Rocco Mediate

Rocco Mediate is an American professional golfer known for his perseverance and competitive presence on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. After a collegiate golf career at Florida Southern College, where he was a two-time All-American and contributed to an NCAA Division II national championship, Mediate turned professional. He became the first player to win on the PGA Tour using a long putter at the Doral-Ryder Open, introducing a significant equipment adaptation to professional golf. Mediate added another PGA Tour victory at the KMart Greater Greensboro Open before a ruptured disk led to major back surgery and a lengthy absence from competition. He returned to the Tour and secured additional victories, demonstrating resilience in the face of injury setbacks.

Mediate's career is highlighted by his performance at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where he tied with Tiger Woods after regulation play and again after an 18-hole playoff, ultimately finishing as runner-up in a sudden-death playoff. This performance elevated Mediate's profile in the golf world and resulted in a significant rise in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Continuing his career, Mediate achieved a wire-to-wire victory at the Frys.com Open, becoming the oldest player in over four decades to accomplish this on the PGA Tour. Upon joining the Champions Tour, he won the Allianz Championship in his debut and later captured his first senior major at the Senior PGA Championship, setting a new scoring record and achieving a wire-to-wire win. Mediate has won Tour-sanctioned events across five decades, reflecting his longevity in professional golf.

Mediate has been ranked in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking and is recognized for his putting skills. He earned the Champions Tour Rookie of the Year Award, as voted by his peers. Beyond his playing career, Mediate has contributed to golf media, hosting "The Rocco Hour" on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio and appearing on The Golf Channel. His insights and experience have established him as a knowledgeable commentator in the golf industry.