Kevin Stadler is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open. He has competed on the PGA Tour, European Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Asian Tour, and PGA Tour of Australasia. He is the son of 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler.
Born on 5 February 1980 in Reno, Nevada, he grew up in a golf family. His father was known as “The Walrus”, while Kevin later received the nickname “Smallrus”. Even with a famous surname, he built his own record through junior titles, college honours, international victories, and more than 300 PGA Tour starts.
Kevin Stadler’s Early Life and Family
Kevin is the elder son of Craig Stadler and Susan Barrett, also known as Sue. He has a younger brother named Chris Stadler. The family moved to Colorado in 1994. He attended Kent Denver School and became one of Colorado’s strongest young golfers. In 1997, he won the state high-school individual championship and the Junior World Championship. He also captured the Colorado Golf Association Match Play title in 1999 and 2002.
Education at the University of Southern California
He attended the University of Southern California, following the same college path as his father. In his final season, he led USC with a 71.3 scoring average, earned six top-five finishes, and became the 2002 Pac-10 Men’s Golfer of the Year. He also received second-team All-American honours. USC won Pac-10 team championships in 2001 and 2002. He graduated in 2002 and turned professional that year.
Kevin Stadler’s Professional Golf Career
His professional career began with immediate success. He won the 2002 Colorado Open in a playoff and later partnered with Craig to win the Office Depot Father/Son Challenge. In 2004, he won the Lake Erie Charity Classic and Scholarship America Showdown on the Nationwide Tour, now called the Korn Ferry Tour. His results earned him PGA Tour membership for 2005. After a difficult rookie season, he rebuilt his career through international events.
International Victories
At the end of 2005, he won the Argentine Open. In February 2006, he captured the Johnnie Walker Classic in Western Australia, finishing at 20 under par and beating Nick O’Hern by two strokes. The event was recognised by the European Tour, Asian Tour, and PGA Tour of Australasia. He also won the Xerox Classic and Albertsons Boise Open in 2006, helping him return to the PGA Tour for 2007.
Wyndham Championship Playoff
In 2009, he came close to his first PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship. He finished tied with Ryan Moore and Jason Bohn at 16 under par. Moore defeated him with a birdie on the third playoff hole.
Kevin Stadler Wins the 2014 Phoenix Open
The greatest victory of his career came on 2 February 2014 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He completed four rounds in 268 shots, finishing 16 under par. He defeated Graham DeLaet and Bubba Watson by one stroke after Watson bogeyed the final hole. The victory came in his 239th PGA Tour start and secured his place in the Masters Tournament.
Historic Masters Appearance
The 2014 Masters became a major family milestone. Kevin and Craig became the first father and son to compete in the same Masters. Craig entered as a former champion, while his son qualified through his Phoenix Open win. Kevin tied for eighth place in his Masters debut, which remains his best major result. His career-high position in the Official World Golf Ranking was 52nd that year.
Career Wins, Statistics, and Earnings
Kevin Stadler has nine recognised professional victories, including four developmental-tour wins, the Argentine Open, Johnnie Walker Classic, Colorado Open, Father/Son Challenge, and Phoenix Open. His PGA Tour record includes 319 starts, 166 made cuts, and one victory. His official PGA Tour prize money stands at $9,759,661.
Kevin Stadler’s Net Worth
His exact net worth has not been confirmed by a dependable financial source. Some websites treat an older prize-money total as personal wealth, but career earnings and net worth are different. Taxes, travel, coaching, management fees, and other costs reduce tournament income. The accurate statement is that he earned more than $9.7 million in official PGA Tour prize money.
Hand Injury and Career Setback
His career changed after he injured his left hand during the WGC-HSBC Champions in November 2014. The injury involved the hamate bone near his little finger. A later MRI showed a serious fracture, and he required surgery followed by another operation. The injury limited him to five events during the 2014–15 season and kept him away from regular PGA Tour competition for several years.
Comeback Attempts
He returned to a PGA Tour event in 2018 and received a Major Medical Extension, but he could not earn enough money or points to restore full membership. At the 2021 Valero Texas Open, he stood tied for fourth after two rounds before finishing tied for 54th. In 2024, he played 14 Korn Ferry Tour events but made only one cut. He also missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open.
Is Kevin Stadler Still Playing Golf?
He is no longer a full-time PGA Tour player, but he has not announced a formal retirement. He still enters selected competitions. In July 2026, he played the Colorado Open. He shot 76 and 66, finishing at even par and missing the cut by two strokes.
Colorado Golf Hall of Fame
He was elected to the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2026. His induction was scheduled for 30 August 2026 at Lakewood Country Club. Craig entered the same Hall of Fame in 2016.
Kevin Stadler’s Wife and Personal Life
His official PGA Tour biography describes him as single. No dependable source confirms a current wife, former wife, girlfriend, or children. He has kept his personal life private. He has strong ties with Scottsdale, Arizona, and Denver, Colorado. Colorado remains important because of his school years, early victories, and connection with its golf community.
Kevin Stadler Height, Weight, and Playing Style
He is 5 feet 10 inches tall, equal to 1.78 metres. His official tour weight has been given as 250 pounds, close to 113 kilograms. Some sources show 110 kilograms, which may reflect an older figure or rounding. He plays right-handed and became known for solid iron shots and a steady manner. He used a long putter for many years. Before anchored putting was banned, he tested a conventional putter while putting left-handed.
A Difficult 2018 Incident
During the 2018 WinCo Foods Portland Open, he struck a club against the ground after a poor shot. The club broke, and part of it hit a spectator, who needed stitches. The event was treated as an accident, and he was deeply upset.
Kevin Stadler’s Golf Legacy
Kevin Stadler will be remembered as more than the son of a Masters champion. He won across several tours, finished inside the top ten at Augusta, earned more than $9.7 million on the PGA Tour, and returned after serious injury. His 2014 Phoenix Open victory remains the centre of his career, but his wider story also includes junior success, college honours, international wins, family history, and persistence. His career shows that a famous family name may bring attention, but skill, discipline, and resilience create a lasting place in sport.
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