Kevin Chappell Bio
Kevin Alan Chappell (born July 8, 1986) is an American professional golfer who is currently playing on the PGA Tour. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the collegiate player of the year in 2008. Chappell turned professional the day after the 2008 Palmer Cup and has since made significant achievements in his golf career, including his first PGA Tour win at the 2017 Valero Texas Open.
Kevin Chappell Career
Early Career (2008–2010)
Chappell turned professional the day after the 2008 Palmer Cup and began playing mainly on the Nationwide Tour. A stand out result early in his career on the PGA Tour came at the 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, where he finished tied for sixth. Chappell then won his first professional event at the 2010 Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae on the Nationwide Tour, winning by one stroke over David Hearn after a final round of 65. He finished the year ninth on the money list and earned his 2011 PGA Tour card.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2011–2017)
In his rookie season on tour, Chappell finished tied for second behind Brendan Steele at the 2011 Valero Texas Open, after a bogey on the 17th hole put him one stroke behind. That same year, he qualified for the U.S. Open, his first major championship appearance, and shot a 66 on Sunday to finish in a tie for third place, securing entry into the 2012 U.S. Open and Masters Tournament. He ended his rookie year 84th in the FedEx Cup standings.
The 2016 season was inconsistent but produced several high finishes for Chappell, including runner-up results at the RSM Classic behind Kevin Kisner, the Arnold Palmer Invitational a single shot behind Jason Day, and The Players Championship, again behind Jason Day. He also lost in a three-man playoff with Rory McIlroy and Ryan Moore at the Tour Championship to McIlroy. After 180 PGA Tour starts and six runner-up finishes, Chappell earned his first PGA Tour victory at the 2017 Valero Texas Open, birdieing the 72nd hole for a one-stroke win over Brooks Koepka. The win moved him to a career-high 23rd in the Official World Golf Ranking and earned him the tenth and final automatic position for the 2017 Presidents Cup.
Return and Recent Years (2018–2025)
In November 2018, Chappell announced that he had been playing through injury for most of the 2018 season and needed microdiscectomy surgery, finishing 83rd in the FedEx Cup standings that year. He was given 23 starts to fulfill a medical exemption for the next season. Chappell made his return to the PGA Tour in September 2019 at the Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, where in the second round he tied the tour record with nine consecutive birdies and shot a 59, the 10th round of 59 in PGA Tour history.
In November 2025, Chappell announced his retirement from professional golf.
Notable Events and Milestones
Chappell’s first PGA Tour victory came at the 2017 Valero Texas Open, where he birdied the 72nd hole to edge Brooks Koepka by one stroke. His 59 in the second round of the 2019 Military Tribute at The Greenbrier tied the tour record with nine consecutive birdies and marked the 10th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history.
Kevin Chappell Career Wins
Kevin Chappell has recorded one PGA Tour victory and one Nationwide Tour victory during his professional career. His PGA Tour win came at the 2017 Valero Texas Open, while his Nationwide Tour win came at the 2010 Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae.
PGA Tour Highlights
Chappell’s lone PGA Tour win came at the 2017 Valero Texas Open, where a birdie on the 72nd hole delivered a one-stroke victory over Brooks Koepka. He also recorded six runner-up finishes before that breakthrough, including a playoff loss at the Tour Championship and a tie for second at the 2011 Valero Texas Open.
Other Wins and Performances
Chappell won the 2010 Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae on the Nationwide Tour by one stroke over David Hearn after a final-round 65. That victory helped him finish ninth on the Nationwide Tour money list and secure his 2011 PGA Tour card.
Kevin Chappell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kevin Chappell’s parents and extended family background is limited. He was born and raised in Fresno, California, and continues to make his home there.
Personal Life
Kevin Chappell is married to Elizabeth (née Petrie). He resides in Fresno, California, the same city where he was born.
2025 Season Performance
Details of Kevin Chappell’s 2025 PGA Tour schedule are not fully documented in available records. He had announced his retirement from professional golf in November 2025, closing a career that began on the Nationwide Tour in 2008.
Earlier in the 2010s, Chappell’s season storylines were defined by steady improvement, including a runner-up finish at the Memorial Tournament in 2013 and several close calls before his 2017 breakthrough. His 2019 return from back surgery produced one of the most memorable rounds of the decade, a 59 at The Greenbrier.
Chappell’s career outlook through retirement is that of a steady Tour veteran whose perseverance was rewarded with a single but memorable PGA Tour title and a historic sub-60 round.