Jerry Kelly
A fiercely competitive golfer whose relentless work ethic carried him to multiple PGA Tour wins and a dominant second act on the Champions Tour.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American professional golfer·Birthday: November 23·Generation X
Biography
Jerry Kelly's career is a testament to grit. Never the longest hitter on the PGA Tour, he built his success on impeccable ball-striking, a gritty short game, and a competitive fire that burned visibly on the course. He turned professional in 1989 and spent years grinding on mini-tours before finally securing his card. His breakthrough came in 2002, and he would go on to claim three PGA Tour victories, often beating fields stacked with more celebrated names. Known for his emotional, blue-collar demeanor, Kelly was a fan favorite who played every shot with palpable intensity. That intensity never dimmed. Upon turning 50, he seamlessly transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions, where his consistent, error-free style proved devastatingly effective. He has racked up numerous wins on the senior circuit, including senior major championships, proving that his brand of determined, precision golf has a very long shelf life.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jerry was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jerry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Jerry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
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
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three PGA Tour events, including the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
- Has won over ten tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions, including multiple senior major championships.
- Represented the United States in the Presidents Cup in 2003.
- Finished in the top 10 of the PGA Tour money list in 2002.
Did You Know?
He was a standout hockey player in his youth and played goalie at the collegiate level.
He is an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and often wears their gear.
He is known for using a long putter (a belly putter) for much of his career.
He won the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship twice before turning professional.
“I won because I refused to be outworked by anyone.”
