Patton Kizzire Bio
Maxie Patton Kizzire, known professionally as Patton Kizzire, is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. Born on March 3, 1986, in Montgomery, Alabama, he turned professional in 2008 after a successful college career at Auburn University. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Kizzire is one of the tallest players on the PGA Tour and is recognized for his steady ball-striking and calm temperament under pressure.
Over the course of his career, Kizzire has built a reputation as a consistent performer, with multiple victories on both the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour. He gained national attention in 2015 when he was named the Web.com Tour Player of the Year, and he has since added three PGA Tour titles to his resume. He currently resides in Sea Island, Georgia, where he continues to compete at the highest level of professional golf.
Early Life and Background
Patton Kizzire was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and grew up in the nearby college town of Tuscaloosa. From a young age, he showed a strong interest in golf, spending much of his time on the course and developing the skills that would later define his professional career. His height, even in his junior years, gave him a natural advantage in creating leverage and power in his golf swing.
Kizzire attended Auburn University, where he played collegiate golf for the Tigers. During the 2006-07 season, he earned All-Southeastern Conference first team honors, a significant recognition in one of the most competitive conferences in college golf. He capped his college career by winning the 2007 SEC Championship, a victory that helped establish his reputation as a rising talent. He also placed third at the 2003 U.S. Junior Open, further demonstrating his potential at the national level.
He graduated from Auburn in 2008 with a degree in Business, balancing his academic responsibilities with the demands of competitive collegiate golf. Shortly after graduation, he made the decision to turn professional, beginning a journey that would take him from mini-tour events to the biggest stages in golf.
Path to Professional Golf
After turning professional in 2008, Kizzire began working his way up through the developmental ranks of professional golf. He spent several years competing on smaller circuits, refining his game and gaining the experience needed to compete at higher levels. His patience and dedication paid off when he earned a spot on the Web.com Tour, the official development tour of the PGA Tour.
Kizzire’s big breakthrough came during the 2015 Web.com Tour season. He opened the year with strong performances, including two runner-up finishes at the El Bosque Mexico Championship and the Rex Hospital Open. In July 2015, he recorded his first Web.com Tour victory at the Utah Championship, a win that secured his PGA Tour card for the following season. He finished the year as the Web.com Tour regular season money list leader, a remarkable achievement that reflected his consistency throughout the year.
Beyond his playing success, Kizzire was recognized by his peers and the tour when he was voted the Web.com Tour Player of the Year for 2015. This honor was a testament to not only his victories but also his overall body of work, which included ten top-25 finishes and nine top-10 finishes across his first fifteen events. His performance on the Web.com Tour set the stage for his transition to the PGA Tour.
Patton Kizzire Career
Early Career (2008-2015)
Patton Kizzire’s early professional years were marked by steady progression through the minor leagues of professional golf. After turning pro in 2008, he spent several seasons competing on various developmental tours, building the experience and competitive resume necessary to advance. In December 2014, he tied for 21st place at the Web.com Tour Qualifying School final stage, earning full status on the Web.com Tour for the following season.
His 2015 Web.com Tour campaign was his breakout year. He led the tour’s money list for most of the season, and his victory at the Utah Championship was the highlight of a campaign in which he missed only two cuts in his first fifteen starts. The season also included a brief appearance on the PGA Tour at the Barbasol Championship, where he missed the cut, but the experience gave him a taste of higher-level competition.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2015-2017)
Kizzire’s rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2015-16 was a strong one. He recorded five top-10 finishes and made 20 of 27 cuts, a solid showing that demonstrated his ability to compete week in and week out. His best result came at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, where he finished as runner-up. He ended the year ranked 82nd in the FedEx Cup standings, a respectable finish for a first-year player.
The following season, Kizzire continued to show flashes of promise. In October 2016, he tied for second at the Safeway Open, the season-opening event, where he held a 54-hole lead before finishing one stroke behind Brendan Steele. That runner-up finish helped raise his profile, even though he ended the year at 99th in the FedEx Cup standings.
On November 12, 2017, Kizzire earned his first PGA Tour victory at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Due to inclement weather, the final round required players to complete 36 holes on Sunday, but Kizzire held his nerve and held off a challenge from Rickie Fowler to win by one stroke. The victory was a defining moment in his career, confirming that he belonged among the elite players on tour.
Sony Open and Procore Championship Era (2018-2024)
Just a few months after his first PGA Tour win, Kizzire added a second title. On January 14, 2018, he won the Sony Open in Hawaii, played at Waialae Country Club. In one of the more dramatic finishes of the season, he defeated James Hahn in a sudden-death playoff, sealing the victory with a birdie on the sixth extra hole. The win made him the first multiple winner of the 2018 PGA Tour season and moved him to the top of the early FedEx Cup standings.
After his strong start to 2018, Kizzire entered a six-year winless drought, although he continued to make cuts and post solid finishes. That drought finally ended on September 15, 2024, when he won the Procore Championship at Silverado in Napa Valley, California. Kizzire led the final three days of the tournament and won by five shots over David Lipsky, a dominant performance that announced his return to the winner’s circle.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kizzire’s 6-foot-5 frame gives him a natural advantage in generating clubhead speed, and he is known for his smooth, repeatable golf swing. His ball-striking is among the more consistent on the PGA Tour, and he is particularly effective on courses that reward accuracy and strategic shot-making. While not known as the longest hitter, his ability to find fairways and greens in regulation has been a key to his success. His calm demeanor and patience have also served him well in pressure situations, as evidenced by his playoff victory at the Sony Open.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kizzire’s career highlights are his 2015 Web.com Tour Player of the Year award, his first PGA Tour win at the 2017 OHL Classic at Mayakoba, and his dramatic playoff victory at the 2018 Sony Open in Hawaii. His five-shot win at the 2024 Procore Championship stands as one of the most decisive victories of his career, breaking a six-year winless streak and reaffirming his place on the PGA Tour.
Patton Kizzire Career Wins
Patton Kizzire has accumulated a total of three PGA Tour victories and two Web.com Tour wins across his professional career. His triumphs span multiple countries and tournaments, with notable success in Mexico, Hawaii, and California. Each of his wins has come in different circumstances, from weather-shortened events to dramatic playoffs, demonstrating his versatility as a competitor.
PGA Tour Highlights
Kizzire’s first PGA Tour win came at the 2017 OHL Classic at Mayakoba, where he defeated Rickie Fowler by one stroke in a marathon final round. Just over two months later, he added the 2018 Sony Open in Hawaii to his resume, winning in a sudden-death playoff against James Hahn. His most recent PGA Tour victory came at the 2024 Procore Championship, a commanding five-shot win that ended a long winless drought.
Other Wins and Performances
On the Web.com Tour, Kizzire secured two victories, including the 2015 Utah Championship, which earned him his PGA Tour card. His consistent play throughout 2015, with nine top-10 finishes, helped him claim the tour’s regular season money list title and the Player of the Year award.
Patton Kizzire Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Patton Kizzire was raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he developed his love for the game of golf. While specific details about his parents are not widely documented, his upbringing in the Deep South provided him with access to year-round golf and a strong network of mentors and competitors that helped shape his career.
Personal Life
Kizzire currently resides in Sea Island, Georgia, a popular home base for many PGA Tour professionals. Known for its golf-rich environment and coastal lifestyle, Sea Island offers him ideal conditions for both training and relaxation. He maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates about his career and personal interests with fans.
2025 Season Performance
As Patton Kizzire enters the 2025 PGA Tour season, he does so with renewed confidence following his commanding five-shot victory at the 2024 Procore Championship. The win not only ended a six-year drought but also reaffirmed his status as a competitive force on tour. Heading into the new year, he will look to build on that momentum and add to his three career PGA Tour titles.
With his ball-striking strengths and experience in a variety of course conditions, Kizzire is well-positioned to make an impact in several events throughout the 2025 season. His track record in tournaments held in warmer climates, such as the Sony Open in Hawaii and the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, suggests that early-season events could be particularly favorable for him.
As the season unfolds, Kizzire’s primary goals will likely include qualifying for the FedEx Cup playoffs, contending in signature events, and potentially securing another victory. His consistency and renewed form make him a player to watch as the 2025 PGA Tour season progresses.