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Which players have the longest gap between PGA Tour wins?

By T.J. Auclair
Published on
Which players have the longest gap between PGA Tour wins?

Winning on the PGA Tour isn't easy.
 
Some players, most notably the game's greats, just make it look that way. 
 
In reality, winning -- if it ever happens for some -- is rare.
 
 
Here's a look at the five players with the most years between victories in PGA Tour history.
 
1. Robert Gamez
 
PGA Tour wins: 3
- Jan. 14, 1990: Northern Telecom Tucson Open
- March 25, 1990: Nestle Invitational
- Sept. 30, 2005: Valero Texas Open
 
Notes: Gamez is one of three players in history to win in his very first start as a member of the PGA Tour at the Norther Telecom Tucson Open in 1990. But, he is most well-known for his second Tour win (and second in his rookie season on Tour) at Bay Hill in the Nestle Invitational. That's where he holed out with a 7-iron from 176 yards on the 72nd hole to edge Greg Norman -- then the world's No. 1 player -- by a single stroke (see video of that historic shot below). Gamez's professional career was off to a rousing start and he even garnered Rookie of the Year honors that year.
 
But, that hot streak didn't last long. It would be 15 years and six months -- 396 starts -- between Gamez's Nestle Invitational victory and his next win at the 2005 Valero Texas Open. That's the longest gap between PGA Tour wins in history. 
 
 
2. Butch Baird
PGA Tour wins: 2
- May 7, 1961: Waco Turner Open
- Oct. 17, 1976: San Antonio Texas Open
 
Notes: Baird, the father of PGA Tour player Briny Baird, had 15 years, five months and 10 days elapse -- 240 starts -- between PGA Tour victories. That's second all time. Interestingly, Briny has the distinction of being the richest golfer never to win a PGA Tour event, earning over $13 million during his career, but coming up short six times.
 
3. Ed Fiori 
PGA Tour wins: 4
- Oct 14, 1979: Southern Open
- Jul 5, 1981: Western Open
- Jan 17, 1982: Bob Hope Desert Classic
- Sep 15, 1996: Quad City Classic
 
Notes: Fiori teed it up 409 times over a span of 14 years, eight months and two days before hoisting his fourth and final PGA Tour trophy at the 1996 Quad City Classic after his victory at the 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic. That Quad City win is notable because it was the third professional start in the career of a young Tiger Woods. Woods actually had the 54-hole lead at Quad City, but would finish T5 with a final-round 72. To date, that failure to close out the 54-hole lead at Quad City remains the first of two times in his 79-win career that Woods failed to close out the tournament. The other time? That was at Hazeltine in the 2009 PGA Championship when Y.E. Yang defeated Woods in the final round.
 
4. Tommy Armour III
 
PGA Tour wins: 2
- Jan. 28, 1990: Phoenix Open
- Sept. 28, 2003: Valero Texas Open
 
Notes: Tommy Armour III went 13 years, eight months -- 366 starts -- between his victories at the 1990 Phoenix Open and the 2003 Valero Texas Open. That's the fourth-longest gap all time. Armour III is the grandson of the legendary Tommy Armour -- the Silver Scot -- winner of three major championships and 25 PGA Tour events. 
 
5. Joey Sindelar
 
PGA Tour wins: 7
- April 7, 1985: Greater Greensboro Open
- Sept. 1, 1985: B.C. Open
- Sept. 6, 1987: B.C. Open
- March 13, 1988: Honda Classic
- August 21, 1988: The International
- Sept. 9, 1990: Hardee's Golf Classic
- May 9, 2004: Wachovia Championship
 
Notes: Sindelar saw a span of 13 years, eight months -- 370 starts -- between his victory at the 1990 Hardee's Golf Classic and his win at the 2004 Wachovia Championship, which is fifth all time.