Stewart Cink, Brian Gay pass 600-start milestone
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NAPA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Stewart Cink celebrates after his birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish -21 in the final round of the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort on September 13, 2020 in Napa, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Veterans displayed impressive longevity with wins this fall
Written by Staff
Stewart Cink wins at Safeway Open
Editor's note: Brian Gay withdrew on Tuesday
Golf is a game that loves to celebrate its young stars, but we shouldn't forget to honor those players who display impressive longevity. Just getting on the PGA TOUR is hard. Staying there is even harder.
This week at The RSM Classic, two players will be honored for their incredible consistency.
The RSM Classic will be Stewart Cink’s 600th PGA TOUR start as a professional. He will be just the 68th player in PGA TOUR history to play at least 600 events.
This fall has been one for the veteran players. Cink, 47, won the season-opening Safeway Open. He is the oldest player to win a season-opening event since at least 1970. It was his seventh PGA TOUR win, which includes the 2009 Open Championship and 2004 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational. Cink’s first PGA TOUR victory came in 1997, the same year Collin Morikawa was born.
Brian Gay passed the 600-start mark at this year's Safeway Open. He won two starts later at the Bermuda Championship, becoming just the ninth player to win on TOUR after making his 600th start. It was Gay’s fifth PGA TOUR victory.
Cink and Gay are being honored for their accomplishments at this week’s The RSM Classic. Here’s a closer look at some of the impressive numbers from their careers.
Category | Stewart Cink | Brian Gay |
Age | 47 | 48 |
Starts | 600 | 602 |
Rounds | 2,309 | 1,905 |
Wins | 7 (1.2%) | 5 (0.8%) |
Top-10s | 101 (16.8%) | 52 (8.6%) |
Top-25s | 244 (40.7%) | 139 (23.1%) |
Cuts made | 457 (76.2%) | 366 (60.8%) |
PLAYERS TO WIN AFTER 600TH PGA TOUR START | ||
Name | Event | Start |
Brian Gay | 2020 Bermuda Championship | 602 |
Davis Love III | 2015 Wyndham Championship | 715 |
Mark Calcavecchia | 2007 Valspar Championship | 654 |
Mark Calcavecchia | 2005 RBC Canadian Open | 615 |
Brad Faxon | 2005 Travelers Championship | 600 |
Peter Jacobsen | 2003 Travelers Championship | 624 |
Craig Stadler | 2003 B.C. Open | 626 |
Scott Hoch | 2003 Doral | 609 |
Hale Irwin | 1994 RBC Heritage | 621 |
Raymond Floyd | 1992 Doral | 676 |
OLDEST PLAYER TO WIN SEASON-OPENING EVENT (SINCE 1970) | ||
Name | Event | Age |
Stewart Cink | 2020 Safeway Open | 47 |
Steve Stricker | 2012 Sentry Tournament of Champions | 44 |
Vijay Singh | 2007 Sentry Tournament of Champions | 43 |
Calvin Peete | 1986 Sentry Tournament of Campions | 42 |
Tom Kite | 1991 Sentry Tournament of Champions | 41 |
MOST BIRDIES MADE SINCE 1995 | |
Name | Birdies |
Phil Mickelson | 7,876 |
Vijay Singh | 7,580 |
Jim Furyk | 7,445 |
Stewart Cink | 7,437 |
Charles Howell III | 6,998 |
Jerry Kelly | 6,988 |
Brian Gay | 6,693 |
Thru Nov. 11. |