Ed Fiori, Four-Time PGA Tour Winner Known for Facing Tiger Woods, Passes Away at 72

Ed Fiori’s most notable achievement was winning the 1996 Quad City Classic, where he famously overtook a 20-year-old Tiger Woods. Fiori died on July 6 at age 72 due to complications from cancer, the PGA Tour announced.

He was widely respected as a “pro’s pro” and demonstrated remarkable resilience, often competing against the sport’s best. Throughout his career, Fiori won four PGA Tour titles, including victories at the Southern Open in 1979, the Western Open in 1981, and the Bob Hope Desert Classic in 1982. His final Tour victory came in 1996, a testament to his perseverance, especially during the tense final round when Woods faltered.

Born in California in 1953, Fiori played college golf at the University of Houston, earning All-American honors and helping his team win the national championship in 1977. He was nicknamed “The Grip” for his unusually strong grip on the club.

During the 1996 Quad Cities event, Woods, then just beginning his professional career, held a one-stroke lead but struggled with costly mistakes, including a quadruple-bogey and a four-putt double bogey. Seizing the moment, Fiori shot a 67 in the final round, finishing two strokes ahead of Andrew Magee. Despite frequently being outdriven by 50 yards, Fiori’s resilience led him to victory after 14 years without a win. He remains the only player to have come from behind after 54 holes to beat Woods in a Tour event.

Fiori’s only other professional win came on the PGA Tour Champions in 2004, in a playoff at the MasterCard Classic. After spinal fusion surgery in 2005, he struggled to regain his form and eventually retired. Over his career, he participated in 583 events across nearly three decades, earning a lasting reputation as a fierce competitor and beloved figure in the golf community.