Larry Mize Bio
Lawrence Hogan Mize (born September 23, 1958) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour. He is well known for one career-defining shot, a chip from off the green at the 11th hole at Augusta to win the playoff for the 1987 Masters Tournament, which remains his only major title. He is also the only winner of the Masters to come from Augusta, the city where the tournament is held each spring.
Standing 183 centimeters tall, Mize has spent more than four decades in professional golf. After turning professional in 1980, he became a steady presence on tour, qualifying for the Masters for decades and earning respect for his calm temperament and steady ball-striking.
Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Lawrence Hogan Mize was born on September 23, 1958, in Augusta, Georgia. Growing up in the home of the Masters Tournament gave him an unusually close view of the game from an early age, and the traditions of Augusta National became part of his childhood surroundings.
As a teenager, Mize worked inside the ropes at the Masters as a scoreboard operator on the 3rd hole during tournament week. The job placed him just steps away from the greatest players in the world and helped spark his ambition to compete on the PGA Tour himself. The experience also gave him a detailed understanding of how Augusta National rewards patience, creativity, and calm nerves.
He later attended Georgia Tech, where he continued to develop his game as a college amateur. His education at Georgia Tech helped refine the disciplined, course-management approach that would later define his professional career.
Larry Mize Career
Path to Professional Golf
After his time at Georgia Tech, Mize prepared for a career on the PGA Tour, sharpening his short game and learning the patience required to compete week after week. He turned professional in 1980 and quickly began the climb through the tour’s qualifying and developmental structure.
By 1982, he had earned full PGA Tour status, and he remained inside the top 125 on the money list for 20 consecutive seasons, from 1982 through 2001. That run of consistent play established him as a reliable tour professional and gave him the platform from which he would launch his major championship run.
Early Career (1980-1986)
Mize’s first PGA Tour victory came at the 1983 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, a win that confirmed his arrival on the tour. He followed that with steady seasons of made cuts and contention, building a reputation as a precise iron player and a thoughtful putter.
In 1986, he reached the playoff at the Kemper Open, where he lost a six-hole aggregate playoff to Greg Norman. The defeat was a disappointment, but it also showed that Mize was now competing at the highest level of the game, ready to contend for the biggest titles.
Masters Breakthrough (1987)
At the 1987 Masters Tournament, Mize was tied with Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman after 72 holes, sending the tournament into a sudden-death playoff. Ballesteros was eliminated on the first extra hole after missing a five-foot putt for par, leaving Mize and Norman to decide the championship.
On the second playoff hole, Augusta’s par-4 11th, Mize’s second shot landed well to the right of the green, and a par appeared difficult. Norman, meanwhile, left his second shot on the edge of the green with a long birdie attempt. Mize then holed a memorable chip shot with a sand wedge from around 140 feet for birdie. Norman had a chance to tie, but his putt did not drop, and Mize became Masters champion. The Masters win, combined with a tie for fourth at the U.S. Open in June, briefly pushed him into the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Later PGA Tour Years (1988-2000s)
Mize won twice more on the PGA Tour in 1993, capturing the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, Arizona, and the Buick Open in Flint, Michigan. Those victories demonstrated that his 1987 Masters success was no fluke, as he continued to contend on courses that suited his accurate iron play.
He represented the United States in the Ryder Cup in 1987 and played for his country again in the Dunhill Cup in 2000. Off the course, Mize and Coca-Cola co-sponsored a long-running charity golf tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club that raised significant funds for cystic fibrosis research, reflecting his commitment to giving back to the game.
Champions Tour Era (2010-Present)
Mize made a smooth transition to the Champions Tour, winning the Montreal event in 2010 for his first victory on the senior circuit. The win showed that his short-game creativity, the skill that produced his famous Masters chip, remained sharp well into his fifties.
As of April 2022, Mize had played in 39 consecutive Masters Tournaments, 34 of them coming after he earned a lifetime invitation through his 1987 win. He currently resides in Columbus, Georgia, and continues to play a schedule that mixes Champions Tour events with the Masters each April.
Notable Events and Milestones
His 1987 chip-in at the 11th hole at Augusta remains one of the most replayed shots in Masters history and is the single most defining moment of his career. He is the only Masters champion to have been born in Augusta, a unique distinction that ties him permanently to the tournament’s heritage.
Larry Mize Career Wins
Across the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and international events, Mize has built a steady professional resume anchored by his four PGA Tour titles, his one Champions Tour win, and additional victories abroad.
PGA Tour Highlights
Mize’s four PGA Tour wins include the 1983 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, the 1993 Northern Telecom Open, the 1993 Buick Open, and the 1987 Masters Tournament. He has also recorded a PGA Tour playoff record of 1-3 across his career. His 1987 Masters victory remains the crown jewel, while his two 1993 wins confirmed his consistency in the years that followed.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the PGA Tour, Mize has recorded victories on the Champions Tour, the PGA of Japan Tour, and in selected international events. His Champions Tour win came in Montreal in 2010, and he has added three titles on the Japan Golf Tour, reflecting a career that extended well beyond American soil.
Larry Mize Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Mize’s parents and extended family is limited. What is clear is that he was raised in Augusta, Georgia, the home of the Masters, and that his teenage experience as a scoreboard operator at the tournament shaped his lifelong connection to the event.
Personal Life
Mize currently resides in Columbus, Georgia, with his wife and three sons. His hobbies include fishing, basketball, and playing the piano, offering a glimpse of his life away from the course. His long-time residence in Columbus, combined with his annual return to Augusta for the Masters, has made him a familiar figure in Georgia golf circles for decades.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Mize continues to balance a Champions Tour schedule with his annual appearance at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National. His lifetime exemption from his 1987 Masters win keeps him in the field each April, and the 2025 Masters will mark another chapter in his remarkable streak of consecutive appearances.
On the Champions Tour, Mize remains competitive in senior events, drawing on the same accurate iron play and dependable short game that fueled his PGA Tour career. His experience in major-style competition, especially around Augusta National, makes him a steady presence in the field and a respected veteran among his peers.
While the 2025 season is unlikely to add to his major championship tally, Mize’s continued presence at the Masters each spring remains a celebration of one of the most famous shots in golf history and a reminder of the rare longevity he has achieved in a demanding sport.