Nick Price

Nicholas Raymond Leige Price ascended to the pinnacle of professional golf during the mid-1990s, securing his position as the world's top-ranked player. Across a career spanning decades, the Zimbabwean athlete claimed three major championships and established himself as one of the sport's most consistent ball strikers, eventually earning a permanent place within the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Early Development and Service

Born in 1957 in Durban, South Africa, to British parents, Price spent his formative years in Rhodesia. He attended Prince Edward School in Salisbury, where he captained the golf team and gained initial exposure to competitive play during the 1975 Rhodesian Dunlop Masters and the Holiday Inns Invitational. Following his secondary education, he performed service in the Rhodesian Air Force during the country's Bush War.

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Professional Ascent

Price launched his professional career in 1977 on the South African Tour, winning the 1979 Asseng TV Challenge Series. After transitioning to the European Tour, he secured the 1980 Swiss Open. A pivotal moment occurred at the 1982 Open Championship, where he finished tied for second. He earned his PGA Tour card that same year by placing third at the Qualifying School. In 1983, he achieved his inaugural PGA Tour victory at the World Series of Golf, overcoming Jack Nicklaus by four strokes.

Peak Dominance

The early 1990s marked a period of sustained dominance. Price won the 1992 PGA Championship, followed by a standout 1994 season where he captured both The Open Championship and a second PGA Championship. During 1993 and 1994, he topped the PGA Tour money list, setting earnings records in both years and spending 43 weeks at the summit of the Official World Golf Rankings. His performance also earned him the Vardon Trophy in 1993 and 1997.

Transition to Design and Senior Play

While maintaining his professional participation, including a win at the 2009 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am on the Champions Tour, Price diversified his professional interests. He established a golf course design company based in Florida and launched a signature apparel line. His contributions to the sport have been recognized with the 2005 Bob Jones Award and the 2011 Old Tom Morris Award.