Mike Small (golfer)

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Mike Small (born March 4, 1966) is an American professional golfer. Small has played in over 50 PGA Tour events in his career, including 7 major championships. He is head golf coach at the University of Illinois (2000-). He was Big Ten Coach of the Year for the 2001-02 season, when Illinois placed 18th in the NCAA Championships.

Small was born in Aurora, Illinois and grew up in Danville, Illinois He was a four-time letter winner at Danville High School. Before attending University of Illinois, Small won the Junior Masters in 1984. At Illinois, Small was a member of the 1988 Big Ten Championship team, where he finished second behind teammate and current PGA Tour member Steve Stricker. Small was named to the All-Big Ten squad and won two tournaments during his senior year, the Intercollegiate and the Michigan State Spartan Classic.

Small turned pro in 1990 and played on various tours before joining the PGA in 1995. In 1997, he won two Nike Tour (now the Nationwide Tour) events and finished in the Top 15 on the Nike Tour money list, earning his PGA Tour card for the 1998 season. He played on the PGA Tour in 1998, where his best finish was 9th place at the Bell Canadian Open. In 2003, Small won the Illinois PGA and Illinois Open titles, becoming the first golfer ever to win both tournaments in the same year. Small has played in 96 Nationwide Tour events finishing in the top 10 eight times.

His father, Bill Small, was captain of the 1963 Big Ten Champion Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team and earned All Big-Ten honors. Small's brother, Andy, was a member of the 1990 Big Ten Champion Illinois baseball squad and won four varsity letters as an infielder.

Contents

[edit] Professional wins (14)

[edit] Nationwide Tour wins (2)

[edit] Other wins (12)

[edit] External links