Long-time First Coast resident and 17-time winner Fred Funk will become the 25th player to make 1,000 starts on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.
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FredFunkdidn’texactlyhaveaheadstartinbecomingthe25thplayertomakeacombined1,000careerstartsonthePGATourandPGATourChampions.
TheMarylandnativeandlong-timeFirstCoastresidentdidn’tbecomeafull-timePGATourplayeruntil1989whenhewas33yearsold.Hewasacareerclubprofessionalandthemen’sgolfcoachattheUniversityofMarylandandspentyearstryingtogetontotheTourthroughthequalifyingprocess.
“Alotofguys[with1,000careerstarts]hadabout10yearsonme,”Funksaid.“Theystartedrightoutofcollege.”
ButliketheGoldGlovesboxerFunkwasasayouth,hekeptpunchingaway.HewonthefirstofhiseightPGATourtitlesin1992andwastheretostay,oftenmakingmorethan30startsperseason.
Listedat5-foot-8andnevergiftedwiththekindofdistanceofftheteethatcontemporariessuchasFredCouples,DavisLoveIII,DavidDuvalorErnieElsenjoyed,Funkmadealivinginthefairway,winningthePGATour’sdrivingaccur
