Richard Green (golfer)
An Australian golfer whose powerful swing and calm demeanor earned him multiple international victories and a lasting Ryder Cup legacy.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Australian professional golfer·Birthday: February 19·Generation X
Biography
Hailing from Perth, Richard Green emerged as a formidable left-handed force on the global golf stage. Turning professional in 1992, his career was built on a foundation of remarkable ball-striking and a serene, unhurried presence on the course. Green's breakthrough arrived in 1997 when he triumphed at the Dubai Desert Classic, a win that announced his arrival among Europe's elite. He became a stalwart for the International Team in the Presidents Cup and a respected competitor on the European Tour for over two decades. While a major championship victory eluded him, Green's consistency was his hallmark, securing multiple tour wins and contending in golf's biggest events. His elegant, flowing swing and sportsmanlike conduct made him a fan favorite and a respected peer, embodying the classic virtues of the game long after his initial successes.
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.
Richard was born in 1971, 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 Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
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
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
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
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic, defeating Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam in a playoff.
- Secured a second European Tour victory at the 2007 BA-CA Golf Open in Austria.
- Represented the International Team in the 1997 Presidents Cup.
- Recorded a career-best T5 finish at The Open Championship in 2007.
- Achieved over 50 top-10 finishes across the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
Did You Know?
He is one of the few successful left-handed golfers in professional tour history.
Green is an accomplished guitarist and has performed musically at tour events.
He once shot a 63 in the first round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Before focusing on golf, he was a promising Australian Rules Football player.
He won the 2013 Victorian Open on home soil, a popular victory with local fans.
“You have to be patient in this game and wait for your chances to come.”
