Steve Elkington

One of a long line of Australians to enjoy success on the PGA Tour, Elkington started playing golf at age 10. After winning the Australian Amateur in 1981, he came to America and won the Doug Sanders Junior World Championship. During that week he impressed University of Houston golf coach Dave Williams, who offered Elkington a scholarship to play for the Cougars. At Houston, Elkington became a two-time All-American, collected two individual Southwest Conference titles and helped Houston to two NCAA Championships.
Has had a long history of physical struggles in his professional career, particularly combating grass allergies. He won his first tournament in 1990, the Kmart Greater Greensboro Open, winning by two thanks to a final-round 66. The following year he won The Players Championship for the first time, he was again a champion at Sawgrass in 1997.
The high point of his career came in 1995 at Riviera Country Club, where he won the PGA Championship in a sudden-death playoff, defeating Colin Montgomerie with a birdie on the first extra hole.
Had sinus problems and had surgery in March of 1998. Later that spring he was again hospitalized for viral meningitis, but came back in the fall with a win at the Buick Challenge. His meningitis problem returned in 1999 and he was forced to withdraw from the Shell Houston Open before the final round even though he was among the leaders.
Has played in 566 PGA Tour events with 10 wins, 10 runner-up and nine third-place finishes. Was in the top-10 75 times and made 403 cuts while earning $15,505,418. Played in the first four President Cup matches in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000. His hobbies include drawing cartoons and gardening.
2013 Notes: Got off to a great start in his Champions Tour career, finishing in the top-10 in three of his first five starts. Had four top-10 finishes among 24 starts in his rookie Champions Tour season and secured the final spot in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Best effort came during the summer when he carded a 5-under 65 Sunday at the U.S. Senior Open and moved into an eventual T-6th at Omaha CC.
2014 Notes: A year after finishing 30th on the final money list, fell 22 places to 52nd in 2014. Also dropped ten places in the Schwab Rankings to 41st in 2014. Played in just 14 events, 10 fewer than his initial Champions Tour season. Had four top-tens, best finish was a T-7th finish in the Champions Division at the Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf in June, with teammate Rocco Mediate. Saw the debut of his own TV show "The Rural Golfer" on RFD-TV in July.