2015 in golf
This article summarizes the highlights of professional and amateur golf in the year 2015.
Men's professional golf[edit]
- 9–12 April:The Masters–Jordan Spiethwon by four strokes overPhil MickelsonandJustin Rose.It was his first major victory. He also tied theTiger Woods' tournament record of 270 (−18)
- 18–21 June:U.S. Open–Jordan Spiethwon by one stroke whenDustin Johnsonfailed to make birdie at the 18th hole. He became the sixth player ever to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year.
- 16–19 July:The Open Championship–Zach Johnsonwon in a 4-hole aggregate playoff, whenLouis Oosthuizenfailed to make his putt on the 4th and final hole of the playoff. It was Johnson's first Open Championship victory, and his second major victory.
- 13–16 August:PGA Championship–Jason Daywon his first major by three strokes overJordan Spieth.Day played consistently during the final round, never allowing Spieth an opportunity to get closer than 3 strokes, while setting a record for a major at 20 under par, bestingTiger Woods' previous record of 19 under at the 2000 British Open.
- 5–8 MarchWGC-Cadillac Championship–Dustin Johnsonwon by one stroke overJ. B. Holmes
- 29 April – 3 May:WGC-Cadillac Match Play–Rory McIlroydefeatedGary Woodland,4 & 2, in the championship match. It was McIlroy's first WGC-Match Play championship, and his second WGC championship overall.
- 6–9 August:WGC-Bridgestone Invitational–Shane Lowrywon by two strokes overBubba Watson.It was his first WGC victory.
- 5–8 November:WGC-HSBC Champions–Russell Knoxwon by two strokes overKevin Kisner.It was his first World Golf Championship victory, and also his first PGA Tour and European Tour victory.
FedEx Cupplayoff events- see2015 FedEx Cup Playoffs
- 27–30 August:The Barclays–Jason Daytied the tournament record and won by six strokes overHenrik Stenson.
- 4–7 September:Deutsche Bank Championship–Rickie Fowlerwon by one stroke overHenrik Stenson.
- 17–20 September:BMW Championship–Jason Daywon his second FedEx Cup event of the season and moved to number one in theOfficial World Golf Ranking.
- 24–27 September:Tour Championship–Jordan Spiethwon by three strokes overDanny Lee,Justin Rose,andHenrik Stenson.The victory for him also won his first FedEx Cup.
Other leading PGA Tour events
- 7–10 May:The Players Championship–Rickie FowlerdefeatedKevin KisnerandSergio Garcíain a three-hole aggregate playoff, eliminating García after the third hole, and eliminating Kisner on a sudden-death fourth hole. It was Fowler's first Players title.
For a complete list of PGA Tour results see2015 PGA Tour.
Leading European Tour events
- 21–24 May:BMW PGA Championship–An Byeong-hunwon by six strokes overThongchai JaideeandMiguel Ángel Jiménez.It was his first European Tour victory.
- 29 October – 1 November:Turkish Airlines Open–Victor Dubuissonwon by one stroke overJaco van Zyl.
- 12–15 November:BMW Masters–Kristoffer Brobergwon in a playoff overPatrick Reed,with a birdie on the first extra hole. It was his first European Tour victory.
- 19–22 November:DP World Tour Championship, Dubai–Rory McIlroywon by one stroke overAndy Sullivan,clinching the Race to Dubai title. It was his second Tour Championship victory, and his third Race to Dubai title.
For a complete list of European Tour results see2015 European Tour.
Team events
- 8–11 October:Presidents Cup– The U.S. team won, 15½–14½, for the sixth straight time.
Tour leaders
- PGA Tour–
Jordan Spieth(US$12,030,465)
- This total does not include FedEx Cup bonuses.
- European Tour–
Rory McIlroy(4,727,253 points)
- This total does not include the US$1.875 million bonus for winning the Race to Dubai.
- Japan Golf Tour–
Kim Kyung-tae(¥165,981,625) - Asian Tour–
Anirban Lahiri(US$1,139,084) - PGA Tour of Australasia–
Nathan Holman(A$346,702) - Sunshine Tour–
George Coetzee(R5,470,684)
Awards
- PGA Tour
- European Tour
- Golfer of the Year –Rory McIlroy
- Rookie of the Year –An Byeong-hun
- Golfer of the Year –
- Web Tour
Results from other tours
- 2015 Asian Development Tour
- 2015 Asian Tour
- 2015 PGA Tour of Australasia
- 2015 Challenge Tour
- 2015 Japan Golf Tour
- 2015 Korean Tour
- 2015 OneAsia Tour
- 2015 PGA Tour Canada
- 2015 PGA Tour China
- 2015 PGA Tour Latinoamérica
- 2015 Sunshine Tour
- 2015 Web Tour
Other happenings
- 15 July: The board of theOfficial World Golf Rankingapproved the addition of thePGA EuroPro Tour,Pro Golf Tour,Alps Tour,andNordic Golf Leagueinto the world rankings. The new scoring begins after the2015 Open Championshipand brings the number of tours that receive ranking points to 18.
- 16 August:Jordan Spiethbecomes the number one golfer in the world.
- 30 August:Rory McIlroyregains the world number one ranking.
- 8 September: Spieth regains the world number one ranking.
- 14 September: McIlroy regains the world number one ranking.
- 21 September:Jason Daygains the world number one ranking for the first time, resulting from his victory at the BMW Championship.
- 28 September: Spieth regains the world number one ranking.
- 18 October: Day regains the world number one ranking.
- 8 November: Spieth regains the world number one ranking.
Women's professional golf[edit]
- 2–5 April:ANA Inspiration–Brittany LincicomedefeatedStacy Lewison the third playoff hole. It is her second ANA Inspiration victory.
- 11–14 June:KPMG Women's PGA Championship–Inbee Parkwon by five strokes overKim Sei-young.It was her third consecutive Women's PGA Championship victory, and her sixth major victory overall. She also set a tournament record relative to par, at −19.
- 9–12 July:U.S. Women's Open–Chun In-geewon by one stroke overAmy Yang,for her first major victory.
- 30 July – 2 August:Women's British Open–Inbee Parkwon by three strokes overKo Jin-young.It was her first Women's British Open victory, and her seventh major victory overall.
- 10–13 September:The Evian Championship–Lydia Kowon by six strokes overLexi Thompson.It was her first major championship, and in the process she became, at age 18, the youngest person of either sex ever to win a professional major championship.
For a complete list of LPGA Tour results, see2015 LPGA Tour.
Additional LPGA Tour events
- 19–22 November:CME Group Tour Championship–Cristie Kerrwon by one stroke overJang Ha-naandGerina Piller,whileLydia Kowon the season-long Race to the CME Globe.
Ladies European Tour event
- 9–12 December:Omega Dubai Ladies Masters–Shanshan Fengwon by 12 strokes.
For a complete list of Ladies European Tour results see2015 Ladies European Tour.
Team events
- 18–20 September:Solheim Cup– TeamUSAwon the Cup for the first time since 2009, with a 14½–13½ victory over TeamEurope.Team USA won 8½ of the 12 available points in the singles matches to clinch the Cup.
Money list leaders
- LPGA Tour–
Lydia Ko(US$2,800,802) - LPGA of Japan Tour–Lee Bo-mee(¥230,497,057)
- Ladies European Tour–
Shanshan Feng(€399,213) - LPGA of Korea Tour–Chun In-gee(₩913,760,833)
- Ladies Asian Golf Tour–
Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul(US$25,777) - ALPG Tour–Su-Hyun Oh(A$80,430) (2014/15 season)
- Symetra Tour–Annie Park(US$68,673)
Awards
- LPGA Tour Player of the Year–Lydia Ko
- LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year–Sei Young Kim
- LPGA TourVare Trophy–Inbee Park
- LET Rookie of the Year–
Emily Kristine Pedersen - LPGA of Japan Tour Player of the Year –Lee Bo-mee
Other tour results
Other happenings
- 31 January –Lydia Kotook over the No. 1 spot inWomen's World Golf Rankingsfollowing her runner-up finish atCoates Golf Championship.
- 14 June –Inbee Parktook over the No. 1 spot in Women's World Golf Rankings following her win atKPMG Women's PGA Championship.
- 26 July –Chun In-geewon major championships on three ladies professional golf tours in one season:U.S. Women's OpenofLPGA Tour,World Ladies Championship Salonpas CupofLPGA of Japan Tour,andHite Jinro ChampionshipofLPGA of Korea Tour.
- 25 October – Ko took over the No. 1 spot in Women's World Golf Rankings following her win atFubon LPGA Taiwan Championship.
- 15 November - South KoreanLee Bo-meebecame the first player ofLPGA of Japan Tourto earn more than 200 million yen in one season, following her win atIto En Ladies Golf Tournament.
- 22 November - With her consecutive victory atDaio Paper Elleair Open,Lee Bo-meeearned more than 220 million yen in one season, and now has the record of the greatest amount of money earned in one season in Japan, both men and women, surpassing the record ofToshimitsu Izawain 2001.
Senior men's professional golf[edit]
- 14–17 May:Regions Tradition–Jeff Maggertwon on the first playoff hole overKevin Sutherland.
- 21–24 May:Senior PGA Championship–Colin Montgomeriewon by four strokes. It is his third senior major championship, and his second straight Senior PGA Championship victory.
- 11–14 June:Senior Players Championship–Bernhard Langerwon by six strokes overKirk Triplett.It was his second consecutive Senior Players Championship victory, and his fifth senior major victory overall.
- 25–28 June:U.S. Senior Open–Jeff Maggertwon by two strokes overColin Montgomerie.It was his second senior major victory.
- 23–26 July:The Senior Open Championship–Marco Dawsonwon by one stroke overBernhard Langer.It was Dawson's first major victory of any kind.
Full results
Money list leaders
- Champions Tour– GermanBernhard Langertopped the money list for the seventh time (fourth consecutive) with earnings of US$2,340,288.
- European Senior Tour–Colin Montgomeriewon for the second consecutive season with earnings of €679,147.
Awards
Amateur golf[edit]
- 15–18 January:Latin America Amateur Championship–Matías Domínguezof Chile won by one stroke overAlejandro Tostiof Argentina.
- 22–27 May:NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships–Stanfordwon its first team title andEmma TalleyofAlabamaclaimed the individual title.
- 29 May – 3 June:NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships–LSUwon its fifth team title andBryson DeChambeauofSMUclaimed the individual title.
- 9–13 June:British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship-Céline Boutierwon 4 and 3 overLinnea Strömin the championship match.
- 15–20 June:The Amateur Championship–Romain Langasquewon 4 & 2 overGrant Forrestin the championship match.
- 10–16 August:U.S. Women's Amateur–Hannah O'SullivandefeatedSierra Brooks3 & 2 in the championship match.
- 17–23 August:U.S. Amateur–Bryson DeChambeauwon 7 & 6 overDerek Bardin the championship match.
- 12–13 September:Walker Cup– Great Britain and Ireland defeated the United States by a score of 16½ to 9½.
- 1–4 October:Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship– Chinese golferJin Chengwon by one stroke; before the start of the fourth round, it was decided that weather conditions were not suitable for play, so the tournament was called completed with 54 holes in the books.
Golf in multi-sport events[edit]
- 3–6 June:Games of the Small States of Europe– Iceland swept the gold medals: men's individual (Kristján Einarsson), women's individual (Guðrún Björnsdóttir), men's team and women's team.
- 9–12 June:Southeast Asian Games– Thailand swept the gold medals: men's individual (Natipong Srithong), women's individual (Suthavee Chanachai), men's team and women's team.
- 8–11 July:Summer Universiade– Japan took the men's individual (Kazuki Higa) and team gold medals while South Korea took the women's individual (Lee Jeong-eun) and team golds.
- 15–18 July:Pacific Games– Papua New Guinea swept the gold medals: men's individual (Soti Dinki), women's individual (Kristine Seko), men's team and women's team.
- 16–19 July:Pan American Games– Colombian players won the three events: men's (Marcelo Rozo), women's (Mariajo Uribe) and mixed team (Rozo, Uribe, Mateo Gómez, Paola Moreno).
Deaths[edit]
- 29 January –Kel Nagle(born 1920), Australian golfer with 81 professional wins, most notably winning the1960 Open Championship.
- 3 February –Charlie Sifford(born 1922), firstAfrican Americanto join thePGA Tour.
- 7 February –Billy Casper(born 1931), American golfer who won 51 times on the PGA Tour, including three majors.
- 29 April –Calvin Peete(born 1943), African-American golfer with 12 PGA Tour wins.
- 1 May –Pete Brown(born 1935), first African-American golfer to win on the PGA Tour.
- 3 May –Warren Smith(born 1915), member of the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame.
- 23 May –Hugh Boyle(born 1936), Irish golfer on 1967 Ryder Cup team.
- 7 June –Sean Pappas(born 1966), South African golfer with 5 Sunshine Tour wins.
- 7 August –Louise Suggs(born 1923), American professional golfer and co-founder of the LPGA, with 61 LPGA Tour victories, including 11 major championships.
- 13 September –Howie Johnson(born 1925), American golfer who won twice on the PGA Tour.
- 6 October –Sandra Spuzich(born 1937), American golfer who won seven times on the LPGA Tour, including the1966 U.S. Women's Open.
- 18 November –Dan Halldorson(born 1952), Canadian golfer who won once on the PGA Tour and seven times on the Canadian Tour.
Table of results[edit]
This table summarizes all the results referred to above in date order.
The following biennial events will next be played in 2016:Ryder Cup,EurAsia Cup,International Crown,Curtis Cup,Eisenhower Trophy,Espirito Santo Trophy.