PGA Tour Pro Who Caught Tiger Woods at John Deere Classic Dies at 72
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As the golf world turned its attention to the winner at John Deere Classic, the PGA Tour paused the celebration to share heartbreaking news.
Ed Fiori, a 4-time PGA Tour winner and the man who famously caught young Tiger Woods with his final professional victory, has died at the age of 72 after a battle with cancer.
Fiori's most iconic moment came in 1996, at what was then called the Quad Cities Classic but is now the John Deere Classic.
PGA Tour Pro Who Caught Tiger Woods at John Deere Classic Dies at 72. (Image Collage | Credits: Getty Images)
PGA Tour Pro Who Caught Tiger Woods at John Deere Classic Dies at 72. (Image Collage | Credits: Getty Images)
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"Ed Fiori was a true gentleman in our sport, and is a player who would often be referred to as a pro's pro," said PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady.
"In three of his four wins on the PGA Tour, he dueled down the stretch with future World Golf Hall of Fame members, most notably Tiger Woods in 1996.
That grit and resolution in the face of immeasurable odds is incredibly admirable in every aspect of life, and I know he battled cancer with that same determination until the end. He will be missed by all of us at the Tour."
At 43 years old, Fiori stared down a 20-year-old Woods, who was playing just his third event as a professional and held a one-shot lead heading into the final round.
Woods, fresh off his 3rd straight U.S. Amateur win, had the galleries and momentum. But Fiori, nicknamed "The Grip" for his famously strong hold on the club, had grit.
After an early bogey, he rallied with five birdies, carded a total of 268, and held off a surging Andrew Magee to win by two shots.
Woods, who made a quadruple bogey on the 4th hole, faded to a tie for fifth. He would go on to win his next start at the Las Vegas Invitational, launching one of the most dominant careers in sports history.
Fiori's win in Illinois was his fourth and final PGA Tour title, capping a career that also included victories at the 1979 Southern Open, 1981 Western Open, and 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic.
He later added a Champions Tour win at the 2004 MasterCard Classic. Across 583 PGA Tour starts, Fiori logged 38 top-10 finishes, often battling against future Hall of Famers.
Tributes poured in across social media
Former PGA Tour pro Mark Lye wrote on X, "Very sad day as my friend of many years, Ed Fiori, passed away... He had a huge heart in this game. He will be missed by many. RIP Eddie."
Golf writer Tom Kirkendall added, "R.I.P., Ed Fiori... His nickname among the pros was 'Grip.'" That moniker wasn't just about technique—it reflected his tenacity, his ability to hold on when the odds were stacked against him.
Canadian journalist Chris Stevenson echoed the sentiment, "Sad to hear of the passing of PGA Tour regular Ed (The Grip) Fiori... He was an Everyman and a great storyteller. His big moment came when he stared down Tiger Woods... for his fourth and final PGA Tour victory."
Fiori, who once considered retiring to become a charter boat captain before that 1996 win, leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, humility, and heart. And the golf world won't forget him.
More Golf: Did Kevin Roy Get Away with Breaking the Rules at John Deere Classic?
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