency, missing the cut in nearly half the tournaments he entered. However, there were some bright spots, including a T-3 to earn $34,800 in the Chattanooga Classic as well as a fifth-place finish in the Buick Open to pocket $40,000.[3] In 1991, he had slightly more success, with top-10 finishes in five tournaments.[3]

Funk broke through in 1992 with his most successful year to date, including his first PGA Tour win. In May, he captured the Shell Houston Open with a 16-under score for a two-stroke win over Kirk Triplett and winnings of $216,000.[3]

In 1995, he won his second PGA Tour tournament with a score of 16-under at the 1995 Ideon Classic at Pleasant Valley, for which he earned $180,000. He followed that up with a win just two months later at the Buick Challenge, with another 16-under for $180,000.[3]

Funk was a member of the United States teams at the 2003 and 2005 Presidents Cup and the 2004 Ryder Cup. He received some criticism in 2004 for opting out of The Open Championship, one of the tour's four major tournaments, despite having qualified. He played instead in that week's B.C. Open, a much less prestigious event, but one which also offered Ryder Cup ranking points.[4]

In 2005, Funk scored his biggest PGA Tour win when he captured The Players Championship, also becoming its oldest winner at 48 years, 9 months, 14 days by defeating Tom Lehman, Scott Verplank and Luke Donald by a stroke.[5] He earned $1.44 million for the win.[5]

Senior career

Since turning 50 in June 2006, Funk has been eligible for Champions Tour events and debuted in the 2006 U.S. Senior Open. When he turned 50, he still featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

He won a further PGA Tour tournament, his eighth career win, in 2007 after his senior debut, becoming only the second over-50 player to win on the PGA Tour in 31 years. That win came at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun. By winning Funk became the first man to win a PGA Tour event held in Mexico and, at age 50 years, 8 months and 12 days, became the fifth-oldest champion in PGA Tour history and the oldest since Art Wall Jr. (51 years, 7 months, 10 days) at the 1975 Greater Milwaukee Open.[5]

In August 2008, Funk won his first senior major, the JELD-WEN Tradition.

After years of chronic knee pain, Funk underwent a total knee replacement in 2009.[6] Later that year, on June 8, 2009, he became the oldest qualifier, at age 53, for the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black by shooting 139 over 36 holes at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, surviving a playoff. In August 2009, Funk won his second major championship on the Champions Tour at the 2009 U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. Funk dominated the rest of the field and cruised to a six-stroke victory over Joey Sindelar.[7]

With his third senior major victory at the 2010 Jeld-Wen Tradition, he became the first player to win a PGA Tour-sanctioned event after knee-replacement surgery.[6]

A popular player on tour, his fans are referred to as "Funk's Punks." The iconic songs — Play That Funky Music and Give Up the Funk — have become theme songs for the fan favorite.

Funk has publicly endorsed a number of products including clubs, greens, and golf balls. He maintains professional relationships with Southwest Greens,[8] TaylorMade for its clubs,[9] Titleist golf balls,[10] and Stryker Orthopaedics.[11]

As of the 2013–14 season at age 57, Funk currently still plays in several PGA Tour events a year while devoting most of his time to the Champions Tour.[12]

At the end of the 2013 season, Funk ranked 38th in career PGA Tour earnings with just over $21 million in earnings.[13] He ranked 23rd in all-time Champions Tour earnings with over $9.1 million.[14]

Personal life

In the 1980s, Funk got married for the first time. He has a son, Eric Justin, born in 1991. He was divorced in 1992.[15][16]

In 1994, Funk married Sharon (née Archer), the daughter of Texan congressman Bill Archer.[17] They have two children. Their son, Taylor Christian, played golf for Ponte Vedra High School and won the Florida 2A state championship. Taylor turned professional in 2017.

Awards and honors

  • Funk was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.[5]
  • Funk has been enshrined into Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.[5]

Professional wins (29)

PGA Tour wins (8)

Legend
Players Championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (7)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory 		Runner(s)-up
1 May 3, 1992 Shell Houston Open −16 (68-72-62-70=272) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Kirk Triplett
2 Jul 30, 1995 Ideon Classic at Pleasant Valley −16 (66-63-66-73=268) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Jim McGovern
3 Oct 1, 1995 Buick Challenge −16 (69-67-69-67=272) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon John Morse, Template:Flagicon Loren Roberts
4 Sep 22, 1996 B.C. Open −16 (68-66-63=197)* Playoff Template:Flagicon Pete Jordan
5 Jul 19, 1998 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic −18 (69-64-69-68=270) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Paul Goydos, Template:Flagicon Franklin Langham,
Template:Flagicon Tim Loustalot
6 Oct 3, 2004 Southern Farm Bureau Classic (2) −22 (69-67-64-66=266) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Ryan Palmer
7 Mar 28, 2005 The Players Championship −9 (65-72-71-71=279) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Luke Donald, Template:Flagicon Tom Lehman,
Template:Flagicon Scott Verplank
8 Feb 25, 2007 Mayakoba Golf Classic −14 (62-69-64-71=266) Playoff Template:Flagicon José Cóceres

*Note: The 1996 B.C. Open was shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

PGA Tour playoff record (2–3)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1996 B.C. Open Template:Flagicon Pete Jordan Won with birdie on first extra hole
2 1996 Buick Challenge Template:Flagicon Michael Bradley, Template:Flagicon Davis Love III,
Template:Flagicon John Maginnes, Template:Flagicon Len Mattiace 		Bradley won with birdie on first extra hole
3 1998 Buick Challenge Template:Flagicon Steve Elkington Lost to par on first extra hole
4 1999 B.C. Open Template:Flagicon Brad Faxon Lost to par on second extra hole
5 2007 Mayakoba Golf Classic Template:Flagicon José Cóceres Won with birdie on second extra hole

Other wins (12)

PGA Tour Champions wins (9)

Legend
Champions Tour major championships (3)
Other Champions Tour (6)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory 		Runner(s)-up
1 Oct 22, 2006 AT&T Championship −12 (65-67-69=201) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Chip Beck
2 Jan 28, 2007 Turtle Bay Championship −23 (65-64-64=193) 11 strokes Template:Flagicon Tom Kite, Template:Flagicon Kiyoshi Murota,
Template:Flagicon Tom Purtzer, Template:Flagicon Loren Roberts,
Template:Flagicon Denis Watson
3 Jan 20, 2008 MasterCard Championship −21 (67-63-65=195) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Allen Doyle
4 Aug 17, 2008 JELD-WEN Tradition −19 (69-66-65-69=269) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Mike Goodes
5 Aug 2, 2009 U.S. Senior Open −20 (68-67-68-66=268) 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Joey Sindelar
6 Aug 2, 2010 JELD-WEN Tradition (2) −12 (68-69-70-69=276) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Michael Allen, Template:Flagicon Lu Chien-soon
7 May 6, 2012 Insperity Championship −14 (66-69-67=202) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Tom Lehman
8 Oct 14, 2012 Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn −15 (66-66-69=201) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Duffy Waldorf
9 Jun 8, 2014 Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf
(with Template:Flagicon Jeff Sluman) 		−20 (61-50-48=159) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Jay Haas and Template:Flagicon Peter Jacobsen

Champions Tour playoff record (0–3)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 2009 Principal Charity Classic Template:Flagicon Mark McNulty, Template:Flagicon Nick Price McNulty won with birdie on fourth extra hole
Price eliminated by birdie on second hole
2 2009 The Senior Open Championship Template:Flagicon Mark McNulty, Template:Flagicon Loren Roberts Roberts won with par on third extra hole
Funk eliminated by birdie on first hole
3 2010 Posco E&C Songdo Championship Template:Flagicon Russ Cochran Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships

Tournament 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open T23 CUT CUT CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship T47
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Masters Tournament CUT T38 T36 T17 CUT CUT
U.S. Open CUT T33 T7 T44 CUT CUT T43 CUT
The Open Championship 73 WD
PGA Championship T57 CUT T44 T55 T39 T26 T61 T23 73
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Masters Tournament T37 CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT
U.S. Open CUT T44 T35 6 T23 T40 T30 60
The Open Championship CUT CUT CUT T66
PGA Championship T9 T70 T4 T7 CUT T47 T20 CUT
Tournament 2010 2011
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open T70 CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />

  Top 10

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  Did not play

WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 1 12 4
U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 2 4 22 13
The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2
PGA Championship 0 0 0 1 3 5 18 15
Totals 0 0 0 1 5 10 58 34
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (1993 U.S. Open – 1994 PGA)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (five times)

The Players Championship

Wins (1)

Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runners-up
2005 The Players Championship 4 shot deficit −9 (65-72-71-71=279) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Luke Donald, Template:Flagicon Tom Lehman,
Template:Flagicon Scott Verplank

Results timeline

Tournament 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
The Players Championship CUT T60 T39 T78 T61 T13 T14 T69 T38
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
The Players Championship T13 T33 CUT T45 T10 1 T16 CUT CUT T79 T39

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />

  Win

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />

  Top 10

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Match Play R64 R64 R64 R64 R64 R64 R64
Championship T7 NT1 T49 T40 T29
Invitational T2 T14 T61 T41 T42 T69

1Cancelled due to 9/11

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  Top 10

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />

  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament

Senior major championships

Wins (3)

Year Championship Winning score Margin Runner(s)-up
2008 JELD-WEN Tradition −19 (69-66-65-69=269) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Mike Goodes
2009 U.S. Senior Open −20 (68-67-68-66=268) 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Joey Sindelar
2010 JELD-WEN Tradition (2) −12 (68-69-70-69=276) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Michael Allen, Template:Flagicon Lu Chien-soon

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order before 2022.

Tournament 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
The Tradition 11 1 T5 1 T18 T9 T12 T16 T9 32 T4 42 T53 NT T48 WD T71
Senior PGA Championship – T5 T23 T39 CUT T13 T39 CUT T44 T38 76 CUT NT T57 T72 WD
Senior Players Championship T11 T3 2 T7 T16 T9 T18 T65 T39 T49 T6 WD WD 70 T71 75
U.S. Senior Open T11 2 1 T43 T50 T2 2 T33 T20 WD CUT CUT NT CUT CUT CUT CUT
Senior British Open Championship T2 T3 T7 T57 T69 T29 T34 CUT CUT T46 NT CUT

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />

  Win

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />

  Top 10

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />

  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

References

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External links

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