| Born on a military base in Fort Bragg, North | | | | His discipline in the game was related to his |
| Carolina, Ray Floyd stuck to his working class | | | | personal life - an important lesson for modern |
| roots as he rose to become a professional golfer | | | | players to learn today. Floyd enjoyed his night life |
| at the young age of 19. Floyd earned a reputation | | | | and only really gained consistency on the course |
| in North Carolina for his raw talent, hard work and | | | | when he started a family in the 1970s. Many |
| competitive nature, playing briefly at the | | | | younger golfers today try to balance early |
| University of North Carolina before becoming a full | | | | success with fame, a difficult balancing act given |
| time PGA pro in 1961. | | | | the rigors and challenges of international travel. |
| While Floyd entered the game at a young age, he | | | | After settling down, Floyd went on to win the |
| continued to compete at the highest level for | | | | 1976 Masters, the 1982 PGA Championship and |
| decades, winning the 1986 United States Open at | | | | the 1986 U.S. Open. |
| the age of 44 and finishing second in the 1990 | | | | Never one to shy away from competition, he |
| Masters. In an era where upstart golfers often | | | | continued to compete in PGA events into his 50s, |
| rise and fall quickly, the patience and discipline | | | | playing on a total of eight Ryder cup teams and |
| underlying Floyd's game helped him to remain at | | | | continuing to serve as a leading mentor and |
| the top of his game well past the traditional prime | | | | instructor to a new generation of American |
| for professional golfers. Today, Floyd is actively | | | | golfers. While his records are clearly evident in the |
| competing in the Champions Tour and continues | | | | record book, his larger legacy remains in the |
| to draw card entries into major PGA events, | | | | development of American national golf and the |
| where his legendary status has earned him | | | | modernization of course design. |
| respect of players across generations. | | | | Today, Floyd plays actively on the Champions |
| Youthful Ambition with a Patient Swing | | | | (Senior) Tour and works as a leading designer in |
| Born during the heart of the Second World War, | | | | his own golf architecture company. The |
| Floyd showed a fighting spirit that helped propel | | | | development of modern American golf course |
| him to the top of the game. Since North Carolina | | | | design is a testament to his commitment to the |
| athletes tend to focus on basketball, Floyd | | | | game from beginning to end. An advocate for the |
| focused on a variety of team sports, including | | | | sport, Floyd commonly speaks, writes and |
| hoops, baseball and football before focusing in on | | | | teaches the sport to a variety of audiences, |
| golf. A great athlete who served in the Army and | | | | earning him a reputation as a thoroughly modern |
| earned a reputation as a strong competitor in | | | | golfer. Take one glance at his resume and you'll |
| North Carolina, he won his first PGA event at only | | | | see the impressive marks he's left in nearly every |
| 20 years old. | | | | corner of the game. |