Bud Cauley
Encyclopedia
William "Bud" Cauley is an American
professional golfer
.
were he was home schooled by his parents. He was ranked top-five nationally in junior golf and among top 15 in the world. As a junior golfer, Cauley was a member of the 2006 Junior Ryder Cup
, and the 2008 USA Junior World Golf Championships
team. He was also a co-medalist at the 2008 Toyota World Junior Amateur Championships. When Cauley moved up to amateur events he was ranked No. 1 in junior golf.
Cauley chose to play college golf for the University of Alabama golf team
, where he became one of the best in the program's history. He was a three-time first-team Golfweek
All-American during his three years at Alabama. He was also a finalist for the Hogan Award, given to the best college golfer, all three years at Alabama. Cauley was a member of the 2009 U.S. Walker Cup
team, where he posted a 3-0-1 record. In 2009, Cauley was the Southeastern Conference
's Freshman of the Year. That year he captured his first collegiate victory at the United States Collegiate Championship. In 2008 he won the Players Amateur
, qualifying him for the 2010 Verizon Heritage
on the PGA Tour. He played in the 2009 and 2010 U.S. Amateur; in 2009 Cauley beat the world's No. 1 amateur, Rickie Fowler
, in the first round of match play. He also won the Terra Cotta Invitational
in 2008.
and decided to turn professional, foregoing his senior season. In his short professional career, Cauley did not miss a cut in the first four PGA Tour events he played. which included a T4 at the Viking Classic. He also finished T4 on the Nationwide Tour's Utah Championship. Cauley made the cut at the U.S. Open, finishing T63 and guaranteeing himself a bypass to the second stage of Q School.
Cauley also finished third at the 2011 Frys.com Open
, earning himself $340,000 and a start at the McGladrey Classic
, since Cauley used his last exemption and non-members who finish in the top ten in a PGA Tour event are guaranteed a start in the next tournament. During his limited time on the PGA Tour, Cauley earned $735,150 in eight starts. He finished the equivalent of 116th on the 2011 money list, joining Gary Hallberg
, Phil Mickelson
, Justin Leonard
, Ryan Moore, and Tiger Woods
as those who went directly to the PGA Tour after college.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
.
Amateur career
Cauley was born in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
were he was home schooled by his parents. He was ranked top-five nationally in junior golf and among top 15 in the world. As a junior golfer, Cauley was a member of the 2006 Junior Ryder Cup
Junior Ryder Cup
The Junior Ryder Cup is a team golf competition between Europe and the United States. It is based on the men's Ryder Cup and is run by the same organisations, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Ltd . The teams consist of six boys and six girls...
, and the 2008 USA Junior World Golf Championships
Junior World Golf Championships
The Junior World Golf Championships are held in San Diego, California, USA each year, currently in July. They include tournaments for six age groups ranging from under-6 to 15–17 and for both boys and girls...
team. He was also a co-medalist at the 2008 Toyota World Junior Amateur Championships. When Cauley moved up to amateur events he was ranked No. 1 in junior golf.
Cauley chose to play college golf for the University of Alabama golf team
Alabama Crimson Tide golf
The Alabama Crimson Tide golf teams represents the University of Alabama located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
, where he became one of the best in the program's history. He was a three-time first-team Golfweek
Golfweek
Golfweek is a high-end weekly golfing magazine, published in the United States. The magazine was launched in 1975 but was purchased by Turnstile Publishing Company, based in Orlando, Florida, in 1990 and has since become its flagship publication out of the five magazines it publishes...
All-American during his three years at Alabama. He was also a finalist for the Hogan Award, given to the best college golfer, all three years at Alabama. Cauley was a member of the 2009 U.S. Walker Cup
2009 Walker Cup
The 42nd Walker Cup Match was held September 12-13, 2009 at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Team United States won 16½ to 9½ for its third consecutive win.-Format:...
team, where he posted a 3-0-1 record. In 2009, Cauley was the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
's Freshman of the Year. That year he captured his first collegiate victory at the United States Collegiate Championship. In 2008 he won the Players Amateur
Players Amateur
The Players Amateur is an annual amateur golf tournament. It was first played in 2000. It is organized by the Heritage Classic Foundation, which also sponsors The Heritage on the PGA Tour...
, qualifying him for the 2010 Verizon Heritage
Verizon Heritage
The RBC Heritage, known for much of its history as the Heritage Classic, is a PGA Tour FedEx Cup event, first played in 1969. The venue has been the Harbour Town Golf Links at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina...
on the PGA Tour. He played in the 2009 and 2010 U.S. Amateur; in 2009 Cauley beat the world's No. 1 amateur, Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler
Rick Yutaka Fowler is an American professional golfer. He was the number one ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008.-Amateur career:...
, in the first round of match play. He also won the Terra Cotta Invitational
Terra Cotta Invitational
The Terra Cotta Invitational is an annual amateur golf tournament. It has been played since 1996 at Naples National Golf Club in Naples, Florida....
in 2008.
Professional career
After finishing his junior year at Alabama, Cauley qualified for the 2011 U.S. Open2011 U.S. Open (golf)
The 2011 United States Open Championship, the 111th U.S. Open, was played June 16–19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. It was won by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who set 11 U.S. Open records on the weekend, including the lowest total 72-hole score and the lowest total under...
and decided to turn professional, foregoing his senior season. In his short professional career, Cauley did not miss a cut in the first four PGA Tour events he played. which included a T4 at the Viking Classic. He also finished T4 on the Nationwide Tour's Utah Championship. Cauley made the cut at the U.S. Open, finishing T63 and guaranteeing himself a bypass to the second stage of Q School.
Cauley also finished third at the 2011 Frys.com Open
Frys.com Open
The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is a golf tournament in the Fall Series of the PGA Tour. It is played annually in October in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament is held at the TPC at Summerlin and since 2008 it has been hosted by recording star Justin Timberlake.The event...
, earning himself $340,000 and a start at the McGladrey Classic
McGladrey Classic
The McGladrey Classic is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour named for its main sponsor, McGladrey, an accounting, tax and business consulting firm. It had its first playing in October 2010 in St. Simons Island, Georgia at the Sea Island Seaside Golf Club...
, since Cauley used his last exemption and non-members who finish in the top ten in a PGA Tour event are guaranteed a start in the next tournament. During his limited time on the PGA Tour, Cauley earned $735,150 in eight starts. He finished the equivalent of 116th on the 2011 money list, joining Gary Hallberg
Gary Hallberg
Gary George Hallberg is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour....
, Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson
Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
, Justin Leonard
Justin Leonard
Justin Charles Garrett Leonard is an American professional golfer.Leonard was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He attended Lake Highlands High School and graduated in 1990. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and was the individual NCAA champion in 1994. He was a two-time All-American...
, Ryan Moore, and Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
as those who went directly to the PGA Tour after college.
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 2011 |
|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T63 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.