Calvin Peete

Calvin Peete (July 18, 1943 – April 29, 2015) was an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American to have played on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, prior to the emergence of Tiger Woods. Peete won the 1985 Tournament Players Championship and finished the season top-5 on the PGA Tour money list three times; 1982, 1983 and 1985. He was ranked in the top 10 players on the McCormack's World Golf Rankings in 1984.

Early life
Peete was born in Detroit. He did not begin playing golf until he was in his 20s, but immediately excelled at a game most pros learn as young children. He learned the game while peddling goods to migrant workers in Rochester, New York, playing on the public course at Genesee Valley Park. Growing up poor, Peete suffered a badly broken arm that was never properly set.

Professional career
Peete successfully graduated onto the PGA Tour at Spring 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He was the leader in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour for 10 straight years, 1981–90. He was inducted into the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Peete played on the 1983 and 1985 U.S. Ryder Cup teams. He won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average in 1984. He was in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for several weeks when they debuted in 1986.

Personal life
Peete died of lung cancer, in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 29, 2015. He was 71.

PGA Tour wins (12)
 * Note: Tournament shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

Results in major championships
Note: Peete never played in The Open Championship. {{legend|yellow|Top 10}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied

Summary

 * Most consecutive cuts made – 22 (1976 U.S. Open – 1987 Masters)
 * Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1982 U.S. Open – 1982 PGA)

Results timeline
{{legend|lime|Win}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place.

U.S. national team appearances

 * Ryder Cup: 1983 (winners), 1985
 * Nissan Cup: 1985 (winners), 1986