Ed Fiori, the golfer who defeated Tiger Woods in 1996, passes away

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Ed Fiori, known for being the only player to overcome a deficit after 54 holes to beat Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour for 13 years, died on Sunday, the circuit reported on its website. He was 72 years old. The circuit announced that Fiori was battling cancer, without offering further details. Fiori, a four-time PGA Tour winner, achieved his most memorable victory at the 1996 Quad City Classic, now known as the John Deere Classic. At that time, Woods, who was only 20 years old and in his early professional career, led Fiori by one stroke at the start of the final round at Oakwood Country Club. The day was not favorable for Woods, who suffered a quadruple bogey on the fourth hole and a double bogey after four putts on the seventh. He finished with a score of 72 strokes, tying for fifth place, four strokes behind Fiori. Woods would win two tournaments later in Las Vegas. Fiori’s feat of overcoming Woods at the John Deere Classic was remarkable. Woods did not lose a lead after 54 holes in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event again until Y.E. Yang defeated him at the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine. Fiori also defeated two Hall of Fame members in playoffs: Tom Weiskopf at the 1979 Southern Open and Tom Kite at the 1982 Bob Hope Classic.

“In three of his four PGA Tour victories, he faced future World Golf Hall of Fame members, especially Tiger Woods in 1996. That courage and determination in the face of incalculable adversity is admirable in all aspects of life, and I know he fought cancer with that same determination until the end,” declared Miller Brady, president of PGA Tour Champions. “We will all miss him on the circuit.”

Miller Brady, president of PGA Tour Champions

After turning 50, Fiori participated in only 58 tournaments on the senior circuit, obtaining a victory in Mexico in 2004.

“I stayed active a few more years and played for a while on the senior circuit, but my back was always a problem,” Fiori said in a 2019 interview with Golf.com. “I had spinal fusion surgery in 2005, and from then on, I struggled to break 80.”

Ed Fiori

“But don’t feel bad for me. I’ve had a great life in a game I love. It was never easy. Many times, I was on that flight home on Friday nights,” he added. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even today, people call me the ‘Tiger killer’. They don’t always have the facts right, but I don’t care. I’ll never forget that weekend at the John Deere.”

Ed Fiori