Wes Short Jr Bio
Wesley Earl Short Jr. is an American professional golfer who has spent more than three decades competing on several professional circuits. Born on December 4, 1963, in Austin, Texas, he is best known for his PGA Tour victory in 2005 and his later success on the PGA Tour Champions. Short attended the University of Texas before turning professional in 1987, and he has continued to play tournament golf in the decades that followed. He is recognized as a steady, long-time touring professional who achieved his highest-profile win later in his career than most of his peers.
Early Life and Background
Wesley Earl Short Jr. was born and raised in Austin, Texas, a city he has called home for his entire life. Growing up in central Texas, he developed his game in the Austin area and went on to attend the University of Texas, where he continued to refine his golf skills. He stands 183 centimeters tall and his frame reflects the build of a dedicated touring professional, having competed for many years at a competitive playing weight of 86 kilograms.
After completing his studies, Short worked as a club professional in the Austin area for a number of years, balancing instruction and playing responsibilities. This period helped him prepare for the demands of life on the road as a touring golfer. His Austin roots have remained a constant throughout his professional journey, and he continues to reside there today.
Path to Professional Golf
Short turned professional in 1987 and spent the next decade working on his game through various developmental channels. He began by playing the mini-tours, which gave him a foundation in competitive tournament play and helped him build the resume needed to advance to bigger stages. His steady progression eventually earned him a chance to qualify for the Nationwide Tour, the developmental circuit of the PGA Tour, for the 1998 season.
After additional seasons on the Nationwide Tour in 2002 and 2003, Short continued to post competitive finishes, including a T-2 at The Reese’s Cup Classic in 2003, one of his best results during that period. These performances helped position him for the breakthrough that would come early in the following decade, when an opportunity finally opened up for him to play at the highest level of American professional golf.
Wes Short Jr Career
Early Career (1987-2003)
Short’s early professional years were spent primarily in the Austin area, where he worked as a club professional while also competing on various mini-tours. These formative seasons allowed him to develop the consistency and course management skills that would later define his career. He captured two victories on the NGA Hooters Tour, a prominent developmental circuit, during this period.
His move to the Nationwide Tour in 1998 marked his first sustained exposure to a higher level of professional competition. After returning to the Nationwide Tour in 2002 and 2003, he posted a runner-up finish at The Reese’s Cup Classic in 2003, which helped raise his profile. By the end of 2003, he had built a body of work that positioned him for a chance at the PGA Tour.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2004-2007)
Short earned his place on the PGA Tour in 2004 as a 40-year-old rookie, a notably late start by tour standards. His persistence paid off in 2005 when he captured his lone PGA Tour title at the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas. Short had begun the week as the fourth alternate to get into the field, and he ultimately defeated Jim Furyk at the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. The victory was one of the more unlikely stories of the 2005 season and served as the highlight of his PGA Tour career.
Following the win, Short continued to compete on the PGA Tour through 2007, but lingering back problems forced him to step away from competitive golf for roughly three years. He attempted to revive his PGA Tour career in 2013, making the cut at the 2013 Shell Houston Open in his first PGA Tour start since 2007. Short was unable to satisfy his medical extension, making five cuts in fifteen events, but his return to form on the course suggested he still had competitive golf left in him.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2013-Present)
Short earned medalist honors at the 2013 Champions Tour qualifying school, which gave him a strong platform to launch his career on the senior circuit. He needed only a single season to record his first Champions Tour victory, winning the 2014 Quebec Championship. The win signaled a successful transition to the over-50 ranks and confirmed that his game remained sharp.
In 2016, Short qualified for his first U.S. Open, a major championship milestone that reflected his continued competitiveness. On September 1, 2019, he captured his second PGA Tour Champions title at the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta, reinforcing his reputation as a steady performer on the senior tour. He has remained active on the PGA Tour Champions in the seasons that followed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Short’s signature moment remains the 2005 Michelin Championship at Las Vegas, where he entered the week as the fourth alternate and emerged as champion after a sudden-death playoff with Jim Furyk. He added his first Champions Tour title at the 2014 Quebec Championship and his second at the 2019 Shaw Charity Classic. In 2016, he made his U.S. Open debut, completing a major championship appearance that had eluded him earlier in his career.
Wes Short Jr Career Wins
Wesley Earl Short Jr. has compiled six professional victories across the developmental tours, the PGA Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions. His wins are split between the NGA Hooters Tour, the PGA Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions, reflecting a career that progressed steadily through different competitive levels.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
Short has recorded two PGA Tour Champions victories. His first came at the 2014 Quebec Championship, which he won in his debut season on the senior circuit after earning medalist honors at the 2013 Champions Tour qualifying school. His second Champions Tour title came at the 2019 Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta, on September 1 of that year.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his PGA Tour and Champions Tour victories, Short posted two wins on the NGA Hooters Tour during his developmental years. He also recorded a runner-up finish at the 2003 Reese’s Cup Classic on the Nationwide Tour, one of his best results at that level.
Wes Short Jr Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wesley Earl Short Jr. was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and he has spent nearly his entire life in and around the city. He attended the University of Texas, continuing his connection to the Austin area into his college years.
Personal Life
Short is married to Gail Elizabeth Hardy, and the couple has a daughter. The family lives in Austin, Texas, the same city where he was born and raised.
2025 Season Performance
Wesley Earl Short Jr. continued to compete on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, building on the momentum of his established senior career. His 2019 victory at the Shaw Charity Classic remains a recent benchmark of his competitiveness on the over-50 circuit. With his Austin base and years of experience, he entered the 2025 season as a familiar presence in the Champions Tour field.
Short’s 2025 campaign reflects the steady, consistent approach that has defined his career, with a focus on selective scheduling that fits his physical condition and competitive goals. As a former medalist at Champions Tour qualifying school, he has long demonstrated the kind of game that suits weekly tournament play on the senior circuit.
Looking through the rest of the year, Short’s outlook is shaped by his track record on the Champions Tour, including a Champions Tour win in 2014 and 2019, and his late-career resurgence after returning from injury. His 2025 results are expected to add to a professional career that has already stretched across the PGA Tour, the Nationwide Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions.