Mark Hayes (golfer)

Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes
Personal information
Full name	Mark Stephen Hayes
Born	July 12, 1949; Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	July 17, 2018 (aged 69); Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Nationality	United States
Career
College	Oklahoma State University
Turned professional	1973
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour; Champions Tour
Professional wins	7
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	3
Other	4
Best results in major championships;
Masters Tournament	T10: 1982
PGA Championship	T15: 1976
U.S. Open	T6: 1980
The Open Championship	T9: 1977

Mark Stephen Hayes (July 12, 1949 – July 17, 2018) was an American professional golfer. He had three victories on the PGA Tour in the 1970s, including the 1977 Tournament Players Championship. He played in the 1979 Ryder Cup as a late replacement for Tom Watson.

Early years and amateur career

Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma,[1] Hayes played collegiately at Oklahoma State University, where he was a two-time All-American.[2] He won the Sunnehanna Amateur in 1972.

Professional career

Hayes won three times on the PGA Tour: the Byron Nelson Golf Classic and Pensacola Open in 1976 and the Tournament Players Championship in 1977.[3] He also won the PGA Tour-sponsored Tallahassee Open in 1986 and three Oklahoma Opens.

Hayes had his best finish in a major championship at the U.S. Open in 1980, where he began the final round of play two shots out of the lead[4] but shot a final round 74 to finish T6. He was also the first round leader[5] at the 1975 PGA Championship, but finished T22. In the second round of The Open Championship in 1977, Hayes shot 63 at the Ailsa Course at Turnberry to establish a new single round record at The Open Championship by two strokes. The previous record of 65 was set by Henry Cotton in the second round in 1934 at Royal St. George's.[6]

Hayes played in the 1979 Ryder Cup team after Tom Watson gave up his spot to be with his wife at the birth of their first child.[7] Hayes lost both his matches on the second day but won his singles match against Antonio Garrido on the final day, to help the United States to a 17 to 11 win over the European team.

After turning 50, Hayes joined the Senior PGA Tour. His best finish was T10 at the 2001 Siebel Classic in Silicon Valley.[8]

Hayes was well known for his trademark bucket caps.[9]

Business career

In the late 1980s, Hayes began preparing for a career in golf course design and construction. In 1990, he established a golf course design firm.[2] His projects were built in Oklahoma and neighboring states.[10]

Death

Hayes died on July 17, 2018, from early-onset Alzheimer's disease.[11]

Amateur wins

1972 Sunnehanna Amateur

Professional wins (7)

PGA Tour wins (3)

Legend
Players Championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	May 9, 1976	Byron Nelson Golf Classic	66-67-71-69=273	−11	2 strokes	Don Bies
2	Nov 1, 1976	Pensacola Open	68-72-69-66=275	−9	2 strokes	Lee Elder
3	Mar 20, 1977	Tournament Players Championship	72-74-71-72=289	+1	2 strokes	Mike McCullough

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1979	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	Andy Bean, Lon Hinkle	Hinkle won with birdie on third extra hole Bean eliminated with par on second hole
2	1981	Greater Greensboro Open	Larry Nelson	Lost to birdie on second extra hole

Other wins (4)

Results in major championships

Tournament	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Masters Tournament					T33
U.S. Open	CUT	T40		T14	T41	T35	CUT
The Open Championship					T9	T14	T30
PGA Championship			T22	T15	T19	CUT	T62

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1986	1987	1988	1990
Masters Tournament	CUT	CUT	T10	T20	CUT
U.S. Open	T6	T14	CUT	T26	T43			CUT	CUT
The Open Championship	T32
PGA Championship	T59	T33	T34	CUT		CUT	CUT

Top 10

Did not play

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

Summary

Tournament	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	1	2	6	3
U.S. Open	1	3	13	8
The Open Championship	1	2	4	4
PGA Championship	0	3	11	7
Totals	3	10	34	22

Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (1974 U.S. Open – 1978 Open Championship)
Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (three times)

The Players Championship

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1977	Tournament Players Championship	Tied for lead	+1 (72-74-71-72=289)	2 strokes	Mike McCullough

Results timeline

Tournament	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
The Players Championship	T19	CUT	5	1	T28	T60	T45	T34	80		CUT	CUT	CUT	T54	CUT	T55		T52

Win