Curtis Strange
The steely-nerved golfer who conquered back-to-back U.S. Opens, cementing his place among the game's toughest competitors.
Born 1955 (age 71)·American professional golfer·Birthday: January 30·Baby Boomers
Biography
Curtis Strange built a reputation on precision and grit, a player whose mental fortitude often outlasted his opponents. His career crescendoed in the late 1980s with a feat that remains rare in modern golf: consecutive victories at the U.S. Open in 1988 and 1989. The second win, a tense playoff battle at Oak Hill, showcased his trademark resilience. While a major championship eluded him afterwards, his consistency was remarkable; he dominated the PGA Tour money list for three straight years and was a fixture in the world's top ten. After his playing days, he transitioned smoothly into television commentary, where his analytical mind and direct style provided insight for a new generation of fans. His career arc—from collegiate star at Wake Forest to major champion and respected broadcaster—reflects a deep, enduring connection to the game.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Curtis was born in 1955, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Curtis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1955
#1 Movie
Lady and the Tramp
Best Picture
Marty
#1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
Curtis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1955Born
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1960Started school
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1968Became a teenager
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Could drive
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1973Could vote
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Turned 21
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1985Turned 30
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 40
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 50
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 60
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 70
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 71 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the U.S. Open in consecutive years (1988, 1989), a feat not accomplished since Ben Hogan.
- Topped the PGA Tour money list for three consecutive seasons from 1985 to 1987.
- Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Represented the United States on multiple Ryder Cup teams, including as captain in 2002.
Did You Know?
He and his brother, Allan, both played golf at Wake Forest University.
He was the first professional golfer to earn over $1 million in a single season (1988).
He once caddied for his friend and rival, Tom Kite, during a tournament when Kite's regular caddie was unavailable.
“I'm not afraid to fail. I've failed many times. That's part of the game.”
