Jerry Pate

Who is Jerry Pate?

Jerome Kendrick "Jerry" Pate is an American professional golfer.

Jerry Pate was born in Macon, Georgia, and attended the University of Alabama, where he played on the Crimson Tide golf team. Pate had a distinguished amateur career. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1974, and the following year he was a member of victorious U.S. teams at the Walker Cup and the Eisenhower Trophy. He was also the low amateur at the U.S. Open in 1975.

Pate turned professional in 1975 and was the medalist at the 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School. During his rookie season in 1976, he won the U.S. Open, his only major championship victory, and the Canadian Open. Pate was selected as the Rookie of the Year and Co-Player of the Year. Six more PGA Tour victories followed between 1977 and 1982, as well as several other titles around the world. He was a member of the victorious Ryder Cup team in 1981, but shoulder injuries curtailed his career; his final win on the PGA Tour came at age 28. That final victory was the Tournament Players Championship, the first held at TPC at Sawgrass. Pate celebrated by throwing course designer Pete Dye and PGA Tour chief Deane Beman into the lake adjacent to the 18th green, then jumped in himself.