Danny Joe Pohl (born April 1, 1955) is an American professional golfer. Pohl played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. He won two PGA Tour tournaments, both in 1986: the Colonial and the World Series of Golf. However, Pohl may be best known for finishing in second place at the 1982 Masters Tournament, losing to Craig Stadler in a playoff. Pohl also qualified for the 1987 Ryder Cup representing the American team.
Early life Born and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He is considered the greatest athlete produced by Mt. Pleasant High School, where he has been inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame, earning All State honors in three sports (golf, baseball and basketball). As a prep baseball player, Pohl was scouted by Major League teams. He was a star point guard on a prep basketball team that went undefeated (20-0) during his senior season.
Amateur career Pohl attended the University of Arizona and played for the Wildcats' golf team. Pohl twice won the Michigan Amateur Golf Championship in 1975 and 1977.
Professional career Pohl turned pro in 1977 and joined the PGA Tour in 1978. Early in his career, Pohl was one of the top drivers on tour leading the tour in driving distance in 1980 and 1981. During this era, Pohl had much success at the major tournaments. He had a third-place finish at the 1981 PGA Championship. This qualified him for the 1982 Masters Tournament. Pohl finished the tournament tied with Craig Stadler at the end of regulation. Stadler defeated him in the playoff. A few months later he recorded a T-3 at the 1982 U.S. Open.
He won two tournaments on the PGA Tour during his career both of which came in 1986: the Colonial National Invitation and the NEC World Series of Golf. Pohl finished fifth on the money list that year. Pohl had 70 top-10 finishes including more than a dozen second or third-place finishes. A highly ranked player in the world, his career was still ascending in 1987 when he posted the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour and won the Vardon Trophy. The following year, Pohl began to suffer a series of injuries starting with lower back surgery that dramatically altered his competitiveness. He was a member of the 1987 Ryder Cup Team.
Since turning 50 in April 2005, Pohl has played on the Champions Tour. His best finish at this level has been a T-3 at the 2005 Commerce Bank Long Island Classic.
Awards and honors In 1985, Pohl was inducted into Arizona Sports Hall of Fame In 1987, he won the PGA Tour's Vardon Trophy In 2004, he was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame
Amateur wins 1975 Michigan Amateur 1977 Michigan Amateur
Professional wins (3) PGA Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1May 18, 1986Colonial National Invitation−5 (68-69-68=205)Playoff Payne Stewart2Aug 24, 1986NEC World Series of Golf−10 (69-66-71-71=277)1 stroke Lanny Wadkins
PGA Tour playoff record (1–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11982Masters Tournament Craig StadlerLost to par on first extra hole21985Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open Phil Blackmar, Jodie MuddBlackmar won with birdie on first extra hole31986Colonial National Invitation Payne StewartWon with birdie on first extra hole
Other wins (1) 1988 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Championship (with Dan Marino)
Results in major championships Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters Tournament2T8T35T31CUTT1642U.S. OpenCUTT3CUTCUTCUTT9T12T29The Open ChampionshipCUTPGA Championship3T708T39T12T26T148T24
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 1 0 1 2 3 7 6U.S. Open 0 0 1 1 2 3 8 4The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0PGA Championship 0 0 1 1 3 6 9 9Totals 0 1 2 3 7 12 25 19 Most consecutive cuts made – 8 (1987 U.S. Open – 1989 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1981 PGA – 1982 U.S. Open)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996The Players ChampionshipT8T45WDCUTT874CUTT7T8T50CUTT35WDCUTT68T62
CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place
U.S. national team appearances Professional Nissan Cup: 1986 Ryder Cup: 1987
See also Spring 1978 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates Spring 1979 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
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