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'{{Short description|South African-born Slovak professional golfer}}{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}} {{Infobox golfer | name = Rory Sabbatini | image = Rory Sabbatini 2008 US Open cropped.jpg | imagesize = <!-- e.g. 250px (default is 200px) --> | caption = | fullname = Rory Mario Trevor Sabbatini | nickname =The Boy from Bratislava | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|4|2|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Durban, South Africa]] | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|1976|4|2|df=y}} --> | death_place = | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | weight = {{convert|165|lb|kg st|abbr=on}} | nationality = {{ZAF}}<br>{{SVK}} (since 2019) | residence = Durban, South Africa | spouse = <!-- divorced from Amy --> | partner = | children = | college = [[University of Arizona]] | yearpro = 1998 | retired = <!-- Year retired --> | tour = [[PGA Tour]] | extour = <!-- Former tours which a member of --> | prowins = 8 | pgawins = 6 | eurowins = <!-- Number of European Tour wins --> | japwins = <!-- Number of Japan Golf Tour wins --> | asiawins = <!-- Number of Asian Tour wins --> | sunwins = <!-- Number of Sunshine Tour wins --> | auswins = <!-- Number of PGA Tour of Australasia wins --> | nwidewins = <!-- Number of Nationwide Tour wins --> | chalwins = <!-- Number of Challenge Tour wins --> | champwins = <!-- Number of Champions Tour wins --> | seneurowins = <!-- Number of European Seniors Tour wins --> | otherwins = 2 | majorwins = <!-- Number of Major Championship wins --> | masters = T2: [[2007 Masters Tournament|2007]] | usopen = T30: 2011 | open = T16: 2019 | pga = T39: 2008 | wghofid = <!-- World Golf Hall of Fame member ID --> | wghofyear = <!-- World Golf Hall of Fame year inducted --> | award1 = <!-- Achievement or award details --> | year1 = <!-- Year(s) of achievement or award --> | award2 = | year2 = | awardssection = <!-- location of awards page or section --> }} '''Rory Mario Trevor Sabbatini''' (born 2 April 1976) a.ka. “The Boy from Bratislava” is a South African-born, [[Slovakia|Slovak]] [[professional golfer]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://skga.sk/rory-sabbatini-je-slovensky-obcan/ |title=Rory Sabbatini je slovenský občan (Rory Sabbatini is a Slovak citizen) |language=sk |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rory Sabbatini now playing for Slovakia|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2019/01/11/rory-sabbatini-now-playing-for-slovakia/38880359/ |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=11 January 2019 |access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref> Sabbatini won six times on the [[PGA Tour]] between 2000 and 2011 and was runner-up in the [[2007 Masters Tournament|2007 Masters]]. He spent 21 weeks in the world top-10 in late-2007 and early-2008, with a high of 8th. ==Early life== Sabbatini was born in [[Durban]], South Africa, and has Italian, Scottish and Irish ancestry.<ref>{{cite news |last=George |first=Dave |title=Commentary: Instigator Rory Sabbatini speaks loudly, carries a big shtick |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/golf/commentary-instigator-rory-sabbatini-speaks-loudly/nLqbQ/ |access-date=26 July 2013 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=4 March 2011 |quote=In a Golf Magazine article posted on Rory's personal website, this South African of Italian, Irish and Scottish ancestry refers to himself as Jekyll and Hyde – intense and aggressive on the course and easy-going everywhere else.}}</ref> He started playing golf at age 4, but concentrated on it from age 12. He was recruited by the [[University of Arizona]], turned professional in 1998 and joined the [[PGA Tour]] in 1999. He was the youngest member of the tour that year. ==Professional career== During the first decade of the 2000s, Sabbatini had five PGA Tour wins; he finished 2006 placed 12th on the money list. In September 2007, he reached [[List of male golfers who have been in the world top 10|the top 10 of the world rankings]] for the first time,<ref>[http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/2007%20Stats/86TO0810.pdf 69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking]</ref> He spent 21 weeks in the top-10 between September 2007 and March 2008, with a high of 8th.<ref>{{cite book |title=European Tour Official Guide 09 |url=http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pagegid={00387D2B-9D40-40B9-B2AC-C46939A8370B} |format=PDF |access-date=16 January 2009 |edition=38th |year=2009 |publisher=[[PGA European Tour]] |chapter=Players who have reached the Top Ten in the Official World Golf Ranking since 1986 |page=558 }}</ref><ref>[http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/archive/2007/owgr38f2007.pdf Official World Golf Ranking] – 23 September 2007</ref> Sabbatini tied for second at the [[2007 Masters Tournament]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Golf Major Championships|url=http://golfmajorchampionships.com/players?player=596}}</ref> and the 2007 [[WGC-Bridgestone Invitational]]. He won the Par 3 Contest at the [[2008 Masters Tournament]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nation watches Sabbatini 'win' Par 3 Contest |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/masters08/news/story?id=3338847 |date=10 April 2008 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |access-date=8 March 2011}}</ref> Sabbatini has represented South Africa in the [[World Cup (men's golf)|World Cup]] six times and won the event with [[Trevor Immelman]] in 2003. In his first Presidents Cup appearance in 2007, Sabbatini had a 0–3–1 record, as the International team was defeated by the United States team. In May 2009 Sabbatini captured his fifth PGA Tour title by winning the [[HP Byron Nelson Championship]] by two strokes over [[Brian Davis (golfer)|Brian Davis]]. He broke the tournament record for scoring with a score of 269 (−19), beating the previous record of 270 (−18).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/sports/golf/25golf.html?ref=golf |title=Sabbatini Wins Byron Nelson After His Birdie on No. 16 Blunts a Late Charge |date=24 May 2009 |work=New York Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=26 May 2009}}</ref> In March 2011 Sabbatini won his sixth PGA Tour Title at [[The Honda Classic]] with a one stroke victory over South Korea's [[Yang Yong-eun]]. Sabbatini entered the final round with a five stroke lead over the rest of the field, helped by a course record-equalling 64 on day two. He started his final round in solid fashion with an early birdie at the 3rd hole, however as the round progressed he made bogeys at the 9th and 14th, meaning that Yang was able to cut that lead to just one, with a spectacular tee shot on the par-three 15th that landed 18 inches past the pin. On the next hole though, Sabbatini holed a clutch birdie putt to tighten his grip on the title and played out the 17th and 18th in even-par to hold on for a one stroke victory. This win also secured him a place at the [[2011 Masters Tournament]]. On 15 December 2019, Sabbatini won the [[QBE Shootout]] with partner [[Kevin Tway]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rory Sabbatini and Kevin Tway win QBE Shootout |url=https://apnews.com/69de25a2eb30d53e6e78e7bb1a1839ad |work=Associated Press |access-date=19 December 2019 |date=15 December 2019}}</ref> ==Controversy== In the final round of the 2005 [[Booz Allen Classic]], apparently frustrated by the slow pace of play by his partner, [[Ben Crane]], Sabbatini finished the 17th hole and walked over to the next tee, leaving Crane behind to complete the hole by himself. He received heavy criticism, and some sympathy, and later apologised for the incident.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2084472 |title=Sabbatini apologizes to Crane after snapping |work=[[ESPN]] |date=14 June 2005 |access-date=25 May 2009}}</ref> Sabbatini also made waves following the [[Wachovia Championship]] in May 2007 when, after leading the field by one stroke after day three and then giving up five strokes to [[Tiger Woods]] to lose the tournament on Sunday, he proclaimed that Woods was "more beatable than ever."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/sports/golf/11golf.html |title=Sabbatini's Goal Is to Win Tournaments, Not Friends |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 May 2007 |access-date=25 May 2009 |first=Damon |last=Hack}}</ref> In the final round of the [[2007 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational]], he had a fan removed who heckled him with questions about Tiger Woods.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1649991,00.html |title=Sabbatini has fan kicked off course |work=Golf.com |agency=Associated Press |date=5 August 2007 |access-date=21 June 2009}}</ref> Then, in December of the same year, more controversy was stirred when he withdrew from the [[Target World Challenge]], an off-season event hosted by Tiger Woods, becoming the only player in history to withdraw from that event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3157217 |title=Agent: Last-place Sabbatini withdraws due to shin splints |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=16 December 2007 |access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref> In 2011, Sabbatini created more controversy when at the [[Northern Trust Open]], after hitting his ball in the rough, a volunteer helped to locate the ball, but Sabbatini, thinking that the volunteer had moved his ball, yelled at him. He later apologised to avoid being penalised.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=6480222 |title=Report: Rory Sabbatini in trouble |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=4 May 2011 |access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref> Later in 2011, at the [[Zurich Classic of New Orleans]], Sabbatini got into a heated, profanity-laced argument with playing partner [[Sean O'Hair]] for undisclosed reasons. His penalty was also undisclosed because of the PGA Tour's policy. ==Citizenship change== In early 2019, Sabbatini changed his citizenship from South Africa to Slovakia, the home country of his wife and stepson. Sabbatini's wife's cousin is the vice president of the Slovak Golf Association. Initially, there was speculation that the move was made in order for Sabbatini to qualify for the 2020 Olympics, but he said it was to help grow the game in that country. The Olympics use the OWGR ([[Official World Golf Ranking]]) for qualification and the 201st-ranked Sabbatini would not have qualified for South Africa with ten others ahead of him. Sabbatini also has a UK passport and US citizenship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.golfchannel.com/news/rory-sabbatini-says-his-new-slovak-citizenship-isnt-about-2020-olympics |title=Sabbatini says his new Slovak citizenship isn't about the Olympics |work=Golf Channel |first=Rex |last=Hoggard |date=9 January 2019}}</ref> Sabbatini's citizenship changes earned him the nickname "The Boy From Bratislava" from golf writer and Shotgun Start podcast host Brendan Porath.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://twitter.com/brendanporath/status/1108779448449617920?lang=en |title="The Boy From Bratislava..." has now been officially entered into the PGA Tour Live lexicon!! What a time to be alive. |work=SB Nation |first=Brendan|last=Porath |date=21 March 2019}}</ref> ==Professional wins (8)== ===PGA Tour wins (6)=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of<br>victory!!Runner(s)-up |- |align=center|1 |align=right|3 Sep [[2000 PGA Tour|2000]] |[[Air Canada Championship]] |−16 (68-68-67-65=268) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Grant Waite]] |- |align=center|2 |align=right|9 Jun [[2003 PGA Tour|2003]] |[[FBR Capital Open]] |−14 (68-66-68-68=270) |4 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Joe Durant]], {{flagicon|USA}} [[Fred Funk]],<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Duffy Waldorf]] |- |align=center|3 |align=right|19 Feb [[2006 PGA Tour|2006]] |[[Nissan Open]] |−13 (67-65-67-72=271) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Adam Scott (golfer)|Adam Scott]] |- |align=center|4 |align=right|27 May [[2007 PGA Tour|2007]] |[[Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial]] |−14 (70-67-62-67=266) |Playoff |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jim Furyk]], {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Bernhard Langer]] |- |align=center|5 |align=right|24 May [[2009 PGA Tour|2009]] |[[HP Byron Nelson Championship]] |−19 (68-64-65-64=261) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Brian Davis (golfer)|Brian Davis]] |- |align=center|6 |align=right|6 Mar [[2011 PGA Tour|2011]] |[[The Honda Classic]] |−9 (71-64-66-70=271) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yang Yong-eun]] |} '''PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)''' {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponents!!Result |-style="background:#F2C1D1;" |align=center|1 |[[2004 PGA Tour|2004]] |[[Buick Classic]] |{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Sergio García]], {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Pádraig Harrington]] |García won with birdie on third extra hole<br>Harrington eliminated by par on second hole |-style="background:#D0F0C0;" |align=center|2 |[[2007 PGA Tour|2007]] |[[Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial]] |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jim Furyk]], {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Bernhard Langer]] |Won with birdie on first extra hole |} ===Other wins (2)=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" |- style="background:#eee;" |'''Legend''' |- style="background:#dfe2e9;" | World Golf Championships (1) |- | Other wins (1) |} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of<br>victory!!Runners-up |-style="background:#dfe2e9;" |align=center|1 |align=right|16 Nov 2003 |[[2003 WGC-World Cup|WGC-World Cup]]<br>(with {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Trevor Immelman]]) |−13 (70-69-63-73=275) |4 strokes |{{ENG}} − [[Paul Casey]] and [[Justin Rose]] |- |align=center|2 |align=right|15 Dec 2019 |[[QBE Shootout]]<br>(with {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Tway]]) |−31 (58-67-60=185) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jason Kokrak]] and {{flagicon|USA}} [[J. T. Poston]] |} ==Results in major championships== ''Results not in chronological order in 2020.'' {| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;" |- style="background:#eeeeee;" !align="left"|Tournament !! 2000 !! 2001 !! 2002 !! 2003 !! 2004 !! 2005 !! 2006 !! 2007 !! 2008 !! 2009 |- |align=left|[[Masters Tournament]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |T36 |style="background:yellow;"|T2 |CUT |T20 |- |align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |CUT |T71 |CUT |T51 |T58 |CUT |- |align=left|[[The Open Championship]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T54 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T53 |T66 |CUT |T26 |CUT |CUT |CUT |- |align=left|[[PGA Championship]] |77 |CUT |CUT |68 |CUT |T74 |CUT |CUT |T39 |T67 |} {| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;" |- style="background:#eeeeee;" !align="left"|Tournament !! 2010 !! 2011 !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 |- |align=left|[[Masters Tournament]] |CUT |CUT |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] |CUT |T30 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align=left|[[The Open Championship]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T54 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align=left|[[PGA Championship]] |CUT |T74 |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |} {| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;" |- style="background:#eeeeee;" !align="left"|Tournament !2019!!2020 |- |align=left|[[Masters Tournament]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align=left|[[PGA Championship]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T66 |- |align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] |T43 |T59 |- |align=left|[[The Open Championship]] |T16 |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |} {{legend|yellow|Top 10}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} CUT = missed the half-way cut<br> "T" = tied<br> NT = No tournament due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]] ===Summary=== {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made |- |align=left|[[Masters Tournament]] || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 10 || 3 |- |align=left|[[PGA Championship]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 16 || 7 |- |align=left|[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 13 || 6 |- |align=left|[[The Open Championship]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 10 || 6 |- !Totals !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 3 !! 49 !! 22 |} *Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (2019 U.S. Open – 2020 U.S. Open, current) *Longest streak of top-10s – 1 ==Results in The Players Championship== {| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;" |- style="background:#eeeeee;" !align="left"|Tournament !2000 !2001 !2002 !2003 !2004 !2005 !2006 !2007 !2008 !2009 |- |align=left|[[The Players Championship]] |CUT |CUT |CUT |CUT |T42 |CUT |CUT |T44 |T27 |CUT |} {| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;" |- style="background:#eeeeee;" !align="left"|Tournament !2010 !2011 !2012 !2013 !2014 !2015 !2016 !2017 !2018 !2019 |- |align=left|[[The Players Championship]] |T39 |T26 |CUT |71 |T38 |style="background:yellow;"|T6 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T30 |T35 |} {| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;" |- style="background:#eeeeee;" !align="left"|Tournament !2020!!2021 |- |align=left|[[The Players Championship]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"|C |T67 |} {{legend|yellow|Top 10}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} CUT = missed the halfway cut<br> "T" indicates a tie for a place<br> C = Cancelled after the first round due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] ==Results in World Golf Championships== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Tournament!!2002!!2003!!2004!!2005!!2006!!2007!!2008!!2009!!2010!!2011 |- |align="left"|[[WGC-Match Play|Match Play]] |R64 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:yellow;"|R16 |R64 |R32 |R64 |R64 |R64 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align="left"|[[WGC-Championship|Championship]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T21 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T41 |T35 |T70 |T53 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T28 |- |align="left"|[[WGC-Invitational|Invitational]] |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T51 |style="background:yellow;"|T2 |T28 |T36 |style="background:yellow;"|T2 |T27 |T45 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T48 |- |align="left"|[[WGC-HSBC Champions|Champions]] |colspan=7 style="background:#D3D3D3;"| |T45 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T29 |} {{legend|yellow|Top 10}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play<br> "T" = Tied<br> Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009. ==Team appearances== '''Amateur''' *[[Palmer Cup]] (representing Great Britain & Ireland): [[1998 Palmer Cup|1998]] (tie) '''Professional''' *[[World Cup (men's golf)|World Cup]] (representing South Africa): [[2002 WGC-World Cup|2002]], [[2003 WGC-World Cup|2003]] (winners), [[2004 WGC-World Cup|2004]], [[2006 WGC-World Cup|2006]], [[2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup|2008]], [[2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup|2009]] *[[Presidents Cup]] (International Team): [[2007 Presidents Cup|2007]] ==See also== *[[1998 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates]] *[[2016 Web.com Tour Finals graduates]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{official website|http://www.rorysabbatini.com/home.asp}} *{{PGATour player|23621}} *{{OWGR|6283}} {{World Golf Championships winners|selected=WGC-World Cup winners}} {{2007 International Presidents Cup team}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sabbatini, Rory}} [[Category:South African male golfers]] [[Category:Slovak male golfers]] [[Category:PGA Tour golfers]] [[Category:Olympic golfers of Slovakia]] [[Category:Golfers at the 2020 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Arizona Wildcats men's golfers]] [[Category:Korn Ferry Tour graduates]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Durban]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Fort Worth, Texas]] [[Category:South African expatriates in the United States]] [[Category:South African people of British descent]] [[Category:South African people of Italian descent]] [[Category:South African people of Scottish descent]] [[Category:South African people of Irish descent]] [[Category:Slovak people of Irish descent]] [[Category:Slovak people of Italian descent]] [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]]'