Sean O'Hair

:"This article is about the golfer. For the pro wrestler, see Sean O'Haire.

Sean M. O'Hair (born July 11, 1982) is an American professional golfer.

O'Hair was born in Lubbock, Texas. Unlike the vast majority of contemporary American professional golfers,Fact|date=June 2007 O'Hair did not go to college. He turned professional in 1999 after his junior year at high school under the direction of his father, Marc O'Hair, who sold his share of the family shutter business in Lubbock for $2.75 million to develop Sean into a touring pro. The elder O'Hair moved the family to Florida and enrolled Sean in the David Leadbetter Golf Academy.

A featured article by Steve Elling in the January 21, 2005 "Golf World" alleged:

Marc O'Hair, 52, signed management contracts with his son, says he invested $2 million in his boy's professional future and subjected Sean to a physical and psychological regimen that would make most drill sergeants blush. Sean broke free in 2002 and has not spoken to his father since a perfunctory greeting at Sean's wedding more than two years ago. cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.golfdigest.com/newsandtour/index.ssf?/newsandtour/gw20050121ohair.html| title = What Price Success?| format = | work = | publisher =Golf World - ESPN| accessdate = 14 May| accessyear = 2007]

Professional career

O'Hair entered PGA Tour Qualifying School regularly from 1999, but was unsuccessful at his first five attempts. He played on various developmental tours: the PGA Tour's official second-level developmental Nationwide Tour, the third-level Gateway Tour and the Cleveland Golf Pro Tour. He had limited success, making the cut in only four out of eighteen starts at Nationwide Tour level.

In 2004 O'Hair made it through all three stages of PGA Tour Qualifying. His 2005 season was a dramatic success. He won the John Deere Classic and finished second at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. His season earnings came to $2,461,482 and he won PGA Rookie of the Year honors. In March 2006 he was the youngest man in the top fifty of the Official World Golf Rankings. After he established himself as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year distinction with his strong finish at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and victory at the John Deere Classic, his estranged relationship with his father, already highlighted on a 2002 episode of "60 Minutes", cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://election.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/09/60II/main505714.shtml| title = 60 Minutes: The Tiger Formula| format = | work = | publisher = CBS News| accessdate = 14 May| accessyear = 2007] became well-publicized. It was also profiled by Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly.

O'Hair's 2006 season was less successful. He dropped out of the top fifty---finishing no higher than fourth at the Buick Open in Michigan---but returned to the list with a 3rd place at the Canadian Open. He continued to play well in major events, finishing in the top fifteen at the British Open and the PGA Championship. He finished at +13, tied for 26th, at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

2007 PGA Tour

In 2007, caddied by his father-in-law Steve Lucas, O'Hair recorded his first top-10 of the year, a tie for 7th, at the Verizon Heritage. His second-round 66 matched his low round for the season. The 7th place was his best finish on the PGA Tour since the 2006 Canadian Open.

On May 12, 2007, at The Players Championship at the TPC at Sawgrass, O'Hair led Phil Mickelson by a stroke after the 3rd round. A birdie two on the "Island Green" 17th hole after he had feared he had flown the green with a 9-iron, and a birdie-birdie-birdie finish for a round of 66, gave him a 9-under-par 207 after 54 holes.

In the final round O'Hair, playing in the final pairing with Mickelson, was in second place when they came to the 17th, trailing by two strokes. Mickelson played safely to the center of the multi-tiered green but O'Hair, in an effort to cut into the lead with birdie, elected to go for the pin and his tee shot flew over the green into the water. His third shot, from the drop area, also ended up in the water and he finished the hole with a quadruple bogey 7. O'Hair went on to bogey the 18th, dropping him from a second to eleventh place, which cost O'Hair approximately $747,000 in prize money.

Since late 2007, he has been caddied by former PGA golfer (and former caddy for Vijay Singh) Paul Tesori.

2008 PGA Tour

On March 9, 2008, O'Hair came from three strokes back (behind Stewart Cink) to win the PODS Championship by two strokes with a final score of 4-under-par.

O'Hair and his wife Jackie, married in December 2002. They have two children, Molly and Luke.

Tournament wins (2)

PGA Tour wins (2)

*2005 John Deere Classic
*2008 PODS Championship

Results in major championships

DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

References

External links

* [http://www.pgatour.com/players/02/41/40 Profile on the PGA Tour's official site]
* [http://www.golfdigest.com/newsandtour/index.ssf?/newsandtour/gw20050121ohair.html "What price success?"] - "Golf World" article
* [http://www.owgr.com/players/bio.sps?ID=7626 Results in ranking events for the last two years from the Official World Ranking site]