Dicky Pride
Dicky Pride (born July 15, 1969) is an American professional golfer who primarily competes on the PGA Tour Champions.[1] Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he honed his skills at the University of Alabama, where he earned All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior and senior, before turning professional in 1992.[2][3] Pride has notched victories across multiple tours, including his lone PGA Tour win at the 1994 Federal Express St. Jude Classic as a rookie, the 2015 WinCo Foods Portland Open on the Korn Ferry Tour—which secured his return to the PGA Tour for the 2015-16 season—and the 2021 Mitsubishi Electric Classic on the PGA Tour Champions, where he triumphed as a Monday qualifier by three strokes.[3][4][5] Over his extensive career spanning more than three decades, Pride has demonstrated resilience as a journeyman golfer, accumulating career earnings exceeding $3.4 million on the PGA Tour Champions alone while making 119 of 124 cuts.[2] In recent years, including the 2025 season, he has recorded two top-10 finishes on the senior tour and continues to participate in major events like the U.S. Senior Open, where his best result is a tie for sixth in 2023.[2][3]Early Life and Amateur Career
Childhood and Family Background
Richard Fletcher Pride III, known as Dicky Pride, was born on July 15, 1969, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[6] He grew up in Tuscaloosa, where his family instilled a strong foundation in the sport of golf from an early age.[7] Pride's father, Richard "Dick" Fletcher Pride Jr. (1937–2004), was a former University of Alabama golfer who played for the team from 1955 to 1959 and later served as its coach from 1961 to 1964; he introduced Dicky to golf and played a pivotal role in nurturing his passion for the game through family involvement and local play in Alabama.[8][7] His mother, Sandra Wedgeworth Pride (1942–2019), supported the family during his upbringing in Tuscaloosa.[9] Pride has two older sisters, Sandra Marie Pride Shaw and Mary Dee Pride Snow.[9] Pride attended Tuscaloosa Academy, marking the beginning of his organized amateur golf experiences in the local community. He later married Kim Pride, with whom he has two children: daughter Isabelle Elizabeth Pride and son Richard Fletcher Pride IV (known as Fletcher).[9][10] The family currently resides in Orlando, Florida.[11]College Golf at University of Alabama
Dicky Pride enrolled at the University of Alabama in 1988 and graduated in 1992 with a degree in marketing. Initially not on the golf team as a freshman, he walked on during his sophomore year (1989-90) after dedicating himself to improving his game through rigorous practice. His persistence paid off, as he secured a spot on the Crimson Tide roster and contributed to the team's efforts in Southeastern Conference (SEC) competitions throughout his later college years.[11][8] Pride's development as a competitive player accelerated in his junior and senior seasons, where he earned All-SEC honors both years, recognizing his strong performances among top collegiate golfers in the conference. In 1992, he was specifically named to the Second Team All-SEC, highlighting his consistency and skill in regional play. These accolades underscored his growth from a walk-on to a key contributor, bolstered by the supportive golf culture at Alabama, where his family background in the sport provided early motivation.[3][12] One of Pride's notable college results came at the 1992 NCAA Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he competed for Alabama and finished tied for 66th with a four-round total of 296 (+8), including rounds of 71, 72, 78, and 75. This appearance marked a significant step in his amateur career, exposing him to national-level competition. Following his senior year, Pride decided to turn professional in 1992, leveraging his college experience to pursue a spot on the PGA Tour.[13][8]Professional Career
Entry into Professional Golf and Early PGA Tour Struggles
Dicky Pride turned professional in 1992 immediately following his graduation from the University of Alabama, where his college experience had honed his competitive edge. His debut came in a mini-tour event at the Palm course of Walt Disney World Resort. That year, he earned entry to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, marking his first major championship appearance, though he missed the cut after rounds of 83 and 88.[11][14] In 1992 and 1993, Pride gained access to a limited number of PGA Tour events primarily through Monday qualifiers, as he lacked full membership status. His performances during this period were marked by inconsistency, with few cuts made and no notable top finishes, reflecting the steep learning curve for a newcomer navigating the tour's demands. These early outings yielded modest earnings, often insufficient to cover travel and living expenses, exacerbating financial pressures common among aspiring professionals in the 1990s.[15][7] Pride's persistence paid off in the fall of 1993 when he successfully completed PGA Tour Qualifying School, securing full exempt status for the 1994 season. As a rookie, he entered the year facing ongoing challenges of erratic form and the need to establish consistency amid competition from established players. Over his first 18 starts that season, Pride encountered repeated struggles to contend, building tension toward a potential breakthrough while grappling with the tour's mental and financial toll.[8][16]Korn Ferry Tour Resurgence and 2015 Breakthrough
Following a promising start to his professional career with a PGA Tour victory in 1994, Dicky Pride faced challenges maintaining consistent status on the main tour through the late 1990s and 2000s, prompting a shift to the Nationwide Tour (later rebranded as the Web.com Tour and now the Korn Ferry Tour) as a pathway to regain footing.[17] He began competing regularly on the developmental circuit in the early 2000s, logging extensive starts across the decade while balancing occasional PGA Tour opportunities.[18] By the 2010s, Pride's focus sharpened on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he played in numerous events annually, demonstrating resilience amid a journeyman career marked by over 180 total starts on the tour.[18] His resurgence gained traction in 2014, as he qualified for the Web.com Tour Finals and posted competitive results that positioned him for a stronger push the following year, though he narrowly missed reclaiming full PGA Tour status.[17] Entering the 2015 season, Pride built momentum with steady performances, climbing to 40th on the money list by the regular-season finale.[19] The pinnacle of this revival came at the 2015 WinCo Foods Portland Open, held at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club's Witch Hollow course in North Plains, Oregon. Pride carded rounds of 65, 66, 66, and 67 to finish at 20-under-par 264, securing a three-stroke victory over Tim Herron.[19] Highlighted by a 60-foot eagle putt on the par-5 11th hole in the final round, the win marked his first triumph on the tour in over a decade and his first professional victory since 1994.[19] The $144,000 first-place prize elevated his season earnings to $253,057, propelling him to fifth on the regular-season money list and earning him a PGA Tour card for the 2015-16 season.[17][19] This breakthrough not only revitalized Pride's career at age 46 but also underscored his perseverance, with the Korn Ferry Tour serving as a vital bridge to sustained elite-level competition through consistent cuts made and earnings that sustained his professional pursuits into the mid-2010s.[18]PGA Tour Champions Era and 2021 Victory
Dicky Pride became eligible for the PGA Tour Champions upon turning 50 on July 15, 2019, marking his transition to senior professional golf after a career marked by perseverance on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour. His debut came at the 2019 Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, where he finished tied for 46th at 7-over par, earning $7,821 in his initial foray into the circuit.[20] This entry reflected Pride's adaptation to a field of seasoned competitors, leveraging his experience from earlier successes like the 2015 Korn Ferry Tour win to build momentum in senior play. From 2019 through 2025, Pride demonstrated consistent participation and improvement, playing in over 120 events across the tour with 119 cuts made, six top-5 finishes, and 14 top-10 results, amassing career earnings of $3,416,739 as of November 2025.[2][21] His performance trended upward, particularly in recent years; in 2025 alone, he competed in 22 events, making 21 cuts, and recorded notable top finishes including a tie for second at the American Family Insurance Championship.[22] There, paired with Doug Barron in the best-ball format, Pride contributed scores of 65-60-60 to help their team finish at 28-under par 185, four strokes behind winners Thomas Bjørn and Darren Clarke, securing approximately $131,000 in prize money (team share).[23][24] Pride's breakthrough came in 2021 at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, held April 23-25 at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia, where he entered as a Monday qualifier after posting a 4-under 68 at Ansley Golf Club-Settindown Creek.[16] In his 11th career start on the tour, Pride carded rounds of 67-68-66 to finish at 12-under par 201, winning by three strokes over Doug Barron, who closed with a 69 for 9-under.[4] The victory, his first on the senior circuit after a decade of professional highs and lows, held deep personal significance as a validation of his enduring passion for the game, providing financial stability and a sense of rebirth in his golfing career.[25] In 2025, Pride continued his strong form with a tie for ninth at the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, finishing at 1-under par 279 and earning $85,798, highlighted by a final-round 67 that included multiple birdies to climb the leaderboard.[26] At the Simmons Bank Championship, he tied for 30th at 3-under par, featuring a key birdie on the par-5 18th in the second round to stay competitive in the field.[27] These results contributed to his 2025 earnings of $554,358 as of November 17, placing him 37th on the Charles Schwab Cup points list.[28]Tournament Achievements
PGA Tour Win: 1994 Federal Express St. Jude Classic
The 1994 Federal Express St. Jude Classic, held from July 28 to 31 at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, featured a $1.25 million purse and attracted a strong field including world No. 1 Nick Price, who finished fourth at 268.[29][30] As a PGA Tour rookie in just his 19th start, Dicky Pride carded rounds of 66-67-67-67 to reach 17-under par 267, tying Gene Sauers (67-66-68-66) and Hal Sutton (67-68-68-64).[31][16] In the final round, Pride seized the lead with a near-eagle on the par-4 17th, where his 185-yard approach struck the pin after bouncing short, leaving a tap-in birdie that put him at 17-under.[30] However, he drove into the water on the par-4 18th, leading to a bogey that dropped him back into a three-way tie.[30] The sudden-death playoff began on the par-4 18th, where Pride reached the green in two and converted a birdie putt, while Sauers and Sutton could not match it, securing the victory and $225,000 first-place check.[29] The win granted Pride a multiyear exemption on the PGA Tour, elevating his status from a Monday qualifier and part-time mini-tour player to a full-time competitor with newfound financial security after early struggles that included missing 12 of his first 17 cuts.[18][16] Reflecting years later, Pride noted the triumph's double-edged nature: "It came together for me really quick and I didn't really handle it well after that, because my answer to everything was always work harder and you'll play better," highlighting how the early success intensified his drive but also underscored the challenges of sustaining momentum on Tour.[32]Korn Ferry Tour Success: 2015 WinCo Foods Portland Open
The 2015 WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft Heinz took place from August 27 to 30 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club's Witch Hollow Course in North Plains, Oregon, featuring a standard 72-hole stroke-play format on a par-71 layout with a purse of $800,000.[5][33][34] Pride delivered a dominant performance, opening with a 6-under-par 65 in the first round, followed by consecutive 5-under 66s in the second and third rounds to build a four-stroke lead entering the final day.[19] In the pressure-packed Sunday round, he carded a 4-under 67, highlighted by steady play including birdies on the front nine and a birdie on the par-5 18th to close out the tournament at 20-under-par 264, securing a three-stroke victory over runner-up Tim Herron, who finished at 17-under.[35][17] This triumph marked Pride's sole victory across 186 Korn Ferry Tour starts, underscoring his perseverance on the developmental circuit.[18] At age 46, Pride's win propelled him to fifth on the regular-season money list, earning him a coveted PGA Tour card for the 2015–16 season and signaling a remarkable career revival after two decades of grinding through mini-tours, qualifiers, and inconsistent big-league opportunities following his lone PGA Tour victory in 1994.[19][17] The victory, as the regular-season finale, also contributed to the top 25 players securing full PGA Tour status, amplifying its stakes.[35] Media outlets hailed the event as an inspirational underdog story, with Golfweek noting Pride's emotional post-win reflection on his long journey, while ESPN highlighted how he had played five straight weeks leading into the tournament. Pride himself spoke to the grind, stating, "I'm pretty amazed. It was so tough. I've played the last five weeks in a row. I'm 46 and I just am so thrilled to be back out there."[36][17] In a broader message shared via PGA Tour media, he emphasized perseverance, saying, "For a guy that talks a lot, I don't have a lot to say. It hasn't been a couple years, it's been a couple decades."[37]PGA Tour Champions Milestone: 2021 Mitsubishi Electric Classic
The 2021 Mitsubishi Electric Classic took place from May 14–16 at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia, offering a $1.8 million purse to the 78-player field of PGA Tour Champions professionals.[38] At age 51 and as a Monday qualifier without full tour status, Dicky Pride entered the event seeking his first senior victory after turning 50 in 2019. He posted rounds of 71-67-67 for a tournament total of 11-under-par 205, earning the winner's check of $270,000 and becoming only the fourth open qualifier to win on the tour since 2000.[4][18] Pride's final-round 67 included six birdies in an 11-hole stretch from the 4th through the 14th, showcasing a strong comeback after trailing by one entering the day. He seized the outright lead with a birdie on the par-3 8th hole, reaching 9 under par, though Doug Barron briefly tied him via an eagle on the 10th and a birdie on the 12th. Pride countered with a birdie on the 13th to reclaim the solo lead, and Barron's double bogey on the par-4 15th extended Pride's advantage to three shots with five holes remaining. Parring the final three holes sealed the three-stroke victory over a tie for second held by Stephen Ames, Kirk Triplett, and Paul Goydos, all at 8-under 208.[39][4] This milestone win arrived after 739 professional starts across the PGA Tour (459 events, one victory), Korn Ferry Tour (186 events, one victory), and other circuits, highlighting Pride's journeyman resilience at a stage when many peers retire. In post-round reflections, Pride described the triumph as "huge," fulfilling his ambition to claim titles on all three major tours and crediting recent momentum from eight top-25 finishes in nine senior starts that season.[40][18] He expressed immediate excitement, contrasting it with a disappointing final round the prior week at the Regions Tradition in his home state of Alabama.[4] The victory elevated Pride to full exempt status on the PGA Tour Champions through the end of 2022, propelling him into the top 30 of the Charles Schwab Cup points standings and unlocking consistent invitations to full-field events, which stabilized his senior career trajectory.[18][4]Major Championship Performances
Results in Men's Major Championships
Dicky Pride competed in six men's major championships during his PGA Tour career, spanning from 1992 to 2016, with appearances primarily earned through qualification or Tour status following his 1994 victory. He made the cut in two of these events, reflecting the challenges of his journeyman career marked by inconsistent form and limited major exemptions.[41] Pride's debut came as an amateur in the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he missed the cut with rounds of 83-88 for a total of 171, finishing well back in the field.[42] He returned to the U.S. Open in 2001 at Tulsa, again failing to make the cut after opening rounds that left him outside the top 70. In 1994, Pride played the PGA Championship at Southern Hills as a rookie professional, making the cut and tying for 73rd place with rounds of 75-69-73-80 for a total score of 297 (+13), his only made cut in that event.[41] [43] At the 1995 Masters Tournament, he missed the cut with scores of 79-73 for 152 (+8), one of the few invitations he received early in his career.[44] His strongest performance occurred at the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields Country Club, where Pride tied for 28th at 284 (+4). He opened steadily with 71-69 before carding a third-round 66—a score that tied the course record and propelled him into a tie for fifth at 206 (-4) entering the final day—though he faded with a 78 in the closing round amid tough conditions. This result, which earned him $41,254, highlighted a brief surge during a period of health challenges but underscored his difficulty sustaining contention in majors.[45][46][47] Pride's final major appearance was a missed cut at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont with 155 (+15).[44] Overall, Pride never contended for a top-10 finish in the majors, with an approximate average finish of 50th across his made cuts and a pattern of missed cuts in 67% of starts. These outcomes mirrored his broader PGA Tour trajectory, where sporadic major access—often via Monday qualifying or past champion status—limited opportunities for deeper runs, consistent with the experiences of many mid-tier professionals in the 1990s and 2000s.[41]| Tournament | Appearances | Cuts Made | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 1 (1995) | 0 | CUT |
| U.S. Open | 4 (1992, 2001, 2003, 2016) | 1 | T28 (2003) |
| PGA Championship | 1 (1994) | 1 | T73 (1994) |
| The Open Championship | 0 | - | - |
| Total | 6 | 2 | T28 |
Results in Senior Major Championships
Dicky Pride began competing in senior major championships upon reaching age 50 in 2019, participating in all five events: The Tradition, Senior PGA Championship, Senior Players Championship, U.S. Senior Open, and Senior British Open through 2025. His results in these tournaments highlight a mix of strong contention and challenges with consistency, particularly in making cuts against a field of experienced senior professionals.[3] In the U.S. Senior Open, Pride has made three cuts across five starts, achieving two top-10 finishes that underscore his competitive edge in this event. He tied for ninth in 2025 at The Broadmoor (East Course) with rounds of 70-72-70-67 for a total of 279 (-1), earning $85,798. The previous year, he missed the cut at Newport Country Club with scores of 72-72 (+4). In 2023, Pride posted a career-best T6 finish at SentryWorld with 72-69-73-69 (283, -1), securing $125,127. He also tied for 34th in 2021 (69-71-73-71, 284, E) but missed cuts in 2022 (72-71, +3) and 2024.[3][48][49][50][51] Pride's outings in the Senior PGA Championship have been more limited in success, with missed cuts in recent editions amid adapting to the event's demanding conditions and veteran competition. In 2025 at Fields Ranch East, he shot 73-79 (+8) to miss the cut. Similarly, in 2024 at Harbor Shores, rounds of 76-71 (+5) led to another early exit. Earlier, he tied for 20th in 2021 at Southern Hills (73-72-69-70, 284, +4), earning $38,167, but did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 cancellation and had no recorded starts in 2019 or 2022 or 2023.[52][53][54] At the Senior British Open, Pride's participation has been sporadic, with a T46 finish in 2021 at Sunningdale Golf Club (scores totaling +6 over four rounds), earning $11,000. He did not compete in 2020 (canceled) or 2022-2025 editions based on available records, reflecting selective entry into this overseas major.[55] In the Senior Players Championship, Pride has made several appearances since 2019, with his best finish a T7 in 2022. Other results include T19 (2019), T25 (2020), T44 (2021), T40 (2023), and T59 (2024); he did not play in 2025.[56] For The Tradition, Pride tied for 38th in 2025 at Greystone (73-74-70-66, 283, -5), earning $13,520. He has limited prior starts in this event.[57] Across senior majors from 2019 to 2025, Pride has recorded two top-10 finishes, multiple cuts made in approximately 12 starts, and total earnings exceeding $300,000, primarily from U.S. Senior Open performances. These results align with his broader PGA Tour Champions career, where steady play has yielded one victory and consistent top finishes.[3][2]| Year | Event | Finish | Scores | To Par | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Senior Players Championship | T19 | 71-70-72-71 | -4 | $45,000[56] |
| 2020 | Senior Players Championship | T25 | 69-72-70-71 | -6 | $28,000[56] |
| 2021 | Senior PGA Championship | T20 | 73-72-69-70 | +4 | $38,167[54] |
| 2021 | U.S. Senior Open | T34 | 69-71-73-71 | E | $33,060[3] |
| 2021 | Senior Players Championship | T44 | 72-71-74-70 | +1 | $15,000[56] |
| 2021 | Senior British Open | T46 | 68-73-72-71 | +6 | $11,000[55] |
| 2022 | U.S. Senior Open | CUT | 72-71 | +3 | $0[58] |
| 2022 | Senior Players Championship | T7 | 68-70-69-71 | -8 | $75,000[56] |
| 2023 | U.S. Senior Open | T6 | 72-69-73-69 | -1 | $125,127[50] |
| 2023 | Senior Players Championship | T40 | 71-73-72-70 | +2 | $18,000[56] |
| 2024 | U.S. Senior Open | CUT | 72-72 | +4 | $0[51] |
| 2024 | Senior PGA Championship | CUT | 76-71 | +5 | $0[53] |
| 2024 | Senior Players Championship | T59 | 73-74-72-71 | +6 | $8,000[56] |
| 2025 | Senior PGA Championship | CUT | 73-79 | +8 | $0[52] |
| 2025 | U.S. Senior Open | T9 | 70-72-70-67 | -1 | $85,798[49] |
| 2025 | The Tradition | T38 | 73-74-70-66 | -5 | $13,520[57] |