Steve Jones Bio
Steven Glen Jones, born on December 27, 1958, is an American professional golfer best known for winning the U.S. Open in 1996. A native of Artesia, New Mexico, Jones competed on the PGA Tour for more than two decades, earning eight official tour victories and a reputation as one of the tour’s most resilient comeback stories. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he combined a calm temperament with the discipline shaped by years of perseverance through serious injury and lengthy layoffs.
After turning professional in 1981, Jones worked his way from modest beginnings to a career-best eighth place on the PGA Tour money list in 1989. He later transitioned to the Champions Tour in 2011, where he continued to compete at a high level. He has made his home in Tempe, Arizona.
Early Life and Background
Steven Glen Jones was born in Artesia, New Mexico, on December 27, 1958. Growing up in the small southeastern New Mexico community, he developed an early interest in golf and began refining his game as a young athlete. By his mid-teens, his talent was evident on a national stage, and in 1976 he reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur, one of the premier junior events in American golf.
Following his success in junior competition, Jones enrolled at the University of Colorado, where he continued to develop his game while competing at the collegiate level. His time at Colorado helped bridge the gap between his promising amateur background and the demands of professional tournament play, providing the competitive foundation on which he would build his career.
Path to Professional Golf
Jones made the transition to the professional ranks in 1981, embarking on what would become a long and sometimes difficult journey on the PGA Tour. His initial years on tour offered little immediate reward, and in 1982 he played the PGA Tour schedule while making only three cuts. Perseverance became a defining trait during this period, as he worked to refine his game and earn full status on the tour.
A turning point came in 1985, when he recorded his first top-10 finish at the Texas Open in September. The following year, in 1986, he was medalist at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, a result that secured his playing privileges for the next season. Those breakthrough moments marked the end of a challenging developmental phase and set the stage for the victories that would soon follow on the PGA Tour.
Steve Jones Career
Early Career (1981-1987)
Jones turned professional in 1981 and spent his earliest seasons working to find his footing against the strongest fields in the country. After making just three cuts in 1982, he gradually improved his consistency and his results, giving himself opportunities to compete in high-profile events. The Texas Open in September 1985 produced his first top-10 finish, a sign that his game was trending in the right direction.
The 1986 season brought further validation when Jones earned medalist honors at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, ensuring he would retain his tour card and have a full schedule the following year. Those two seasons together signaled that his development was finally yielding dividends.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1988-1989)
Jones recorded his first PGA Tour victory at the 1988 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, a prestigious event contested at iconic California venues. The win established him as a legitimate tour competitor and gave him the confidence to compete for higher honors the following season.
In 1989, Jones enjoyed the most successful stretch of his career, capturing three PGA Tour titles in a single year. He opened the season with a victory at the MONY Tournament of Champions in January, then won the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic the very next week, defeating Paul Azinger and Sandy Lyle in a playoff. In June, he added the Canadian Open, finishing two strokes ahead of Mark Calcavecchia, Mike Hulbert, and Clark Burroughs. He concluded the year ranked eighth on the money list, the highest single-season earnings position of his career.
U.S. Open Triumph and Comeback (1991-1998)
In November 1991, Jones suffered ligament and joint damage to his left ring finger in a dirtbike accident, an injury that forced him to miss nearly three full years of competitive play. He appeared in only two events in 1994, and for a time his future on tour was in doubt. He began his comeback in earnest in 1995, posting two top-10 finishes, and by May of 1996 he had already recorded three top-10 results.
Considered a long shot entering June 1996, Jones won the U.S. Open at one stroke ahead of Tom Lehman and Davis Love III, claiming the only major championship of his career. He became the first sectional qualifier to win the U.S. Open since Jerry Pate in 1976. In recognition of his remarkable return, he was named PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year for 1996 and represented the United States at the 1996 World Cup of Golf. He added two more PGA Tour victories in 1997, including a dominant 11-stroke win at the Phoenix Open and a second Canadian Open title, before capturing his eighth and final PGA Tour win at the 1998 Quad City Classic.
Later PGA Tour Years and Champions Tour Era (1999-Present)
After 1998, Jones slipped steadily down the money list, though a major championship win had carried a 10-year exemption, keeping him exempt on the PGA Tour through 2006. He underwent surgery for tennis elbow in 2003 and again in 2004, sidelining him for part of 2003 and the entire 2004 season. He returned to play in 2005 and served as a captain’s assistant for the United States team at the 2004 Ryder Cup. By 2007, he was splitting time between the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, making six cuts in nine PGA Tour events but without a top-25 finish.
Additional tennis elbow surgeries in 2008 and 2009 kept him off the course, and he did not make his first full golf swings again until January 2011. Later that year, he made his Champions Tour debut at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, where he and partner Doug Tewell tied for 10th in the Raphael Division. Over the following seasons, he built a steady Champions Tour career, with career earnings of more than $800,000 across 70 events played, 66 cuts made, and two top-10 finishes. His last documented Champions Tour appearances came in 2015, when he played 13 events and made every cut, posting a T9 at the Senior PGA Championship.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jones built his game on patience, accuracy, and a calm temperament that served him well in major-championship pressure. His experience recovering from serious injury and long layoffs sharpened a measured, strategic approach to tournament play. He was particularly effective on classical, shot-making layouts such as Pebble Beach and the classic Canadian and U.S. Open venues.
Notable Events and Milestones
The 1996 U.S. Open stands as the defining moment of his career, where he became the first sectional qualifier to win the tournament since Jerry Pate in 1976. His 11-stroke victory at the 1997 Phoenix Open is among the largest winning margins in PGA Tour history, and his two Canadian Open titles highlighted his affinity for classic, strategic golf courses.
Steve Jones Career Wins
Across his professional career, Steven Glen Jones has recorded 10 professional victories, including eight PGA Tour wins and additional triumphs on other circuits. His career is highlighted by a major championship, multiple season-opening wins, and a remarkable comeback from serious injury that defined his legacy on the PGA Tour.
PGA Tour Highlights
Jones won eight PGA Tour events, beginning with the 1988 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and culminating with the 1998 Quad City Classic. His most prolific season came in 1989, when he captured three titles, including the MONY Tournament of Champions, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and the Canadian Open. His career-defining moment came in 1996 with his one-stroke U.S. Open victory over Tom Lehman and Davis Love III, the only major championship of his career.
He added two more wins in 1997, including a dominant 11-stroke victory at the Phoenix Open and a second Canadian Open title. His 1998 Quad City Classic win was his eighth and final PGA Tour victory. Jones also held a 2-1 playoff record on the PGA Tour during his career.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his PGA Tour victories, Jones has competed at a high level on the Champions Tour, where he has played 70 events and recorded two top-10 finishes. His Champions Tour career is highlighted by a tie for second at the 2012 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf and a T9 at the 2015 Senior PGA Championship. He has also represented the United States in the World Cup of Golf and served as a captain’s assistant at the 2004 Ryder Cup.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour | 8 | Multiple | Not verified |
| Champions Tour | 0 | 2 | Not verified |
Steve Jones Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public sources provide limited detail on the immediate family background of Steven Glen Jones. He was raised in Artesia, New Mexico, and developed his early golf game in the local community before gaining national recognition as a junior player.
Personal Life
Jones has made his long-time residence in Tempe, Arizona. Verified sources do not provide public details about a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
No documented competitive appearances have been recorded for Steve Jones on the Champions Tour since 2015, when he made 13 starts and recorded a T9 at the Senior PGA Championship. As of 2025, he does not appear to be an active competitor in regular Champions Tour events, and his most recent on-course activity of note dates to the 2015 season. Without verified tournament starts or results in 2025, no formal season storyline, playoff picture, or team dynamics can be reported.
Should Jones return to competitive play, his historical success on classical, shot-making courses and his experience in major-championship pressure would remain a useful reference point for evaluating any potential appearances. As of now, however, no public record of a 2025 Champions Tour campaign has been confirmed.
Throughout his career, Jones remained closely associated with his 1996 U.S. Open triumph and his comeback narrative. Any prospective 2025 activity would likely be viewed through the lens of that legacy rather than as a current-season competitive storyline.