Scott Parel Bio
Scott Parel (born May 15, 1965) is an American professional golfer who has built his reputation largely on the PGA Tour Champions, the premier senior circuit in the United States. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, Parel graduated from the University of Georgia, where he did not participate in college golf, and then worked for a decade as a computer programmer before dedicating himself to the sport full time. After turning professional in 1996, he earned his first developmental victory on the Web.com Tour and has since added multiple titles on the senior circuit, establishing himself as a steady, late-blooming presence in professional golf.
Early Life and Background
Scott Parel was born on May 15, 1965, in Pontiac, Michigan, and grew up in the United States. He attended the University of Georgia, completing his studies at the school without joining the university’s competitive golf program. Despite not playing college golf, Parel remained connected to the sport and continued to develop his game on his own time.
After earning his degree, Parel spent roughly ten years working as a computer programmer and database administrator. The career path kept him close to numbers and analysis, but his passion for competitive golf ultimately pulled him toward a professional career. When he finally decided to make the leap in 1996, at the age of 31, he was prepared to apply the patience and discipline learned in his first profession to the demands of tournament golf.
Path to Professional Golf
Once Parel turned professional, he began working his way through the lower levels of American professional golf. He played on the Tarheel Tour, a regional developmental circuit, before graduating to the Web.com Tour, the official developmental tour of the PGA Tour. He competed on the Web.com Tour in 2003, from 2005 through 2009, and again from 2012 through 2015, building the consistent record needed to eventually graduate to the game’s biggest stages.
During his developmental years, Parel captured his first professional title at the 2013 Air Capital Classic on the Web.com Tour, a victory that validated his long path into the paid ranks. He also earned two wins on the Tarheel Tour during the same period, strengthening his competitive resume. Although he tried his hand at the PGA Tour, playing only five events and making just one cut, a tied 57th at the 2006 BellSouth Classic, his real breakthrough came after he reached the eligible age for the senior circuit.
Scott Parel Career
Early Career (1996–2017)
Parel’s early professional years were defined by persistence on the developmental circuits. He spent more than a decade grinding his way through the Tarheel Tour and Web.com Tour, learning the rhythms of tournament golf and the patience required to compete week after week. His two wins on the Tarheel Tour and his lone Web.com Tour title, the 2013 Air Capital Classic, marked the highlights of those years.
He also tested himself in bigger arenas, qualifying for the U.S. Open in both 2002 and 2005, an achievement that reflected the steady form he had developed on the developmental tours. Though he did not make his mark on the regular PGA Tour, his extensive experience on the Web.com Tour prepared him for the next stage of his career on the senior circuit.
PGA Tour Champions Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Parel announced himself as a PGA Tour Champions winner in August 2018, capturing the Boeing Classic for his first title on the senior circuit. Just two months later, in October 2018, he won the Invesco QQQ Championship at Sherwood Country Club in Lake Sherwood, California, marking his second victory of the season. His strong play that year was capped by a third-place finish in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup standings, which came with a $300,000 bonus.
His momentum continued into 2019, when he was part of two memorable playoffs against Kevin Sutherland. At the Rapiscan Systems Classic in Mississippi, Parel lost a seven-hole playoff that spilled into a second day because darkness halted play on Sunday, March 31, 2019. A few months later, at the Principal Charity Classic in June 2019, the two players met again in a playoff, with Sutherland once more prevailing on the second extra hole.
Parel earned his third PGA Tour Champions title in February 2020 at the Chubb Classic. He entered the final round three shots back and closed with an 8-under-par 63 to win by two strokes over Bob Estes. The victory pushed his career earnings past the $5 million mark and cemented his place among the circuit’s most reliable competitors.
Driving Style and Strengths
Parel is recognized for a calm, patient approach that suits the slower, more strategic nature of senior golf. His accuracy off the tee and steady ball-striking allow him to stay in contention on classic, positional courses, while his comfort in windy conditions has produced several clutch Sunday rounds. The discipline that marked his years as a computer programmer translates into a methodical, detail-oriented routine on the course.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Parel’s senior career include his first Champions win at the 2018 Boeing Classic, the Invesco QQQ Championship the same year, and the 2020 Chubb Classic, where he rallied from three shots back with a closing 63. His back-to-back playoff losses to Kevin Sutherland in 2019 are among the most talked-about moments of his Champions career.
Scott Parel Career Wins
Scott Parel has compiled a steady record of professional victories across multiple tours, beginning in the developmental ranks and culminating in multiple wins on the PGA Tour Champions. While his senior-circuit titles are the centerpiece of his resume, his earlier Tarheel Tour and Web.com Tour victories laid the foundation for his late-career success.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
Parel has won four times on the PGA Tour Champions, with his first victory coming at the 2018 Boeing Classic. He added the Invesco QQQ Championship at Sherwood Country Club the same year, the Chubb Classic in 2020, and one additional title that pushed his total to four Champions victories. His playoff record on the senior circuit stands at 1–3, reflecting his willingness to engage in high-pressure finishes even when the outcomes did not go his way.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his senior-circuit success, Parel has also won on the Web.com Tour, most notably at the 2013 Air Capital Classic, and earned two titles on the Tarheel Tour during his developmental years. He also qualified for the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2005, an accomplishment that highlighted his competitive form during that period of his career.
Scott Parel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Scott Parel does not come from a documented professional golf lineage based on available verified information. His path into the sport appears to have been shaped more by personal dedication and a late start than by a family connection to the game.
Personal Life
Parel resides in Augusta, Georgia, a city long associated with elite-level golf. He is married to Mary Parel, and the couple has built their life in the Augusta community, which offers year-round access to high-quality courses. Beyond these public details, limited additional verified information is available about his personal life.
2025 Season Performance
Scott Parel continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions, where his record of four career victories gives him a strong foundation heading into each new season. As a consistent presence on the circuit, he is generally a factor on leaderboards when his game is on, particularly on classic, positional courses that reward accurate ball-striking.
His established track record, including playoff appearances and a closing 63 at the 2020 Chubb Classic, suggests that he can still contend for titles when his form peaks. With the senior circuit welcoming a steady stream of newcomers, Parel’s experience and course-management skills remain valuable assets as he works to add to his Champions win total.
Looking ahead, Parel’s primary objective will be to remain healthy and competitive on a schedule that allows him to play the events that best suit his game. If he can string together the same kind of play that delivered his 2018 and 2020 victories, another title on the PGA Tour Champions is well within reach.