Ben Crane

Last updated

Ben Crane
Greenbrier Classic - 2013 - Ben Crane (9210070898).jpg
Crane in 2013
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin McCully Crane
Born (1976-03-06) March 6, 1976 (age 47)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Residence Nashville, Tennessee
SpouseHeather Crane
Children3
Career
College Baylor University
University of Oregon
Turned professional1999
Current tour(s) PGA Tour
Professional wins8
Highest ranking 30 (November 27, 2005) [1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour5
Asian Tour1
Korn Ferry Tour2
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament T17: 2012
PGA Championship T9: 2004
U.S. Open T53: 2008
The Open Championship T11: 2006

Benjamin McCully Crane (born March 6, 1976) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.

Contents

Early years and amateur career

Crane was born in Portland, Oregon. He was introduced to golf at age five by his grandfather. He grew up playing at the nearby Portland Golf Club, where Ben Hogan won the Portland Open in 1945. [2] Crane graduated from Beaverton High School in 1994 and attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, but did not play golf for the Bears. [2] He transferred to the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon and played golf for the Ducks. He graduated in 1999 and turned professional that year.

Professional career

Crane in 2014 Travelers Championship 2014 (14473834491).jpg
Crane in 2014

Crane won two events on the second tier Buy.com Tour, the first in 2000 and the second in 2001. In December 2001, Crane earned his PGA Tour card for 2002, and won for the first time on the PGA Tour at the BellSouth Classic the following year. His second win came in 2005 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. Also in 2005 he finished second at the Booz Allen Classic and Bell Canadian Open, third at the 84 Lumber Classic, sixth at the B.C. Open and seventh at The Tour Championship, which placed him 19th in the season earnings with over $2.4 million. In February 2006, just before he turned thirty, he was the highest-ranked American golfer under that age in the Official World Golf Ranking.[ citation needed ]

Crane has said that he does not like to know with whom he will be paired, saying, "I looked up to a lot of these guys who I'm now playing with. So, I didn't want to have to go to sleep thinking about it." He is also considered one of the slowest players on the tour. On at least two occasions his extremely slow progress through a course has become a media issue, including one in which a fellow tour player Rory Sabbatini played out of turn. [3]

Crane missed the majority of the 2007 season due to back problems, and played on the PGA Tour in 2008 on a major medical extension. He finished 64th on the money list to retain his card for 2009. In January 2010, Crane carded a final-round 70 to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines by a single stroke. [4] In May he finished third at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, fourth at The Players Championship and seventh at the Byron Nelson Championship. In October, he won the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia, an event co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour (but unofficial money) and Asian Tour. [5] With 12 top-25s in 24 events, he ended 23rd on the money list with over $2.8 million.

He picked up his fourth win on the PGA Tour in 2011 at the McGladrey Classic, defeating Webb Simpson in a playoff. [6] Crane shot a final round 63 to make the playoff, having at one stage been eight strokes back of the leader. The round included eight birdies and one bogey in ten holes from the 8th to the 17th. Crane picked up his fifth victory on the PGA Tour in 2014 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. He would pick up the victory in wire to wire fashion, winning by a single stroke over Troy Merritt despite three bogeys and no birdies for his final round.

Personal life

Crane is married to Heather Crane; the couple has four children. Crane is a Christian. [7] Crane currently is one of four golfers in the PGA Tour exclusive boy band, "Golf Boys" - with Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, and Hunter Mahan. The Golf Boys currently have a popular YouTube video for the song "Oh Oh Oh." Farmers Insurance will donate $1,000 for every 100,000 views of the video. The charitable proceeds will support both Farmers and Ben Crane charitable initiatives. [8]

In early December 2009 Life & Style magazine reported that Crane had called Tiger Woods a "fake and a phony" due to Woods' recently publicized marital infidelity. Crane denied making the remarks, stating that he was not even at Q-school, where the magazine claimed he was interviewed. [9] "My wife and I have prayed for Tiger and Elin, and we want nothing but the best for them", Crane said. [10] In January 2010 the magazine retracted its story, stating that the evidence indicated that the comments were made by someone impersonating Crane. [11]

Amateur wins

this list may be incomplete

Professional wins (8)

PGA Tour wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1Apr 6, 2003 BellSouth Classic 73-72-64-63=272−164 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Bob Tway
2Jul 24, 2005 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee 62-65-64-69=260−204 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Scott Verplank
3Jan 31, 2010 Farmers Insurance Open 65-71-69-70=275−131 stroke Flag of Australia (converted).svg Marc Leishman, Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Sim,
Flag of the United States.svg Brandt Snedeker
4Oct 16, 2011 McGladrey Classic 65-70-67-63=265−15Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Webb Simpson
5Jun 8, 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic 63-65-69-73=270−101 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Troy Merritt

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2011 McGladrey Classic Flag of the United States.svg Webb Simpson Won with par on second extra hole

Asian Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Oct 31, 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia 167-64-66-69=266−181 stroke Flag of England.svg Brian Davis

1Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour, but unofficial money event.

Buy.com Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runners-up
1Jul 23, 2000 Buy.com Wichita Open 67-63-66-67=263−253 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Kelly Grunewald, Flag of the United States.svg Vance Veazey
2Oct 14, 2001 Buy.com Gila River Classic 63-66-64-68=261−23Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jason Caron, Flag of the United States.svg Bo Van Pelt

Buy.com Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 2001 Buy.com Gila River Classic Flag of the United States.svg Jason Caron, Flag of the United States.svg Bo Van Pelt Won with birdie on fourth extra hole
Caron eliminated by par on second hole

Results in major championships

Tournament20022003200420052006200720082009
Masters Tournament CUTCUT
U.S. Open CUT62T53CUT
The Open Championship CUTT11CUT
PGA Championship T48T9T40CUTCUTT43
Tournament201020112012201320142015
Masters Tournament T24CUTT17CUT
U.S. Open CUTCUTCUT
The Open Championship CUTCUT
PGA Championship T39T37WD
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament 00000262
U.S. Open 00000072
The Open Championship 00000151
PGA Championship 00001196
Totals0000142711

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017
The Players Championship CUTT66T36T6T5T4T45CUTT8CUTCUTT79
  Top 10
  Did not play

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

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014
Match Play R32R32R16R16R64
Championship T37WDT37T51
Invitational T42T5816T58WDWD
Champions T30T46
  Top 10
  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
WD = Withdrew
Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Stricker</span> American professional golfer

Steven Charles Stricker is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. He has twelve victories on the PGA Tour, including the WGC-Match Play title in 2001 and two FedEx Cup playoff events. His most successful season on tour came at age 42 in 2009, with three victories and a runner-up finish on the money list. Stricker spent over 250 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in September 2009. Stricker served as U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2021 matches, winning at Whistling Straits in his home state of Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory Sabbatini</span> South African-Slovak professional golfer

Rory Mario Trevor Sabbatini is a South African-Slovak professional golfer. Sabbatini won six times on the PGA Tour between 2000 and 2011 and was runner-up in the 2007 Masters. He spent 21 weeks in the world top-10 in late-2007 and early-2008, with a high of 8th. Sabbatini won the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, representing Slovakia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Classic</span>

The Atlanta Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, a regular stop in suburban Atlanta for over four decades. It was founded in 1967, although previous events dating to 1934 are included in the PGA Tour's past winners list. AT&T was the last title sponsor of the tournament.

Ryan Hunter Palmer is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Day</span> Australian professional golfer

Jason Anthony Day is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and most notably won the 2015 PGA Championship. He is a former world number one in the World Golf Ranking, having first achieved the ranking in September 2015. Day first broke into the world's top ten in June 2011, rising to world number nine after his runner-up finish at the U.S. Open. In February 2014, Day won his first WGC title, the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and would win it for a second time in 2016. With his 2016 win, he joined Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy as the only multiple winners of the WGC Match Play. He went on to win his first major tournament at the 2015 PGA Championship, scoring a record 20 strokes under par and rising to number three in the world rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Haas</span> American professional golfer

William Harlan Haas is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and won the 2011 FedEx Cup. He is the son of former PGA Tour player Jay Haas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubba Watson</span> American professional golfer (born 1978)

Gerry Lester "Bubba" Watson Jr. is an American professional golfer. He has two major championships, with victories at the Masters Tournament in 2012 and 2014, and a total 12 PGA Tour wins. In February 2015, Watson reached a career-high 2nd place in the Official World Golf Ranking. Watson plays in the LIV Golf League since 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Watney</span> American professional golfer

Nicholas Alan Watney is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. The highlight of Watney's career is his victory at the 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship. In July 2011, Watney won the AT&T National and broke into the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Mahan</span> American professional golfer (born 1982)

Hunter Myles Mahan is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He is a winner of two World Golf Championship events, the 2010 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the 2012 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Mahan has spent 19 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He reached a career-high world ranking of No. 4 on April 1, 2012, and in so doing became the highest ranked American golfer at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickie Fowler</span> American professional golfer (born 1988)

Rick Yutaka Fowler is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He was the number one ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008. On January 24, 2016, he reached a career high fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking following his victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. He is one of only 3 golfers to shoot 62 in a major championship, achieving the feat at the 2023 U.S. Open, played at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Martin Charles Campbell Laird is a Scottish professional golfer, playing on the PGA Tour. He has won four PGA Tour events in his career, most recently the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in 2020. Until Russell Knox earned his card via the 2011 Nationwide Tour, Laird was the only Scottish player on the PGA Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Dufner</span> American golfer

Jason Christopher Dufner is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour where he is a five-time winner. He has won one major championship, the 2013 PGA Championship. He was also runner-up in the 2011 PGA Championship, losing a playoff to Keegan Bradley. Dufner was ranked in the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking for 50 weeks; his career-high ranking is sixth in September 2012.

Kyle Matthew Stanley is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 U.S. Open (golf)</span> Golf tournament

The 2008 United States Open Championship was the 108th U.S. Open, played June 12–16 at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California. Tiger Woods won his third U.S. Open and 14th major title, defeating Rocco Mediate on the first hole of sudden-death, following an 18-hole playoff. With this victory, Woods joined Jack Nicklaus as the only two players to win the career grand slam three times. The U.S. Open was held at the Torrey Pines Golf Course for the first time, on its South Course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webb Simpson</span> American professional golfer

James Frederick Webb Simpson is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour who won the 2012 U.S. Open and the 2018 Players Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Leishman</span> Australian professional golfer

Marc A. Leishman is an Australian professional golfer. He has won six times on the PGA Tour. In 2009 he won the Rookie of the Year award on the PGA Tour, the first Australian to win the award.

Christopher Baryla is a Canadian professional golfer who has played on the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Spieth</span> American professional golfer (born 1993)

Jordan Alexander Spieth is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking. He is a three-time major winner and the 2015 FedEx Cup champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Kisner</span> American professional golfer

Kevin James Kisner is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keegan Bradley</span> American professional golfer (born 1986)

Keegan Hansen Bradley is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. He has won six tour events, most notably the 2011 PGA Championship. He is one of six golfers to win in his major debut, along with Ben Curtis, Fred Herd, Willie Park, Sr., Francis Ouimet and Horace Rawlins. He was the 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and has briefly featured in the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking.

References

  1. ↑ "Week 48 2005 Ending 27 Nov 2005" (pdf). OWGR . Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Ben Crane – Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Sabbatini apologizes to Crane after snapping". ESPN . June 14, 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Ben Crane claims Farmers Open win at Torrey Pines". BBC Sport. January 31, 2010. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ben Crane gets by with 69 for victory". ESPN. Associated Press. October 31, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Ben Crane rallies to win McGladrey". ESPN. Associated Press. October 16, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Ben Crane, PGA Tour Pro". Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Golf Boys - Oh Oh Oh (Official Video)". YouTube . June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  9. ↑ "PGA pros deny making inflammatory quotes about Tiger". Yahoo! Sports . December 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  10. ↑ Arkush, Michael (January 13, 2010). "A new season for the Daly Show – Mistaken identity". Yahoo! Sports.
  11. ↑ "Life & Style correction". Life & Style. January 13, 2010. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.