Retief Goosen
2 Major Championships • Two-Time Major Champion
Major Championship Wins
About Retief Goosen
Retief Goosen is a two-time major champion, cementing his place among golf's winners. His first major came at the 2001 US Open at age 32.
Learn more: Wikipedia
Career Highlights
- 1987 Lightning Strike — Struck by lightning at age 18 while golfing; clothes burned from body, shoes disintegrated, survived miraculously with scar on wrist
- 1990 South African Amateur Championship — Won leading amateur competition in his country before turning pro
- 1992 European Tour Q-School — Earned medalist honors at Qualifying School, launching European Tour career
- 2001 U.S. Open — Won at Southern Hills after three-putting from 12 feet on 72nd hole, then dominated Monday playoff over Mark Brooks by 2 strokes
- 2001-2002 European Tour Order of Merit — Won back-to-back money titles; first non-European to win Order of Merit
- 2004 U.S. Open — Won at brutally tough Shinnecock Hills with 11 one-putts on Sunday and only 24 putts total; beat Phil Mickelson by 2
- 2004 Tour Championship — Came from 4 back with final-round 64 to beat Tiger Woods by 4 strokes
- 2006 World Ranking Peak — Reached career-high #3 in world after runner-up at Players Championship
- 2019 World Golf Hall of Fame — Elected to Hall of Fame; also won first PGA Tour Champions major at Senior Players Championship
Did You Know?
- "The Iceman" Nickname: Known for his calm, unflappable demeanor—some attribute it to the effects of being struck by lightning at age 18
- The 22-Inch Miss: Nearly threw away 2001 U.S. Open by missing a 22-inch putt for victory on 72nd hole, forcing playoff he dominated next day
- 31 One-Putts at Shinnecock: In 2004 U.S. Open final round, had 11 one-putts and only 24 total putts—one of most clutch putting performances in U.S. Open history
- "Big Five Era": Part of dominant group (with Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson) that controlled top-5 world rankings from 2004-2007
- Epic 2005 Collapse: Led U.S. Open by 3 shots after 54 holes at Pinehurst, then shot 81 in final round to finish T-11
- Over 250 Weeks Top-10: Spent over 250 weeks in top 10 of world rankings between 2001-2007, showing sustained excellence
- Vineyard Owner: Owns vineyard in Garden Route, South Africa at 2,500 feet elevation; "The Goose" wines have won multiple medals
- Tiger Woods Comments: Made controversial 2008 comments alleging Tiger was faking severity of injuries at U.S. Open; apologized saying he wasn't being serious
Career Highlights
- 2001 U.S. Open — Won in playoff over Mark Brooks at Southern Hills after dramatic final-hole collapse and recovery
- 2004 U.S. Open — Second U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills, proving mastery of America's toughest test
- "The Iceman" — Legendary calm demeanor and stoic personality earned him this famous nickname
- European Tour Order of Merit — Topped European Tour money list in 2001 and 2002
- Over 250 Weeks in Top 10 — Spent more than 250 weeks in world top-10 between 2001-2007
- South African Golf Icon — One of South Africa's greatest golfers alongside Gary Player and Ernie Els
Did You Know?
- The Iceman's Calm: Retief's unflappable demeanor was legendary — he showed virtually no emotion even during playoff pressure or dramatic finishes
- Lightning Strike Survivor: As a teenager, Goosen was struck by lightning while walking off a golf course, an experience that shaped his calm approach to pressure
- U.S. Open Specialist: Both his major wins came at the U.S. Open, showcasing his ability to handle the tournament's demanding conditions