It seems like golfers these days hit their prime earlier, with Scottie Scheffler not even turning 30 until next June.
Just two players at the 2025 Ryder Cup were over the age of 36. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson is, of course, the only player to have won a major after turning 50.
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It’s no surprise that you don’t need more than one hand to count how many players have won a PGA Tour event after turning 50.
But there is just one player who has secured their first-ever PGA Tour victory after reaching that landmark age.
Meet the only player to win his First PGA Tour title after turning 50
The Cajun Classic was a short-lived fixture on the PGA Tour, running for just over a decade before its final edition in 1968.
Still, the event managed to leave a mark on the game thanks to John Barnum’s win in 1962.
Barnum won by six shots over Gay Brewer, who would go on to win The Masters five years later.
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Barnum was 51 at the time and had never won on tour before. He also never cracked the top 10 in a major and wrapped up his career without ever playing in The Masters or The Open Championship. Even so, he did manage eight top-five finishes in his 179 tour starts.
No one else had achieved this feat since Jim Barnes did it back in 1937. Barnum’s win also stood out for another reason: he was the first player to win a PGA Tour event using a Ping putter.
So while Barnum’s age drew headlines, his impact went well beyond just that number.
Every PGA Tour winner over the age of 50
Golf didn’t have to wait long for another over-50 winner, with Sam Snead picking up his record 82nd and final title at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open.
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Art Wall Jr. followed in 1975 by winning the Greater Milwaukee Open, 16 years after his Masters victory. Craig Stadler, another Masters champion, joined the group with his win at the 2003 B.C. Open.
Fred Funk and Davis Love III also added their names to this rare list by winning tournaments after becoming eligible for PGA Tour Champions events.
Mickelson made headlines with his win at the 2021 PGA Championship. But Barnum remains unique as the only player on that list to claim his first PGA Tour victory after turning 50.
Considering how difficult it’s become to keep a tour card without a win, Barnum’s feat seems unlikely to be matched anytime soon.
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