1. Early Life and Education
Stewart Cink was born in Huntsville, Alabama, on May 21, 1973. He spent his childhood in nearby Florence, Alabama, where he attended Bradshaw High School. Cink came from a family deeply involved in golf, with both his parents being single-digit handicappers, fostering his early interest in the sport. After graduating from high school in 1991, Cink pursued higher education at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated in 1995 with a degree in Management, having also played golf for the university's team, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Notably, fellow professional golfer David Duval was a year ahead of Cink on the Georgia Tech golf team. Cink turned professional in 1995, immediately after his college graduation.
2. Professional Career
Stewart Cink's professional golf career began in 1995 and has spanned several decades, marked by early successes, a major championship victory, and continued presence on the professional circuit.
2.1. Early Career and Breakthrough
After turning professional in 1995, Cink quickly found success on the developmental tours. In 1996, he won the Mexican Open and three events on the Nike Tour (now known as the Korn Ferry Tour). His strong performance on the Nike Tour earned him the 1996 Nike Tour money list winner and Nike Tour Player of the Year awards. These achievements paved his way to join the prestigious PGA Tour in 1997. In his rookie season, Cink made an immediate impact, winning the Canon Greater Hartford Open on July 27, 1997. For this impressive debut, he was honored with the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award for the 1997 season. He continued his consistent performance on the PGA Tour, securing his second victory at the MCI Classic on April 16, 2000.
2.2. Major Tournament Successes
Stewart Cink's career is highlighted by his significant achievements in golf's most prestigious events. In the 1999 PGA Championship, held at the Medina Country Club in Illinois, he made his first contention in a major championship, finishing third behind Tiger Woods and Sergio García. The 2001 U.S. Open at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, proved to be a challenging moment in Cink's career. Entering the final hole of the last round at 5-under par, he made a double-bogey, which caused him to miss the playoff by a single stroke, ultimately finishing in third place.
Despite this setback, Cink rebounded significantly in 2004. He secured his third PGA Tour win, and second at the event, at the MCI Heritage on April 18. Later that year, on August 22, he achieved his first World Golf Championships victory at the 2004 WGC-NEC Invitational, where he won by four strokes. His strong play throughout 2004 led him to finish fifth on the PGA Tour money list. Cink continued to perform at an elite level, reaching the final of the 2008 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on February 24, where he was the runner-up, losing to then-world number one Tiger Woods. In June 2008, following his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Travelers Championship (his second win at this event), Cink reached his career-highest Official World Golf Ranking of 6th.
The pinnacle of Cink's major championship career came on July 19, 2009, when he won his first major title at the 138th Open Championship held at Turnberry, Scotland. He finished the four rounds at 2-under par, leading to a dramatic playoff against the 59-year-old, five-time champion Tom Watson. Cink birdied the 72nd hole, while Watson bogeyed, forcing the playoff. In the four-hole aggregate playoff, Cink defeated Watson by six strokes, fulfilling his ambition of winning a major championship.
2.3. Later Career and Recent Wins
Following his major victory in 2009, Cink continued to compete on the PGA Tour. On September 13, 2020, at the age of 47, he secured his first win since the 2009 Open Championship, taking the title at the Safeway Open. His strong form continued into 2021, as he won the RBC Heritage for the third time on April 18. This victory made him only the fourth player in PGA Tour history to win twice in the same season after turning 47, joining golf legends Sam Snead, Julius Boros, and Kenny Perry. During this tournament, Cink also set new records for the lowest 36-hole and 54-hole scores. In August 2024, Cink further extended his professional career by winning The Ally Challenge on the PGA Tour Champions, marking his first victory on the senior circuit.
2.4. U.S. National Team Appearances
Stewart Cink has been a regular representative for the United States in several significant international team competitions. His appearances include:
- Presidents Cup: 2000 (winners), 2005 (winners), 2007 (winners), 2009 (winners)
- Ryder Cup: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 (winners), 2010
- WGC-World Cup: 2005, 2006
- Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing PGA Tour): 2006 (winners), 2008, 2009
3. Professional Wins
Stewart Cink has amassed 20 professional victories across various tours during his career.
3.1. PGA Tour Wins
Stewart Cink has won 8 times on the PGA Tour.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 27, 1997 | Canon Greater Hartford Open | |||
| 1 stroke | Tom Byrum, Brandel Chamblee, Jeff Maggert | ||||
| 2 | Apr 16, 2000 | MCI Classic | |||
| 2 strokes | Tom Lehman | ||||
| 3 | Apr 18, 2004 | MCI Heritage (2) | |||
| Playoff | Ted Purdy | ||||
| 4 | Aug 22, 2004 | WGC-NEC Invitational | |||
| 4 strokes | Rory Sabbatini, Tiger Woods | ||||
| 5 | Jun 22, 2008 | Travelers Championship (2) | |||
| 1 stroke | Tommy Armour III, Hunter Mahan | ||||
| 6 | Jul 19, 2009 | The Open Championship | |||
| Playoff | Tom Watson | ||||
| 7 | Sep 13, 2020 | Safeway Open | |||
| 2 strokes | Harry Higgs | ||||
| 8 | Apr 18, 2021 | RBC Heritage (3) | |||
| 4 strokes | Emiliano Grillo, Harold Varner III |
Stewart Cink's PGA Tour playoff record is 2-2.
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998 | Canon Greater Hartford Open | Olin Browne, Larry Mize | Browne won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 2 | 2004 | MCI Heritage | Ted Purdy | Won with birdie on fifth extra hole |
| 3 | 2006 | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | Tiger Woods | Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
| 4 | 2009 | The Open Championship | Tom Watson | Won four-hole aggregate playoff; Cink: -2 (4-3-4-3=14), Watson: +4 (5-3-7-5=20) |
3.2. European Tour Wins
Stewart Cink has won 2 times on the European Tour. These wins were co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 22, 2004 | WGC-NEC Invitational | |||
| 4 strokes | Rory Sabbatini, Tiger Woods | ||||
| 2 | Jul 19, 2009 | The Open Championship | |||
| Playoff | Tom Watson |
Stewart Cink's European Tour playoff record is 1-1.
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006 | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | Tiger Woods | Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
| 2 | 2009 | The Open Championship | Tom Watson | Won four-hole aggregate playoff; Cink: -2 (4-3-4-3=14), Watson: +4 (5-3-7-5=20) |
3.3. Nike Tour Wins
Stewart Cink won 3 times on the Nike Tour.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 23, 1996 | Nike Ozarks Open | |||
| Playoff | R. W. Eaks | ||||
| 2 | Sep 8, 1996 | Nike Colorado Classic | |||
| 1 stroke | David Berganio Jr., Michael Christie | ||||
| 3 | Oct 20, 1996 | Nike Tour Championship | |||
| 4 strokes | David Berganio Jr. |
Stewart Cink's Nike Tour playoff record is 1-1.
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996 | Nike San Jose Open | Bobby Elliott, Larry Silveira | Silveira won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 2 | 1996 | Nike Ozarks Open | R. W. Eaks | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
3.4. Hooters Tour Wins
Stewart Cink has won 1 time on the Hooters Tour.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 29, 1995 | Naturally Fresh Cup | |||
| 6 strokes | Deane Pappas, Mike Swartz |
3.5. Latin American Wins
Stewart Cink has won 2 times in Latin American regional tournaments.
- 1996 Mexican Open
- 1999 Mexican Open
3.6. Other Wins
Stewart Cink has secured 3 other victories in non-regular tour events.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 19, 2007 | CVS Caremark Charity Classic (with J. J. Henry) | |||
| 1 stroke | Brad Faxon and Zach Johnson | ||||
| 2 | Dec 15, 2013 | PNC Father-Son Challenge (with son Connor Cink) | |||
| 3 strokes | Steve Elkington and son Sam Elkington, Vijay Singh and son Qass Singh | ||||
| 3 | 2006 | Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing PGA Tour) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Stewart Cink's record in other playoff events is 0-1.
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002 | CVS Charity Classic (with David Toms) | Chris DiMarco and Dudley Hart | Lost to birdie on third extra hole |
3.7. PGA Tour Champions Wins
Stewart Cink has won 1 time on the PGA Tour Champions.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 25, 2024 | The Ally Challenge | |||
| 4 strokes | K. J. Choi |
4. Major Championship Results
Stewart Cink has competed in major championships throughout his career, with a notable victory in The Open Championship.
4.1. Major Championship Wins
Stewart Cink's sole major championship victory came at the 2009 Open Championship.
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Open Championship | 3 shot deficit | -2 (66-72-71-69=278) | Playoff1 | Tom Watson |
1Defeated Watson in a four-hole aggregate playoff; Cink (4-3-4-3=14), Watson (5-3-7-5=20).
4.2. Major Championship Performance Timeline
This timeline details Stewart Cink's year-by-year results in the four major championships. Results are not in chronological order for 2020 due to the pandemic.
| Tournament | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | T23 | T27 | |
| U.S. Open | T16 | T13 | T10 | T32 |
| The Open Championship | T66 | CUT | ||
| PGA Championship | CUT | CUT | T3 |
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T28 | CUT | T24 | T17 | T20 | 10 | T17 | T3 | CUT | |
| U.S. Open | T8 | 3 | CUT | T28 | CUT | T15 | T37 | CUT | T14 | T27 |
| The Open Championship | T41 | T30 | T59 | T34 | T14 | CUT | CUT | T6 | CUT | 1 |
| PGA Championship | T15 | T59 | T10 | CUT | T17 | T28 | T24 | T32 | CUT | T67 |
| Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | CUT | T50 | T25 | T14 | ||||
| U.S. Open | T40 | CUT | CUT | CUT | T54 | T46 | |||
| The Open Championship | T48 | T30 | CUT | T26 | T47 | T20 | CUT | T24 | |
| PGA Championship | T18 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | T4 |
| Tournament | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | T12 | CUT | |||
| PGA Championship | T30 | T23 | ||||
| U.S. Open | T57 | CUT | CUT | |||
| The Open Championship | T20 | NT | CUT | CUT | T23 | CUT |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
4.3. Major Championship Summary
This table summarizes Stewart Cink's overall performance in major championships.
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 13 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 13 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 15 |
| The Open Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 16 |
| Totals | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 89 | 57 |
Cink's most consecutive cuts made in majors is 7 (from the 1999 Masters to the 2000 PGA Championship). He has achieved a streak of one top-10 finish ten times.
5. Other Key Tournament Results
Stewart Cink has participated in other significant tournaments, including The Players Championship and World Golf Championships events.
5.1. The Players Championship Results
This timeline details Stewart Cink's year-by-year results in The Players Championship.
| Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | T42 | CUT | T33 | CUT | CUT | T39 | T22 | T32 | CUT | T3 | T21 | T76 |
| Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | CUT | T19 | T64 | CUT | T38 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
| Tournament | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | C | CUT | CUT | CUT |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
C = Canceled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic
5.2. World Golf Championships Results
Stewart Cink has had strong performances in the World Golf Championships (WGC) events, including one victory.
He won the 2004 WGC-NEC Invitational.
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | WGC-NEC Invitational | 5 shot lead |
| 4 strokes | Rory Sabbatini, Tiger Woods |
This timeline details Stewart Cink's year-by-year results in the World Golf Championships. Results are not in chronological order before 2015.
| Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | T4 | NT1 | T23 | T46 | T13 | T45 | T20 | T59 | T37 | ||||||||||||
| Match Play | R16 | R64 | R64 | R64 | R32 | QF | R64 | R16 | 2 | 3 | QF | R32 | |||||||||
| Invitational | 7 | T13 | T47 | T61 | 1 | T41 | 2 | T56 | T43 | T6 | T19 | T45 | |||||||||
| Champions | T51 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournament | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Championship | ||
| Match Play | NT2 | |
| Invitational | T43 | |
| Champions | NT2 | NT2 |
1Canceled due to 9/11
2Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
NT = No Tournament
The HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.
6. Personal Life
Stewart Cink is married to Lisa Cink, and together they have two sons, Connor and Reagan. Cink is known to be a Christian and has openly spoken about his faith. His commitment to family is also evident in his participation in events such as the PNC Father-Son Challenge with his son Connor.
7. Awards and Honors
Throughout his collegiate and professional career, Stewart Cink has received several notable awards and honors for his achievements and conduct in golf.
- Haskins Award: 1995 (awarded to the outstanding collegiate golfer of the year)
- Nike Tour money list winner: 1996
- Nike Tour Player of the Year: 1996
- PGA Tour Rookie of the Year: 1997
- Payne Stewart Award: 2017 (recognizing a golfer who exemplifies Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, commitment to charity, and professional presentation of himself and the game)
