Len Mattiace

Join hosts Rafael Kalamat and Michael Bleackley as they talk to PGA champion Len Earl Mattiace. He is an American professional golfer, formerly of the PGA Tour and now playing on the PGA Tour Champions.

Mattiace was born in Mineola, New York. He attended Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1990 with a degree in Sociology. While at Wake Forest, he played on the team that won the NCAA Division I Golf Championship in 1986. He turned pro later in 1990.

Mattiace first gained notability when he surged into contention in the final round of the 1998 Players Championship. Trailing by one shot going into the par-3 17th hole, he hit his tee shot into the water, his third shot into a bunker, and his fourth shot into the water. He ended up with a quintuple-bogey 8 on the hole and finished in a tie for fifth, four strokes behind the eventual winner Justin Leonard.

Mattiace’s career year was 2002, when he earned wins at the Nissan Open (his 220th PGA Tour start) and the FedEx St. Jude Classic. In 2003, he contended in the Masters Tournament by shooting a 65 in the final round which put him into a playoff with Mike Weir. On the first playoff hole, Mattiace found himself stymied by trees when his approach drifted offline. Weir needed only a bogey to secure the victory and Mattiace finished second, earning $648,000 in prize money. Shortly after the 2003 season, Mattiace’s career was threatened by a skiing accident and torn ACLs in both knees.

Mattiace was ranked as high as 24th in the Official World Golf Ranking, but was not fully exempt on the PGA Tour after 2005. He made his PGA Tour Champions debut in March 2018 at the Cologuard Classic. He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Mattiace is naturally left-handed but plays right-handed.

PGA Tour wins (2)
2002 Nissan Open −15 (69-65-67-68=269)
2002 FedEx St. Jude Classic −18 (69-68-65-64=266)

U.S. national team appearances
Amateur Walker Cup: 1987 (winners)

1992 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
1995 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates

10 Major CUTS
MADE; 1997-2005 (Noteable: 2003 Masters Runner-up 2nd place) Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship