The best golfer from every U.S. state

North Carolina: Raymond Floyd

The son of a U.S. Army service member, Raymond Floyd has strong roots to the military towns in North Carolina. He was born in Fort Bragg and spent much of his young life in Fayetteville. His ties to the state don’t stop there, however. When it was time for him to choose where to attend college, Floyd chose to head to Chapel Hill and be a Tar Heel. Of course, his time there was short-lived as the ranks of the PGA Tour were calling. Floyd turned pro in 1961 at just 18 years old.

He made noise early on the PGA Tour, but didn’t capture his first win until the 1963 season when he was able to capture the crown at the St. Petersburgh Open Invitational. That victory would go on to be one of his 22 that he registered on the PGA Tour throughout his career. Having said that, the North Carolinian great may be best remembered for a few runs that he had in major championships.

All told, Floyd won four majors throughout his career, the first coming with the 1969 PGA Championship, an event he’d win again in 1982. His most impressive major feats though came in the 1976 Masters and that second PGA win. Floyd won his green jacket leading wire-to-wire and commanding an eight-stroke lead after 72 holes, dominating the field. Meanwhile, he’s also tied the then-record for lowest round in a major in the 1982 PGA, shooting a 63.

Winning The Open Championship eluded Floyd throughout his career, causing him to miss out on the career grand slam. Still, he more than made his mark on golf and left quite a few memories on the PGA Tour, and continued doing so when he enjoyed a successful run on the senior tour.