Chris DiMarco Bio
Christian Dean DiMarco (born August 23, 1968) is an American professional golfer who has competed on the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. Over the course of a career that began in 1990, he captured eight professional tournament victories, including three PGA Tour titles, and built a reputation as one of the most consistent ball-strikers of his generation. Known for his steady temperament in major championships, DiMarco finished as a runner-up in three different majors between 2004 and 2006, each time against world-class competition.
A former collegiate standout at the University of Florida, DiMarco reached a career-high ranking of sixth in the Official World Golf Rankings in 2005. He has also represented the United States in the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, contributing key points for his country on multiple occasions. After stepping back from a full PGA Tour schedule in 2012, he transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions, where he continues to compete at a high level.
Early Life and Background
Christian Dean DiMarco was born on August 23, 1968, in Huntington, New York. When he was seven years old, his family relocated to Florida, where he would spend the rest of his formative years. He attended Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, where he played for the Patriots golf team and began dating his future wife at the age of 17.
DiMarco was raised in a sports-oriented household. Both of his older brothers were athletes, and his father played college basketball at St. John’s University. This competitive family environment helped shape his early dedication to athletics, and the warm Florida climate gave him year-round access to the golf course. His nephew, Patrick DiMarco, went on to become a professional football player, continuing the family’s tradition in competitive sports.
Path to Professional Golf
DiMarco accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he played for the Gators golf team from 1987 to 1990 under coaches Lynn Blevins and Buddy Alexander. He quickly established himself as one of the top college players in the country, capturing the Southeastern Conference individual title in 1989 with a three-round score of 209, while also leading the Gators to an SEC team championship that same year.
During his college career, he was a seven-time medalist, a first-team All-SEC selection in 1989 and 1990, the SEC Player of the Year in 1990, and an All-American in 1988, 1989, and 1990. These accomplishments set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks in 1990 and laid the foundation for a long and successful career on multiple golf tours.
Chris DiMarco Career
Early Career (1990–1999)
After turning professional in 1990, DiMarco won the Canadian Tour’s Order of Merit as its money leader in 1992. He finished ninth on the second-tier Nike Tour in 1993, a result that earned him his PGA Tour card for the 1994 season. Maintaining full status on the PGA Tour proved difficult at first, and he returned to the developmental circuit, where he captured his first professional title at the 1997 Nike Ozarks Open.
These years on the Canadian and Nike tours sharpened his competitive edge and gave him the experience needed to compete consistently against stronger fields. By the end of the 1990s, DiMarco was ready to make his mark on the premier U.S. circuit.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2000–2006)
DiMarco won his first PGA Tour event at the 2000 SEI Pennsylvania Classic, announcing his arrival as a force on the tour. He followed that with a second victory at the 2001 Buick Challenge, sinking a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole to tie David Duval and then winning on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. His third PGA Tour title came at the 2002 Phoenix Open, an event made famous by an incident at TPC Scottsdale’s par-three 16th hole, where a fan shouted a line from the movie Caddyshack during his backswing. DiMarco held his nerve, made the putt, and pointed at the heckler for ejection.
From 2002 to 2006, DiMarco enjoyed the most consistent run of his career. He was ranked inside the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings for 61 weeks, climbing as high as number six in the world in 2005. He was a member of the U.S. national team at the Presidents Cup in 2003 and 2005, and at the Ryder Cup in 2004 and 2006. In the 2005 Presidents Cup, he sank a 15-foot putt to beat Stuart Appleby and clinch the American victory.
DiMarco was a runner-up in three major championships during this stretch. In 2004, he tied for second at the PGA Championship, losing to Vijay Singh in a three-way playoff. The following year, he lost a sudden-death playoff to Tiger Woods at The Masters, a final-round pairing that included one of the most memorable chip shots in tournament history. In 2006, he finished second at The Open Championship at Hoylake, two strokes behind Tiger Woods, posting rounds of 70-65-69-68 for a total of 272, less than three weeks after the death of his mother.
Later Career and PGA Tour Champions Era (2007–Present)
In 2007, DiMarco disclosed that he was dealing with a chronic shoulder injury and later underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. Despite the setback, he still finished among the top 25 in six tournaments and earned more than $950,000 in fewer than nine months that year. He has not played a full PGA Tour schedule since 2012, gradually shifting his focus to the PGA Tour Champions, where senior players compete in tournament-style events.
DiMarco has remained a visible figure in the game through his role as a frequent contributor to Morning Drive on the Golf Channel. His transition to the senior circuit has allowed him to continue competing at a high level while sharing insights from more than three decades of professional golf.
Driving Style and Strengths
DiMarco built his reputation on a steady, fundamentally sound approach, excelling with accurate iron play and a reliable short game under pressure. He is widely respected for his composure in high-stakes situations, whether sinking crucial putts in team competitions or holding his nerve during major championship final rounds. His smooth tempo and willingness to commit to a game plan have made him a tough opponent in match-play formats.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of his career, DiMarco’s runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at the 2005 Masters, his clutch putt to clinch the 2005 Presidents Cup, and his stand against a heckler at the 2002 Phoenix Open stand out as signature performances. Reaching a career-high world ranking of sixth in 2005 and earning selection to four U.S. national teams further cemented his legacy in American golf.
Chris DiMarco Career Wins
DiMarco has accumulated eight professional tournament victories across multiple tours, including three PGA Tour titles. His wins span the Canadian Tour, the Nike Tour, the PGA Tour, and the European Tour, reflecting a versatile career that bridged developmental circuits and premier events.
PGA Tour Highlights
DiMarco’s three PGA Tour victories came in succession across a three-year window, beginning with the 2000 SEI Pennsylvania Classic, continuing with the 2001 Buick Challenge, and concluding with the 2002 Phoenix Open. Each win showcased a different skill: closing ability in Pennsylvania, late-round poise in a playoff at the Buick Challenge, and unshakable focus at the Phoenix Open.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his PGA Tour titles, DiMarco claimed one Canadian Tour victory that earned him the Order of Merit in 1992, and a Nike Tour win at the 1997 Nike Ozarks Open. He also recorded a European Tour victory during his career, contributing to his reputation as a globally competitive player during his prime years.
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Chris DiMarco Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
DiMarco comes from a sports-oriented family. Both of his older brothers were athletes, and his father played college basketball at St. John’s University. His nephew, Patrick DiMarco, is a professional football player, continuing the family’s tradition in competitive sports.
Personal Life
DiMarco has known his wife, Amy Curtis DiMarco, since the seventh grade, when both attended Rock Lake Middle School in Longwood, Florida. They later attended Lake Brantley High School together and went to their high school prom as a couple. The couple has three children, two daughters and a son. His son, Cristian DiMarco, played college golf at the University of South Florida after transferring from Kentucky and turned professional in 2018.
DiMarco hosts an annual charity golf tournament at Heathrow Country Club in Heathrow, Florida. The event, named the Norma DiMarco Tee Up For Life Golf Tournament in honor of his mother, raises funds for R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Cancer Kids) and features both celebrities and amateurs. As part of his personal participation, DiMarco plays the 12th hole with every foursome in the tournament.
2025 Season Performance
DiMarco continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, drawing on decades of professional experience against a strong field of fellow senior competitors. His consistent ball-striking remains a strength, and his course-management skills continue to translate well on venues familiar to him from his PGA Tour years.
Throughout the 2025 season, DiMarco has remained a steady presence in the field, regularly contending in events and posting solid finishes against an increasingly deep Champions Tour roster. His familiarity with major championship venues from his earlier career provides an edge at the senior majors on the schedule.
Looking ahead, DiMarco’s primary goals in 2025 include contending in senior major championships and maintaining a competitive schedule that allows him to balance tournament play with his media work on Golf Channel. His experience and poise under pressure continue to make him a respected competitor on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.