Stuart Appleby
An Australian golfer whose nine PGA Tour victories were punctuated by a stunning 59 and a remarkable comeback from personal tragedy.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Australian professional golfer·Birthday: May 1·Generation X
Biography
Stuart Appleby emerged from rural Victoria, Australia, to become a steely competitor on the PGA Tour. His powerful, self-taught swing carried him to nine wins between 1997 and 2010, a period where he was a constant presence on leaderboards and a key figure in the era of Australian golfing exports. Appleby's career is framed by two profound moments. In 1999, his wife was killed in a traffic accident in London, a tragedy that deeply affected him but from which he eventually returned to the game. A decade later, he authored one of golf's rarest feats: a final-round 59 to win The Greenbrier Classic, a display of shot-making precision that remains a benchmark. In his later career, he transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions, his longevity a testament to his resilience and enduring skill.
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.
Stuart 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 Stuart 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.
Stuart'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
- Shot a final-round 59 to win the 2010 Greenbrier Classic, one of only a handful of sub-60 rounds in PGA Tour history.
- Won nine times on the PGA Tour, including three consecutive victories at the Mercedes Championships (2004-2006).
- Represented the International Team in the Presidents Cup on multiple occasions.
- Successfully transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions, winning the 2021 Boeing Classic.
Did You Know?
He taught himself to play golf by hitting balls on his family's dairy farm in Cohuna, Australia.
Appleby is an avid pilot and owns several aircraft.
He was known for his distinctive, upright golf swing.
He won the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year award in 1998.
“You have to earn it from the ground up every single day.”
