The best golfer from every U.S. state

Colorado: Hale Irwin

Though Hale Irwin was born in Missouri, he spent a good portion of his adolescence living in Boulder, CO and ultimately would go on to attend the University of Colorado to play, as you’d expect, golf, but also football as well. After capturing an NCAA Championship in 1967, it was time for Irwin to turn pro, and he certainly made a name for himself soon after that.

Irwin captured his first victory on the PGA Tour in 1971, winning the Sea Pines Heritage Classic at 26 years old. Three years later, he was finally able to capture his first major championship. At the 1974 U.S. Open on one of the toughest courses ever according to most at Winged Foot, Irwin survived his way to the top of the leaderboard, winning with a score of 7-over. That would be the first of three victories at the U.S. Open for Irwin as he would later win in 1979 and 1990. The latter, won at age 45, made him the oldest winner of the major to date.

Interestingly enough, those were also the only majors that Irwin ever won throughout his career. He tied for fourth in back-to-back years at The Masters (1974-75), tied for second at The Open Championship in 1983 and tied for fifth at the 1975 PGA Championship for his best major finishes.

If that career on the PGA Tour wasn’t enough to make Irwin Colorado’s best, his success on the Champions Tour has cemented it. He’s won 45 times on the senior tour — the most ever. That kind of sustained success should be synonymous with greatness.