Dillard Pruitt
Encyclopedia
Dillard Pruitt is an American
amateur golf
er, who formerly played professionally on the PGA Tour
.
Pruitt was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina
. He attended Clemson University
from 1981–1984 and was a distinguished member of the golf team. His leadership was a key part of the Tigers
rise to prominence in golf in the 1980s. Pruitt was a two-time All-American (first team his senior year), three-time All-ACC and a key member of Clemson's 1982 ACC Championship team. He turned professional in 1985. He played on the European Tour in 1986 and 1987 and joined the PGA Tour in 1988.
Pruitt played on the PGA Tour from 1988 to 1996. His highest finish on the money list was 63rd in 1991, when he won $271,861 and the Chattanooga Classic
, his only PGA Tour victory. Pruitt was the first Clemson alum to win a PGA Tour event. His best finish in a major championship
was tied for 13th at the 1992 Masters
. Since retiring as a touring professional, Pruitt has work for the PGA Tour as a rules official.
Pruitt's amateur status was reinstated by the United States Golf Association
(USGA) in 2001. He went on to win the 2002 Sunnehanna Amateur
and the 2002 Canadian Amateur Championship
. He was named to the 2003 Walker Cup
Team. This led to a firestorm of controversy within the golfing world. The USGA was heavily criticized for allowing a former PGA tournament champion to regain his amateur status. This is not the only controversy surrounding Pruitt. He has been involved in several controversial decisions in his capacity as a rules official.
Pruitt is the brother-in-law of golfer Jay Haas
, who is married to his sister Jan.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = Missed the half-way cut
"T" = Tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
amateur golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er, who formerly played professionally on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.
Pruitt was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. He attended Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
from 1981–1984 and was a distinguished member of the golf team. His leadership was a key part of the Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
rise to prominence in golf in the 1980s. Pruitt was a two-time All-American (first team his senior year), three-time All-ACC and a key member of Clemson's 1982 ACC Championship team. He turned professional in 1985. He played on the European Tour in 1986 and 1987 and joined the PGA Tour in 1988.
Pruitt played on the PGA Tour from 1988 to 1996. His highest finish on the money list was 63rd in 1991, when he won $271,861 and the Chattanooga Classic
Chattanooga Classic (PGA Tour)
This article is about the former PGA Tour event, for information on the Nationwide Tour event, see Chattanooga Classic.The Chattanooga Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1986 to 1992...
, his only PGA Tour victory. Pruitt was the first Clemson alum to win a PGA Tour event. His best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
was tied for 13th at the 1992 Masters
The Masters Tournament
The Masters Tournament, also known as The Masters , is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year...
. Since retiring as a touring professional, Pruitt has work for the PGA Tour as a rules official.
Pruitt's amateur status was reinstated by the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
(USGA) in 2001. He went on to win the 2002 Sunnehanna Amateur
Sunnehanna Amateur
The Sunnehanna Amateur, officially the Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions, is a men's amateur golf tournament. Founded in 1954, it is hosted annually at the Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States...
and the 2002 Canadian Amateur Championship
Canadian Amateur Championship
The Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
. He was named to the 2003 Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
Team. This led to a firestorm of controversy within the golfing world. The USGA was heavily criticized for allowing a former PGA tournament champion to regain his amateur status. This is not the only controversy surrounding Pruitt. He has been involved in several controversial decisions in his capacity as a rules official.
Pruitt is the brother-in-law of golfer Jay Haas
Jay Haas
Jay Dean Haas is an American professional golfer.Haas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Belleville, Illinois. He attended Wake Forest University and was a member of the NCAA Championship team of the middle 1970s with Curtis Strange and Bob Byman that Golf World has called "the...
, who is married to his sister Jan.
Amateur wins
- 1982 South Carolina State Amateur
- 1983 Sunnehanna AmateurSunnehanna AmateurThe Sunnehanna Amateur, officially the Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions, is a men's amateur golf tournament. Founded in 1954, it is hosted annually at the Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States...
- 2002 Sunnehanna AmateurSunnehanna AmateurThe Sunnehanna Amateur, officially the Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions, is a men's amateur golf tournament. Founded in 1954, it is hosted annually at the Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States...
, Canadian Amateur ChampionshipCanadian Amateur ChampionshipThe Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 | CUT | DNP | 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... |
T67 | DNP | DNP | T44 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 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 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 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 | T66 | T33 | DNP | DNP | 66 |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = Missed the half-way cut
"T" = Tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.