Sean O’Hair was born on this day in 1982. An American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Rather than play college golf, O’Hair turned professional in 1999 after his junior year at high school at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona, under the direction of his father, Marc O’Hair.
Mark reportedly sold his share of the family shutter business in Lubbock for $2.75 million to develop Sean into a touring pro. The elder O’Hair moved the family to Florida and enrolled Sean in the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Marc also signed management contracts with his son, says he invested $2 million in his boy’s professional future and subjected Sean to a physical and psychological regimen that would make most drill sergeants blush. Sean broke free in 2002 and has not spoken to his father since a perfunctory greeting at Sean’s wedding.
In 2004, O’Hair made it through all three stages of PGA Tour Qualifying School. His 2005 season was a dramatic success. He won his maiden PGA Tour event at the John Deere Classic and finished second at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. He made 24 of 28 cuts for the season and finished with earnings of $2,461,482. He also won PGA Rookie of the Year honors of the 2005 season. After he established himself as the front-runner for Rookie of the Year distinction with his strong finish at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and victory at the John Deere Classic, his estranged relationship with his father, already highlighted on a 2002 episode of 60 Minutes, became well-publicized.
