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Ben Crane stands as one of golf's most methodical champions, an American professional who transformed deliberate precision into tournament victories. Born in Portland, Oregon in 1976, Crane has journeyed from a five-year-old learning the game from his grandfather at Portland Golf Club to becoming a five-time PGA Tour winner with over $15 million in career earnings. Despite being labeled one of the tour's slowest players and battling significant back injuries that nearly derailed his career, Crane's meticulous approach has yielded remarkable results, including a dramatic come-from-behind victory and wire-to-wire triumph that showcase his mental fortitude.
After transferring from Baylor to the University of Oregon, Crane turned professional in 1999 and quickly made his mark on the Buy.com Tour with two victories in 2000 and 2001. His breakthrough came in 2002 when he earned his PGA Tour card and captured his first victory at the BellSouth Classic with a stunning final-round 63.
The 2005 season established Crane as a consistent contender, earning over $2.4 million with multiple top finishes and reaching his career-high ranking of 30th in the world. However, back problems forced him to miss most of 2007, requiring a major medical extension to return in 2008.
Crane's resilience paid off with victories at Torrey Pines (2010), the McGladrey Classic (2011), and the FedEx St. Jude Classic (2014), cementing his reputation as a clutch performer who thrives under pressure despite his methodical pace.
Crane's five PGA Tour victories showcase his ability to perform under pressure. His 2010 Farmers Insurance Open triumph at Torrey Pines demonstrated his clutch putting, while the 2011 McGladrey Classic victory remains one of golf's great comebacks - shooting 63 in the final round after trailing by eight strokes to force a playoff with Webb Simpson.
The 2005 season marked Crane's emergence as an elite player, finishing 19th on the money list with over $2.4 million in earnings. That year featured runner-up finishes at the Booz Allen Classic and Bell Canadian Open, plus a seventh-place finish at The Tour Championship, establishing him as the highest-ranked American golfer under 30.
Beyond PGA Tour success, Crane captured the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia, a co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and Asian Tour. His amateur achievements included victories at the 1997 Pacific Northwest Amateur and 1998 Pacific Coast Amateur, foreshadowing his professional success.
The Great Comeback (2011 McGladrey Classic): Trailing by eight strokes entering the final round, Crane produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in PGA Tour history. His final-round 63 included eight birdies in a ten-hole stretch from the 8th to 17th holes, forcing a playoff with Webb Simpson that he won with par on the second extra hole.
Torrey Pines Triumph (2010): After missing most of 2007 due to back problems and playing on a major medical extension, Crane's victory at the 2010 Farmers Insurance Open represented the ultimate comeback story. His steady final-round 70 secured a one-stroke victory over Marc Leishman, Michael Sim, and Brandt Snedeker.
The Rory Sabbatini Incident (2005): Crane's deliberate pace of play reached a boiling point when fellow professional Rory Sabbatini played out of turn in frustration, creating a media firestorm that, while controversial, highlighted Crane's unflappable mental approach.
Crane's methodical approach to golf has made him one of the tour's most polarizing figures. While critics label him excessively slow, supporters argue his deliberate pre-shot routine contributes to his accuracy and mental toughness. His course management and precision iron play have consistently kept him competitive against longer hitters. Crane's influence extends beyond golf through his involvement in the "Golf Boys" band with Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, and Hunter Mahan, raising money for charity through their viral YouTube videos.
His Christian faith and family-centered approach have made him a role model for younger players seeking balance between professional success and personal values.
While Crane's tournament appearances have decreased in recent years, his legacy as a methodical perfectionist who maximized limited physical gifts remains intact. His five PGA Tour victories and $15 million in career earnings prove that success comes in many forms. Crane's ability to overcome back injuries and perform under intense scrutiny demonstrates the mental toughness required for professional golf.
His influence on pace-of-play discussions continues to shape tour policies, while his charitable work and family-first approach provide a blueprint for balanced professional athletics.
Ben Crane appears as one of the mystery athletes in PlaySportiz, our daily sports guessing game. Players must deduce his identity using six key clues that reveal information about his career and achievements. With his distinctive profile combining methodical play, comeback victories, and controversial pace, Crane presents a challenging but rewarding puzzle for golf fans.
Test your sports knowledge at PlaySportiz - can you guess the mystery athlete using just six clues? With athletes like Ben Crane in our database, every day brings a new challenge for sports fans worldwide.
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