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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
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
PGA Tour Veteran Ed Fiori 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
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ed Fiori, a four-time PGA Tour winner who once chased down Tiger Woods, is dead at age 72
Ed Fiori's final of four PGA Tour wins is the one he was best known for – staring down a 20-year-old Tiger Woods at age 43 to capture the 1996 Quad Cities Classic (now known as the John Deere Classic). Fiori died on July 6 at age 72 of cancer, the PGA Tour announced. '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.' Nicknamed 'The Grip,' for the unusually strong grip he played with, Fiori won his first title at the 1979 Southern Open. He would go on to add wins at the 1981 Western Open and 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic. Born April 21, 1953, in Lynwood, California, Fiori played his college golf at University of Houston, earning second-team All-American honors his junior year and contributing to the Cougars winning the national title his senior year in 1977. Woods, who had turned pro after winning his third consecutive U.S. Amateur, held a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of Quad Cities Classic at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Illinois, and was searching for his first win on the PGA Tour. But Woods made an early quadruple-bogey and the veteran Fiori, despite being outdriven regularly by 50 yards, closed with 67 for a two-shot victory over Andrew Magee. Fiori won one more time during his PGA Tour Champions career, edging Graham Marsh in a playoff at the 2004 MasterCard Classic.
