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Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
PGA Tour Pro Who Caught Tiger Woods at John Deere Classic Dies at 72
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As the golf world turned its attention to the winner at John Deere Classic, the PGA Tour paused the celebration to share heartbreaking news. Ed Fiori, a 4-time PGA Tour winner and the man who famously caught young Tiger Woods with his final professional victory, has died at the age of 72 after a battle with cancer. Fiori's most iconic moment came in 1996, at what was then called the Quad Cities Classic but is now the John Deere Classic. PGA Tour Pro Who Caught Tiger Woods at John Deere Classic Dies at 72. (Image Collage | Credits: Getty Images) PGA Tour Pro Who Caught Tiger Woods at John Deere Classic Dies at 72. (Image Collage | Credits: Getty Images) Getty Images "Ed Fiori was a true gentleman in our sport, and is a player who would often be referred to as a pro's pro," said PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady. "In three of his four wins on the PGA Tour, he dueled down the stretch with future World Golf Hall of Fame members, most notably Tiger Woods in 1996. That grit and resolution in the face of immeasurable odds is incredibly admirable in every aspect of life, and I know he battled cancer with that same determination until the end. He will be missed by all of us at the Tour." At 43 years old, Fiori stared down a 20-year-old Woods, who was playing just his third event as a professional and held a one-shot lead heading into the final round. Woods, fresh off his 3rd straight U.S. Amateur win, had the galleries and momentum. But Fiori, nicknamed "The Grip" for his famously strong hold on the club, had grit. After an early bogey, he rallied with five birdies, carded a total of 268, and held off a surging Andrew Magee to win by two shots. Woods, who made a quadruple bogey on the 4th hole, faded to a tie for fifth. He would go on to win his next start at the Las Vegas Invitational, launching one of the most dominant careers in sports history. Fiori's win in Illinois was his fourth and final PGA Tour title, capping a career that also included victories at the 1979 Southern Open, 1981 Western Open, and 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic. He later added a Champions Tour win at the 2004 MasterCard Classic. Across 583 PGA Tour starts, Fiori logged 38 top-10 finishes, often battling against future Hall of Famers. Tributes poured in across social media Former PGA Tour pro Mark Lye wrote on X, "Very sad day as my friend of many years, Ed Fiori, passed away... He had a huge heart in this game. He will be missed by many. RIP Eddie." Golf writer Tom Kirkendall added, "R.I.P., Ed Fiori... His nickname among the pros was 'Grip.'" That moniker wasn't just about technique—it reflected his tenacity, his ability to hold on when the odds were stacked against him. Canadian journalist Chris Stevenson echoed the sentiment, "Sad to hear of the passing of PGA Tour regular Ed (The Grip) Fiori... He was an Everyman and a great storyteller. His big moment came when he stared down Tiger Woods... for his fourth and final PGA Tour victory." Fiori, who once considered retiring to become a charter boat captain before that 1996 win, leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, humility, and heart. And the golf world won't forget him. More Golf: Did Kevin Roy Get Away with Breaking the Rules at John Deere Classic?
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Golf icon famous for taking down Tiger Woods dead at 72 after cancer battle
Ed Fiori, who won four titles on the PGA Tour, including the 1996 Quad Cities Classic that prevented Tiger Woods from his first victory, passed away from cancer on Sunday at 72. A native of Lynnwood, California, Fiori won his first title at the 1979 Southern Open, then added victories at the 1981 Western Open and 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic. Fiori is best known for his triumph at the Quad Cities Classic, now known as the John Deere Classic, when he defeated a 20-year-old Woods in the final round at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Ill. 'You kind of root your playing partner on, he roots for you and maybe you can feed off each other and keep it going,' Fiori said of how his two days went playing with Woods, who was participating in just his third event on the PGA Tour. 'Playing with Tiger kind of raised my intensity a little bit. It brought my game up with it, I guess.' Woods led Fiori, who was 42 at the time, by one shot entering the final round. Woods dominated Fiori off the tee, but eventually faded, opening the door for Fiori, who shot a 67 to hold off Andrew Magee for a two-shot win. Woods, who hit quadruple-bogey on the fourth hole, shot a 72 and finished T5. During Sunday's final round of the John Deere Classic, the PGA Tour reflected on Fiori's legacy and praised his determination in his fight against cancer. 'Ed Fiori was a true gentleman in our sport, and is a player who would often be referred to as a pro's pro,' PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady said. 'In three of his four wins on the PGA Tour, he dueled down the stretch with future World Golf Hall of Fame members, most notably Tiger Woods in 1996. 'That grit and resolution in the face of immeasurable odds is incredibly admirable in every aspect of life, and I know he battled cancer with that same determination until the end. 'He will be missed by all of us at the Tour.' Fiori played only 58 times on the senior circuit after turn 50, winning in 2004 in Mexico. 'I hung on for a few more years, and played for a while on the senior tour, but my back was always a problem,' Fiori said in a 2019 interview with 'I had spinal fusion surgery in 2005, and from then on, I struggled to break 80. 'Don't feel sorry for me, though. I've had a great life in a game I love. It was never easy. Lots of times, I was on that flight heading home on Friday nights,' he said. 'But I would not trade it for anything. Even today, people call me the Tiger killer. They don't always get their facts straight, but I don´t mind. I'll never forget that weekend at the John Deere.'
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former PGA Tour Winner Dead Sunday Night
Former PGA Tour Winner Dead Sunday Night originally appeared on The Spun. A former PGA Tour winner is dead on Sunday evening. The PGA Tour announced on Sunday that Ed Fiori, a four-time winner on the tour, died at the age of 72 years old. The standout PGA Tour golfer was perhaps best known for chasing down a then-20-year-old Tiger Woods at age 43 to win the 1996 Quad Cities Classic. Advertisement He passed away on Sunday due to cancer. PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady announced the news. 'Ed Fiori was a true gentleman in our sport, and is a player who would often be referred to as a pro's pro," Brady said. "In three of his four wins on the PGA Tour, he dueled down the stretch with future World Golf Hall of Fame members, most notably Tiger Woods in 1996. That grit and resolution in the face of immeasurable odds is incredibly admirable in every aspect of life, and I know he battled cancer with that same determination until the end. He will be missed by all of us at the Tour.' OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 12: Fans walk across the eighth hole during the first round of 125th U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club on June 12, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)Fiori, known as 'The Grip,' won the the 1979 Southern Open, the 1981 Western Open and 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic. Advertisement He was a standout golfer at the University of Houston. Our thoughts are with the friends and family members of the PGA Tour golfer. May he rest in peace. Former PGA Tour Winner Dead Sunday Night first appeared on The Spun on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
4-time PGA Tour champ Ed Fiori dies at 72
CALIFORNIA: Ed Fiori, who won four titles on the PGA Tour, including the 1996 Quad Cities Classic that prevented Tiger Woods from his first victory, passed away from cancer on Sunday at 72. A native of Lynnwood, California, Fiori won his first title at the 1979 Southern Open, then added victories at the 1981 Western Open and 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic. Fiori is best known for his triumph at the Quad Cities Classic, now known as the John Deer Classic, when he defeated a 20-year-old Woods in the final round at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Ill. "You kind of root your playing partner on, he roots for you and maybe you can feed off each other and keep it going," Fiori said of how his two days went playing with Woods, who was participating in just his third event on the PGA Tour. "Playing with Tiger kind of raised my intensity a little bit. It brought my game up with it, I guess." Woods led Fiori, who was 42 at the time, by one shot entering the final round. Woods dominated Fiori off the tee, but eventually faded, opening the door for Fiori, who shot a 67 to hold off Andrew Magee for a two-shot win. Woods, who hit quadruple-bogey on the fourth hole, shot a 72 and finished T5. During yesterday's (July 6) final round of the John Deere Classic, the PGA Tour reflected on Fiori's legacy and praised his determination in his fight against cancer. "Ed Fiori was a true gentleman in our sport, and is a player who would often be referred to as a pro's pro," PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady said. "In three of his four wins on the PGA Tour, he dueled down the stretch with future World Golf Hall of Fame members, most notably Tiger Woods in 1996. That grit and resolution in the face of immeasurable odds is incredibly admirable in every aspect of life, and I know he battled cancer with that same determination until the end. "He will be missed by all of us at the Tour." — REUTERS
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Fiori, famous for vanquishing a young Tiger Woods, dies at 72
FOUR-TIME PGA Tour winner Ed Fiori, who famously denied a 20-year-old Tiger Woods a first pro title with a victory at the 1996 Quad Cities Classic, died Sunday at the age of 72, the PGA Tour said in a tribute on its website. Fiori, who had battled cancer, won his first PGA Tour title at the 1979 Southern Open. He added wins at the 1981 Western Open and the 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic before his most memorable victory at the Quad Cities Open -- now known as the John Deere Classic -- in Illinois. Woods, 20 and playing in his third tournament as a professional, had a one-shot lead over 43-year-old Fiori going into the final round. Fiori, who had nine missed cuts in his first 10 events that season, later recalled that playing with the young star, who already drew intense scrutiny and massive galleries, 'kind of raised my intensity a little bit.' 'It brought my game up with it,' he said. After an opening bogey, Fiori made five birdies in a four-under round and claimed the title as Woods faltered with a two-over par round that included a quadruple bogey, a double bogey and two more bogeys and dropped him into a tie for fifth. Woods would go on to cement his status as a superstar, piling up 15 major titles to date in a career currently in limbo as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Fiori would go on to play on the senior tour until back trouble -- including spinal fusion surgery in 2005 -- forced him to retire. 'Ed Fiori was a true gentleman in our sport and is a player who would often be referred to as a pro's pro,' PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady said. 'In three of his four wins on the PGA Tour he dueled down the stretch with future World Golf Hall of Fame members, most notably Tiger Woods in 1996. 'That grit and resolution in the face if immeasurable odds is incredibly admirable in every aspect of life, and I know he battled cancer with that same determination until the end'- AFP
