Kevin Sutherland was born on this day in 1964, in Sacramento, California. He attended Fresno State University and made the golf team as a walk-on freshman. Teased by his teammates for his unorthodox swing and unusual grip, he silenced his peers as he gained All-American status twice in his four years at Fresno State and became the most successful player ever to have spent time there.
As a professional, Sutherland qualified for the PGA Tour in 1992 and has been a regular ever since. He won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2002. Sutherland has played very consistent golf throughout his whole career, and it is very surprising that he hasn’t won more tournaments, but he had an exceptional 2008 season, a season which included 6 top ten finishes, including a playoff loss to Vijay Singh at the 2008 Barclays, and a playoff loss to Cameron Beckman at the 2008 Frys.com Open. This runner-up finish vaulted Sutherland well inside the top thirty on the 2008 PGA Tour money list, and secured him a spot in the 2009 Masters Tournament.
He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Sutherland last played full-time in 2010 after back and neck injuries.
