The character arc of Nick Price
Born 28 January 1957 in Durban and raised in Zimbabwe. Between then and now sit a childhood spent chasing the game, a professional debut in 1977, two heartbreaking runner-up finishes at The Open, a first major that came only in his mid thirties, a season for the ages in 1994, 44 weeks at world number one, and a later life as a three-time Presidents Cup captain honoured across the sport. The line below draws the story so far, in order.
Tap the line to pluck it. Hover or tap any mark for its card. Drawn from the public record of his life; the sources are at the foot of the page.
Who is Nick Price?
The patient man who became the best.
He was born in Durban in 1957 and raised in Zimbabwe, where he fell for golf young and turned professional in 1977. The talent was never in doubt, but the game made him wait. In 1982 at Royal Troon he held a three-shot lead with six holes to play at The Open and let it slip, finishing tied for second, one behind Tom Watson. In 1988 at Royal Lytham he played beautifully and still came second, this time to a Seve Ballesteros final round for the ages.
The line does not run straight up, and for a decade it looked as though the biggest days would keep belonging to someone else. What he did with those near-misses is the point of his arc: rather than settle for being very good, he rebuilt his game and kept coming back to the places that had hurt him. The first major came at last in August 1992, the PGA Championship, and once the door opened he walked through it.
In 1994 he won The Open at Turnberry and the PGA at Southern Hills within a month, reached world number one, and held the ranking for 44 weeks, a run bettered since only by Tiger Woods. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003, captained the International team at the Presidents Cup three times, and is spoken of across the sport as a gentleman of the game. His line is worth reading because the years of nearly are on it too, and the climb came after them, not instead of them.
The moments
Nick Price's timeline.
The 1950s
Born in Durban
Milestone, and it changed his direction. Born in Durban and soon raised in Zimbabwe, where he found the game as a boy.
The 1970s
Turned professional
Milestone. He turned professional in 1977, a talented young player with a long apprenticeship ahead of him.
The 1980s
So close at Troon
Setback, and it changed his direction. He led The Open at Royal Troon by three with six to play and finished tied second, one behind Tom Watson.
Runner-up at Lytham
Setback, and it changed his direction. He played superbly at Royal Lytham and still came second, to a Seve Ballesteros final round for the ages.
Settle, or rebuild the game
Crossroads, decided.
The paths laid out: rebuild and chase a major, taken, or settle for a fine career. He won his first major at the PGA in 1992, then took The Open and a second PGA in 1994 and reached world number one.
The 1990s
His first major
Milestone, and it changed everything. In his mid thirties he won the PGA Championship, the first major of a career that had waited a long time for one.
Won the Open Championship
Milestone, and it changed everything. He won The Open at Turnberry, holing a long putt on the seventeenth on the way to the Claret Jug.
A second PGA Championship
Milestone, and it changed everything. A month after The Open he won the PGA at Southern Hills, his third major and his second in a single season.
World number one
Milestone. He reached world number one and held the ranking for 44 weeks, a run bettered since only by Tiger Woods.
A season for the ages
Milestone. He won six times in 1994, including two majors, one of the great single seasons in the modern game.
The 2000s
Into the Hall of Fame
Milestone, and it changed everything. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, his place among the greats set down for good.
The 2010s
Captain at the Presidents Cup
Milestone. He captained the International team at Muirfield Village, the first of three turns leading his side.
A third time captain
Milestone. He led the International team a third time, a role given only to the most trusted figures in the game.
The 2020s
Honoured at the Memorial
Everyday. He was named an honoree of the Memorial Tournament, recognised for a career and a manner both admired.
The line reaches today at ease, which is why it is drawn now rather than at the end. He plays for the love of it, travels with his family, and is greeted wherever golf is played as one of its most respected figures, the patient man who waited out the near-misses and then stood at the top of the world.
Your turn
Every story draws a unique line.
His is seven decades in and drawn from a long apprenticeship of nearly. Yours is already further along than you think, and drawing it takes about three minutes.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Nick Price, verified 16 September 2026.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, biography of Nick Price.
- World Golf Hall of Fame, Nick Price, class of 2003.
- Golf Channel, Hall of Famer Nick Price enjoying and appreciating retirement.
- The Memorial Tournament, Nick Price, honoree for 2020 and 2021.