Mark Lye
Encyclopedia
Mark Ryan Lye is an American
professional golfer
who has played on the PGA Tour
and the Champions Tour
.
Lye was born in Vallejo, California
. He attended San Jose State University
, where he was a three-time All-American as a member of the golf
team. He graduated in 1975 and turned pro later that year. He joined the PGA Tour in 1977.
Lye made the cut in 332 of 486 career starts in PGA Tour events in an 18-year career, which included 41 top-10 finishes. His lone victory in an official PGA Tour event came in 1983 at the Bank of Boston Classic. In that tournament, he came from 8 strokes down on the final day including birdies on three of the last four holes for a round of 64 to earn a one-stroke victory over John Mahaffey
, Jim Thorpe
and Sammy Rachels
. His best year was 1983, when in addition to his win in Boston, he finished 28th on the money list. His best finish in a major championship
is T6 at 1984 Masters Tournament
; in that tournament, he had a 3-shot lead after the first 36 holes.
Lye tore a ligament in his right hand at the FedEx St. Jude Classic
and had to retire from the Tour at age 43 after undergoing major hand surgery. He then began working as an analyst for The Golf Channel
eventually rising to Lead Analyst for Men's Tournament Coverage. He transitioned to the position of on-course reporter in order to compete in select Champions Tour events. Lye was inducted into the California Golf Writers Hall of Fame in February 2007.
After reaching the age of 50 in November 2002, Lye joined the Champions Tour at the start of the 2003 season. His best finish in that venue is a solo 9th at the 2004 Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
.
Lye has battled malignant melanoma in the past few years. He first discovered a dime-sized mole on his left knee in 1991 and had surgery to remove it. He was cancer free for more than five years; however, in 2002, a small growth on his left thigh was discovered. He had surgery and other aggressive treatments for this recurrence and remains under a doctor's care. Lye lives in Naples, Florida
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who has played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
.
Lye was born in Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
. He attended San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, where he was a three-time All-American as a member of the golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
team. He graduated in 1975 and turned pro later that year. He joined the PGA Tour in 1977.
Lye made the cut in 332 of 486 career starts in PGA Tour events in an 18-year career, which included 41 top-10 finishes. His lone victory in an official PGA Tour event came in 1983 at the Bank of Boston Classic. In that tournament, he came from 8 strokes down on the final day including birdies on three of the last four holes for a round of 64 to earn a one-stroke victory over John Mahaffey
John Mahaffey
John Drayton Mahaffey, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including 10 PGA Tour events....
, Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe (golfer)
Jimmy Lee Thorpe is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the Champions Tour.Thorpe was born in Roxboro, North Carolina, the ninth of the twelve children of a fairway superintendent. He attended Morgan State University before turning pro in 1972. He won three times on the PGA Tour...
and Sammy Rachels
Sammy Rachels
Sammy Tindol Rachels III is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, but found his greatest level of success on the Champions Tour....
. His best year was 1983, when in addition to his win in Boston, he finished 28th on the money list. His best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
is T6 at 1984 Masters Tournament
1984 Masters Tournament
The 1984 Masters Tournament was the 48th Masters Tournament held from April 12-15 at Augusta National Golf Club. Ben Crenshaw won his first major championship by two strokes over Tom Watson.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*...
; in that tournament, he had a 3-shot lead after the first 36 holes.
Lye tore a ligament in his right hand at the FedEx St. Jude Classic
FedEx St. Jude Classic
The FedEx St. Jude Classic is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It has been played annually in Memphis, Tennessee since 1958. It is currently played at TPC at Southwind.In 2011, the total purse was $5,600,000, with $1,008,000 going to the winner....
and had to retire from the Tour at age 43 after undergoing major hand surgery. He then began working as an analyst for The Golf Channel
The Golf Channel
Golf Channel, known as The Golf Channel before the July 2008 dropping of The, is an American cable television network with coverage focused on the game of golf. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, the American headquarters and studio are currently located in Orlando, Florida...
eventually rising to Lead Analyst for Men's Tournament Coverage. He transitioned to the position of on-course reporter in order to compete in select Champions Tour events. Lye was inducted into the California Golf Writers Hall of Fame in February 2007.
After reaching the age of 50 in November 2002, Lye joined the Champions Tour at the start of the 2003 season. His best finish in that venue is a solo 9th at the 2004 Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
The Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in June in Conover, North Carolina at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa.The purse for the 2011 tournament was US$1,750,000, with $262,500 going to the winner...
.
Lye has battled malignant melanoma in the past few years. He first discovered a dime-sized mole on his left knee in 1991 and had surgery to remove it. He was cancer free for more than five years; however, in 2002, a small growth on his left thigh was discovered. He had surgery and other aggressive treatments for this recurrence and remains under a doctor's care. Lye lives in Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
.
PGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 11, 1983 1983 PGA Tour The 1983 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to October 30. The season consisted of 43 official money golf tournaments. Seve Ballesteros, Jim Colbert, Mark McCumber, Gil Morgan, Calvin Peete, Hal Sutton, Lanny Wadkins, and Fuzzy Zoeller won the most tournaments, two, and there were 10... |
Bank of Boston Classic | 1 stroke |  John MahaffeyJohn Mahaffey John Drayton Mahaffey, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including 10 PGA Tour events.... , Sammy RachelsSammy Rachels Sammy Tindol Rachels III is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, but found his greatest level of success on the Champions Tour.... , Jim ThorpeJim Thorpe (golfer) Jimmy Lee Thorpe is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the Champions Tour.Thorpe was born in Roxboro, North Carolina, the ninth of the twelve children of a fairway superintendent. He attended Morgan State University before turning pro in 1972. He won three times on the PGA Tour... |