Jim McGovern (golfer)

James David McGovern (born February 5, 1965) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.

Jim McGovern
Personal information
Full nameJames David McGovern
Born (1965-02-05) February 5, 1965
Teaneck, New Jersey
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
Sporting nationality United States
ResidenceOradell, New Jersey
SpouseLauren McGovern
ChildrenMelanie, Emily, Elizabeth, Sean
Career
CollegeUniversity of Arkansas
Old Dominion University
Turned professional1988
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Nationwide Tour
Professional wins9
Highest ranking98 (February 4, 1996)[1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour1
Korn Ferry Tour3
Other5
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT5: 1994
PGA ChampionshipT22: 1993
U.S. OpenT13: 1994
The Open ChampionshipCUT: 1993, 1994

Early life

McGovern was born in Teaneck, New Jersey.[2] He grew up in Oradell, New Jersey in a house adjoining the Hackensack Golf Club.[3] McGovern attended Bergen Catholic High School and was a star football player there. However, a coach introduced him to golf during his junior year.[4]

Amateur career

McGovern initially attended the University of Arkansas as a non-scholarship member of its golf team. He transferred after two years to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and was a member of that school's golf team. He turned pro in 1988 and joined the PGA Tour in 1991.

Professional career

McGovern was a member of the PGA Tour from 1991–1998. His career year was 1993 when he won once, had two other top-10 finishes, earned $587,495 and finished 27th on the money list. His best finish in a major was T5 at the 1994 Masters Tournament.[5] He had 14 career top-10 finishes in 386 PGA Tour events.

McGovern finished 19th in qualifying school and earned his PGA Tour card for 2008; he made the cut in 11 of 26 events. In 2009, he was back on the Nationwide Tour.[6]

On January 1, 2011, McGovern became the head golf professional at White Beeches Golf & Country Club in Haworth, New Jersey, 20 miles from midtown Manhattan. He is one of the few PGA Professionals who was also a PGA Tour winner.

On May 17, 2011, McGovern earned medalist honors at the local U.S. Open qualifier. His 4-under 68 at Ballyowen Golf Club gave him medalist honors by two strokes and also secured for him one of five spots available for the U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Canoe Brook on June 6. McGovern earned a spot in the 2014 PGA Championship through his finish at the PGA Professional National Championship after having to qualify in a playoff for one of the twenty positions. He occasionally continues to compete at senior major events and those sanctioned through the New Jersey section of the PGA of America.

Personal life

McGovern lives in Oradell, New Jersey.[3] His brother, Rob McGovern, played linebacker in the NFL.[6]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (9)

PGA Tour wins (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 May 2, 1993 Shell Houston Open −17 (67-64-68=199)* Playoff United States John Huston

*Note: The 1993 Shell Houston Open was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1993 Shell Houston Open United States John Huston Won with birdie on second extra hole

Ben Hogan Tour wins (3)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 Apr 1, 1990 Ben Hogan Lake City Classic −14 (69-70-63=202) Playoff United States David Toms
2 Jul 8, 1990 Ben Hogan New Haven Open −9 (71-65-65=201) 3 strokes United States Tray Tyner
3 Sep 2, 1990 Ben Hogan Texarkana Open −16 (67-66-67=200) 2 strokes United States John Daly

Ben Hogan Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1990 Ben Hogan Lake City Classic United States David Toms Won with par on fourth extra hole

Other wins (5)

Results in major championships
Tournament 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Masters Tournament T5 CUT
U.S. Open CUT CUT CUT T13 T45 CUT CUT
The Open Championship CUT CUT
PGA Championship T22 CUT CUT CUT
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open CUT 78 CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship CUT
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

See also

References
  1. "Week 5 1996 Ending 4 Feb 1996" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  2. Dorman, Larry. "Golf; McGovern Gets Comfort Of Home and a Lead", The New York Times, March 10, 1995. Accessed February 16, 2011. "So it was fitting today that Jim McGovern, born in Teaneck and raised in Oradell, where he lives now, strolled around the grounds here with one of the biggest galleries and shot the lowest number in the first round of the Honda Classic."
  3. Friend, Tom. "Golf; You Can't Take the Hackensack Out of This Guy", The New York Times, February 28, 1993. Accessed February 16, 2011. "He grew up in Oradell, N.J., in a house literally adjacent to the fourth green at Hackensack Golf Club. I remember once finding a stray ball in the upstairs bathroom, he said."
  4. Brown, Clifton. "Golf; A Former Rising Star Hopes to Rise Again", The New York Times, December 18, 1999. Accessed February 16, 2011. "When Jim McGovern was an all-state tight end at Bergen Catholic High School, few people would have predicted that he would become a professional golfer. He didn't start playing golf seriously until 11th grade."
  5. "Golf Major Championships".
  6. "Biographical information on PGA Tour's official site". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
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