Age: 53
Height: 5’10”
Residence: Artesia, CA
Joined Tour: 2003 (charter member)
Years on Tour: 21
Career Stats:
2015 Player of the Year
Tournaments Played: 108
Victories: 12 (1 Major)
Tour Championship: 2014
Hooters Team Play Championship: 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017
Charly Classic: 2016, 2018
Griffith Observatory Championship: 2015
Devil Ball Shootout: 2015
Manhattan Beach Championship: 2009
All Star Shootout: 2005
Player of the Year Ranking:
2003: 2nd/8 (1 win)
2004: n/a
2005: 7th/13 (1 win)
2006: 15th/17
2007: 15th/16
2008: 13th/17
2009: 7th/17 (2 wins)
2010: 17th/17
2011: 13th/16 (1 win)
2012: 15th/15 (1 win)
2013: 13th/15
2014: 6th/15 (1 win)
2015: 1st/16 (2 wins)
2016: 5th/16 (1 win)
2017: 3rd/13 (1 win)
2018: 3rd/11 (1 win)
2019: 10th/11
2020: Covid year
2021: no rankings
2022: 3rd/10
2023: 5th/9
Record in match play: 4-12
Lowest Round Par-27: 33 (back-9 ’07 Tour Championship)
Lowest Round Par-29: 40 (2008 Masters Qualifier)
Lowest Rounds Masters: 91 (2017); front 9: 44 (2008); back 9: 46 (2017)
Lowest Round: Griffith Observatory Championship (par-33): 50 (2017)
Record in playoffs: 1-3
2017 Tournament of Champions: lost to Ed Quiroz on 1st hole of sudden death
2017 Masters: lost (with Patrick Bird) to Doug Vargas on 1st hole of sudden death
2016 Charly Classic: defeated Ed Quiroz (closest to pin broke playoff hole tie)
2003 Tour Championship: lost to John Frost (better avg. on throw-away holes)
Career Highlights:
2023: Played all 7 events marking the first time (not counting 2 pandemic-affected seasons) since the 2004 season he competed in every event… Posted 3 top-3 finishes… Advanced to the final four in Match Play for the 2nd time in his career after defeating P-Jay Fidler in a sudden death playoff… Finished 3rd in the Griffith Observatory Championship… For the 2nd year in a row finished 3rd in the Devil Ball Shootout… Teamed with P-Jay Fidler for the first time in his career for the Hooters Championship.
2022: In his 20th season made 7 starts in 8 tournaments, posting 4 top-3 finishes… In the 100th start of his career finished 3rd at the Masters, his highest finish in his last 3 Masters starts… With partner Eric Stolz finished 3rd in the Hooters Championship; it was his first Hooters appearance in the last 3 editions; counting the Covid cancellations he last played the Hooters in 2017 when he won with Chris Moawad… Finished 3rd at Heroes and in the Devil Ball Shootout… Carded the 2nd most bogeys at the Tour Championship… Finished the year ranked 3rd for the 3rd time in the last 4 seasons of rankings.
2021: Finished tied for 3rd in the Tour Championship, his best result in his last 5 Tour Championship starts.
2020: Played 1 tournament in the Covid-affected season, finishing 6th at the Tour Championship.
2019: Completed his 17th season, ending the year ranked 10th. Played the first 3 tournaments of the season before elbow surgery sidelined him the remainder of the year… Carded the best gross in the Devil Ball Shootout but his team did not make the championship round; finished 5th; holed out from off the green with wedge on the 491-yard par-5 13th to card the day’s only birdie and his first birdie pool win ($8). Won 1 of 2 Masters spots available by having the top score of non-Masters winners… The season-opening Charly Classic marked the 90th start of his career… His winless season ended his personal-best streak of 5 consecutive years with at least 1 victory.
2018: Played in 5 of 6 regular season tournaments plus the Tournament of Champions, posting 3 top-3 finishes including 1 victory. Ended the year ranked 3rd for the 2nd straight season; has finished ranked top-3 in 3 of the past 4 seasons… Won the Charly Classic for the 2nd time in the past 3 years; carded a new career best score (39); the win extended his personal best streak to 5 straight seasons with a victory… Tied for 2nd at the Devil Ball Shootout, his 4th top-2 finish in his last 5 Devil Ball starts… Qualified for the Masters having carded 1 of 2 top scores at Devil Ball… As defending champion missed the Hooters Championship (his partner Chris Moawad went on to win with Clint Crump)… Finished 5th in both this season’s majors, Masters and Tour Championship… Finished T2 at the Tournament of Champions, his 3rd straight runner-up finish (4th time in 5 years); birdied the 150-yard 7th, his 2nd career TOC birdie, making him the only golfer with multiple career TOC birdies.
2017: Finished his 15th season on Tour ranked 3rd, his highest result since 2015 when he won Player of the Year. Played in 7 of 8 regular season tournaments, posting 4 top-3 finishes. Ended the season runner up 4 times in his final 5 starts… With Chris Moawad won his record 5th Hooters title, 1st in 5 years. The win, the 11th in his 80th career start, guaranteed him his 4th straight season with at least 1 victory and moved him into sole possession of 5th on the Tour’s all-time wins list… Finished a career-best T-2 at the Masters after carding a Masters career-best 91, and a career-best back-9 46 (his previous best Masters round, a 92, was back in 2008). Lost (with Patrick Bird) on the first hole of sudden death to Doug Vargas… Finished runner-up at the Griffith Observatory Championship, his 3rds straight top-3 result at Roosevelt… Tied for 2nd in the Devil Ball Shootout, his 3rd top-2 result in his last 4 Devil Ball starts… As the #6 seed defeated #11 Tim Joe in the first round of Match Play before dropping his quarterfinal match against #3 Walter Vargas… As defending champion missed the Charly Classic, marking the 8th time a defending champion of a tournament did not defend (2nd time for Witt, MBC 2010)… Qualified for, and played in his 4th straight Tournament of Champions, finishing 2nd for the 3rd time in the last 4 years. Lost in a sudden death playoff to Ed Quiroz. Carded a tournament-high 3 pars.
2016: Played in 6 of 9 regular season tournaments plus the Tournament of Champions, finishing the year ranked 5th… Registered his 10th career victory (becoming the 5th golfer to reach double digits on the all time career wins list) after winning the Charly Classic for the first time. Defeated Ed Quiroz in a playoff (closest to pin broke playoff hole tie). Matched his career best Whitsett round (40)… As defending champion, finished 3rd in the Griffith Observatory Championship. Carded a career high 2 pars (1 of only 3 with a par), par’ing the 1st and 5th hole for the first time in his career; the pars were his first in his last 5 starts at Roosevelt… Made his 3rd straight Masters appearance, finishing a career-best 4th… As defending champion, finished 7th in the Devil Ball Shootout. Won the Gizmo prize for worst devil ball score… In the 75th start of his career, finished runner-up in the Tournament of Champions for the 2nd time in the past 3 years.
2015: Became the 3rd charter Tour member to win Player of the Year. The award was the first of his career. Recorded 2 victories and a Tour-high 5 top-3 finishes… Won the Griffith Observatory Championship for the first time in his career. His previous best finish was 4th in 2008. Ended a 3-year streak of 8’s on the 392-yard par-4 2nd hole with a 7; only golfer to hit his handicap; beat Doug Vargas by 1 stroke. Following Griffith, became the Tour’s #1 golfer for the first time in 6 years… Won the Devil Ball Shootout for the first time in his career. His bogey on 18 won him the tournament against Doug Vargas and Nik Freitas. The victory gave him his 1st multi-win season since 2009. The win was the 9th of his career… As defending champion finished runner-up in the Tour Championship, ending his season with his 5th top-3 finish… Finished runner-up with teammate Nik Freitas in the Hooters Team Play Championship. After -1 points on the front-9 scored a 2nd round record 18 points, setting another record for biggest 1st to 2nd round turnaround. They were the only team to record a birdie… Finished a career best 3rd in the Charly Classic after shooting a career best 40… Finished 4th in the season-opening Manhattan Beach Championship, his highest finish since winning in 2009… The Masters marked his 65th career start; was 1 of 3 golfers with a birdie… Played in 8 of 9 regular season tournaments… Finished 5th in the Tournament of Champions and punctuated his round with a birdie on the final hole. His long 15 foot putt was the day’s only birdie.
2014: Played in 6 of 9 regular season tournaments and finished the year ranked 6th, the highest finish of his career since the Tour’s inaugural season when he finished 2nd… Won the season-ending Tour Championship, the first Major of his career; it was just his 3rd start in the last 6 years at the Tour Championship. With a 91-gross, beat more than half the field straight up. The victory was his first non-team win since his Manhattan Beach Championship win in January 2009, a span of 28 tournaments… Finished 2nd in the Tournament of Champions after shooting a Terranea career-best round (44); carded a tournament-high 2 pars… Playing as an alternate, finished a career best 2nd in the Devil Ball Shootout… Played as an alternate at the Masters making just his 3rd appearance and first since 2009; his 8th place finish was a new personal Masters best… Tied for 6th in the Griffith Observatory Championship, his best finish in his last 5 starts at Roosevelt.
2013: Made a career-high 9 tournament starts… As an alternate finished a career best 4th in the Devil Ball Shootout… The Griffith Observatory Championship marked the 50th tournament of his career… Played in 9 of 10 tournaments.
2012: Recorded his 6th career win when he and partner Doug Vargas successfully defended their 2011 Hooters title. The pair became the first team in the Hooters’ 9-years to repeat as champions. They also set a record for most points (under the present points format). Individually it was his 4th career Hooters victory, a tournament record. The win would make him 1 of 4 Tour charter members to win in the 10th anniversary season… Shot a new MBC career best. His 78 bettered his winning score in 2009 by 2 strokes. His 2nd round 35, also a new single round personal best. Finished with the 2nd most pars… Played in 7 of 10 regular season tournaments plus the Tournament of Champions where he finished 7th.
2011: Won (with teammate Doug Vargas) the Hooter Team Play Championship for a record 3rd time… Qualified for the Tournament of Champions for the 2nd time in his career… Played in 5 of 9 regular season tournaments.
2010: As defending champions finished 3rd (with teammate Armen Grigorian) in the Hooters Team Play Championship…Missed his start at the Manhattan Beach Championship becoming the first champion in Tour history to miss his start the following year…Masters Qualifier (in which he missed the cut) was his final appearance of the season as he took a temporary personal leave of absence.
2009: Opened the season with 2 straight victories: The Manhattan Beach Championship and (partnered with Armen Grigorian) the Hooters Team Play Championship. The wins were his first in 3½ years and the two victories matched his 6-year career total to that point. His Hooters win was his 2nd in that tournament, the first back in 2003…Qualified for the Masters for the 2nd year in a row…Finished the season ranked 7th, his highest since 2005…Qualified for, and finished 5th in his first Tournament of Champions…Played in 6 of 9 tournaments.
2008: Made a full return to action after playing just 4 tournaments the past 2 seasons combined (knuckle-cyst injury)…Qualified for the Masters for the first time in his career and posted a new career-best round at the Qualifier…Placed 4th in his Griffith Observatory Championship debut…Played in 8 of 9 tournaments.
2007: 19 months (and 14 tournaments) since he last played on Tour, Witt made his return at the Charly Invt’l…Finished 3rd in the season-ending Tour Championship, shooting a career-best 33 on the back-9.
2006: Finished 3rd in the season-opening Captain & PIG…Played in the Grand Lux Match Play Invt’l (lost his first round match) and then missed the rest of the season due to a herniated disc in his middle finger.
2005: Won his 1st round match in the Grand Lux Match Play Invt’l…As defending champions (with Clint Crump) finished 2nd in the Hooters Team Play Championship…As a member of Team South-Southwest (reduced to just himself and Clint Crump) claimed his 2nd win on Tour in the MGM All Star Shootout…Played in Masters…Played in 5 of 7 tournaments.
2004: Played in 2 of 2 tournaments.
2003: Partnered with Clint Crump won the Hooters Team Match Play Invt’l…Finished 2nd in the Tour Championship…Played in all 3 tournaments…Finished 2nd for Player of the Year.
HISTORICALS
MANHATTAN BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP
| Year (field) | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2009 (14) 2010 (13) 2011 (12) 2012 (13) 2013 (10) 2014 (13) 2015 (10) 2016 (7) | [ WINNER ] DNP 11th (was 10th but forfeited HCP strokes due to late arrival) T-6th 9th 11th 4th DNP (shoulder) |
CHARLY CLASSIC
| Year (field) | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2004 (10) 2005 (8) 2006 (12) 2007 (13) 2008 (13) 2009 (13) 2010 (12) 2011 (14) 2012 (14) 2013 (7) 2014 (12) 2015 (10) 2016 (8) 2017 (8) 2018 (7) 2019 (9) 2020 (6) | T-9th DNP DNP (knuckle-cyst) T-10th DNP T-6th DNP T-8th 14th 6th DNP 3rd [ WINNER ] won playoff DNP [ WINNER ] 8th DNP |
HOOTERS TEAM PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
| Year (field) | Finish | Course |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 (4) * 2005 (4) 2006 (7) 2007 (6) 2008 (6) 2009 (7) 2010 (6) 2011 (7) 2012 (7) 2013 (6) 2014 (6) 2015 (5) 2016 (6) 2017 (6) 2018 (4) 2019 (3) 2020 2021 2022 (3) 2023 (4) | [ WINNER ] with teammate Clint Crump 3rd with teammate Clint Crump DNP (knuckle-cyst) DNP (knuckle-cyst) 6th with teammate Walter Vargas [ WINNER ] with Armen Grigorian 3rd with teammate Armen Grigorian [ WINNER ] with teammate Doug Vargas [ WINNER ] with teammate Doug Vargas 5th with teammate Doug Vargas 6th with Tim Joe & Rene Quiroz 2nd with teammate Nik Freitas DNP [ WINNER ] with teammate Chris Moawad DNP DNP no tournament (Covid) no tournament (Covid) 3rd with teammate Eric Stolz 4th with teammate P-Jay Fidler | DeBell, Burbank * DeBell, Burbank Arroyo Seco, South Pas DeBell, Burbank Arroyo Seco, South Pas Van Nuys DeBell, Burbank Verdugo Hills Verdugo Hills DeBell, Burbank Van Nuys Heroes, Westwood Arroyo Seco, South Pas DeBell, Burbank Arroyo Seco, South Pas Arroyo Seco, South Pas - - Heartwell, Long Beach Heartwell, Long Beach |
* – match play format used in inaugural edition, replaced in subsequent years with modified stableford scoring
MGM MATCH PLAY INVITATIONAL
| Year (field) | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2003 (8) 2005 (12) 2006 (16) 2007 (12) 2008 (16) 2009 (12) 2010 (12) 2011 (14) 2012 (13) 2013 (15) 2014 (14) 2015 (12) 2016 (8) 2017 (11) 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 (6) 2023 (6) | Lost in Semi-Finals Lost in 2nd Round Lost in 1st Round DNP (knuckle-cyst) Lost in 1st Round Lost in 1st Round (forfeit) DNP DNP Lost in 1st Round Lost in 1st Round DNP Lost in quarterfinals (1st round bye) Lost in 1st Round Lost in quarterfinals no tournament DNP (elbow) no tournament no tournament Lost in 1st Round Lost in Semi-Finals |
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
| Year (field) | Finish | Course |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 (14) 2013 (7) 2014 | T-8th 7th - | Las Vegas: Angel Park, Cloud 9 Las Vegas: Angel Park, Mountain CANCELLED |
GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY CHAMPIONSHIP
| Year (field) | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2007 (12) 2008 (11) 2009 (16) 2010 (16) 2011 (14) 2012 (11) 2013 (12) 2014 (11) 2015 (9) 2016 (9) 2017 (6) 2018 (7) 2019 (6) 2020 2021 2022 (6) 2023 (6) | DNP (knuckle-cyst) 4th T-7th T-14th T-9th DNP T-10th T-6th [ WINNER ] 3rd 2nd 5th DNP DNP 3rd |
MASTERS (10-man field)
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 | DNQ DNP (knuckle-cyst) DNP (knuckle-cyst) 9th 10th (11 man field) DNQ DNQ DNQ (DNP, Qualifier) DNQ 8th (DNQ; played as alternate) 8th 4th (of 8) T-2nd (lost sudden death playoff) 5th (of 8) T-7th (of 9) DNP no tournament 3rd (of 6) 6th (of 6) |
DEVIL BALL SHOOTOUT
| Year (field) | Finish | Course |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 2008 2009 2010 (15) 2011 (12) 2012 (12) 2013 (8) 2014 (11) 2015 (10) 2016 (8) 2017 (8) 2018 (8) 2019 (8) 2020 2021 2022 (6) 2023 (8) | DNP (knuckle-cyst) Missed Cut DNP DNP DNQ 8th (DNQ; played as alternate) 4th (DNQ; played as alternate) 2nd (DNQ; played as alternate) [ WINNER ] 7th T-2nd T-2nd 5th (cancelled) (cancelled) 3rd 3rd | Altadena & Los Feliz Altadena & Los Feliz Altadena & Los Feliz Alhambra DeBell, Burbank Eaton Canyon, Pasadena Alhambra DeBell, Burbank Santa Anita Altadena Alhambra Woodley Lakes DeBell, Burbank - - Los Amigos, Downey Alondra |
SURVIVOR CHALLENGE
| Year (field) | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2006 (11) 2007 (13) 2008 (16) 2009 (14) 2010 (10) 2011 (9) 2012 (12) 2013 (10) 2014 (11) 2015 (10) 2016 (10) 2017 (8) | DNP (knuckle-cyst) DNP (knuckle-cyst) 15th DNP DNP DNP 12th 10th DNP DNP DNP 8th |
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
| Year (field) | FInish | Course |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 (7) 2004 (7) 2005 (8) 2006 (11) 2007 (13) 2008 (12) 2009 (8) 2010 (12) 2011 (14) 2012 (13) 2013 (10) 2014 (13) 2015 (8) 2016 (7) 2017 (5) 2018 (7) 2019 (6) 2020 (9) 2021 (6) 2022 (6) 2023 (5) | 2nd (lost tie-breaker) 7th 7th DNP (knuckle-cyst) 3rd 12th DNP DNP 11th DNP 8th [ WINNER ] 2nd 6th 4th 5th DNP (elbow) 6th T-3rd 5th 5th | Verdugo Hills Verdugo Hills Verdugo Hills Verdugo Hills * Verdugo Hills Verdugo Hills Verdugo Hills Verdugo Hills ** El Cariso, Sylmar Scholl Canyon, Glendale Vista Valencia, Valencia Westchester El Cariso, Sylmar Vista Valencia, Valencia Westchester El Cariso, Sylmar Penmar by the Sea, Venice Vista Valencia, Valencia Westchester Chester Washington Westchester |
* – beginning in 2006, tournament was expanded to 18 holes
** – format changed to stroke play
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
| Year (field) | Finish | Course |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 (6) 2007 (5) 2008 (6) 2009 (6) 2010 (6) 2011 (5) 2012 (8) 2013 (5) 2014 (5) 2015 (6) 2016 (6) 2017 (4) 2018 (4) 2019 (4) | DNQ DNQ DNQ 5th DNQ Qualified but did not play 7th DNQ 2nd 5th 2nd 2nd (lost sudden death playoff) T-2nd DNQ | The Lakes @ El Segundo The Lakes @ El Segundo The Lakes @ El Segundo Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes Terranea, Palos Verdes |