Ryan Armour

Persistence is stock-in-trade for anybody hoping to feed his family by playing golf professionally, but on the Web.com Tour there may be no better possessor of grade-A grit than this Ohio native. Since turning pro in 1999 after twice earning All-Big Ten honors at Ohio State, Ryan Armour searched for victory both high (see: three seasons on the PGA TOUR, the latest in 2014-15) and low (early stints on both the Hooters and Golden Bear tours). But it wasn’t until this year’s Panama Claro Championship—his 217^th Web.com Tour event—that Ryan Armour’s doggedness delivered a title. Prior to that three-stroke victory over his friend Kyle Thompson at Panama Golf Club, Ryan Armour’s career highlights were an extra-hole loss to Tiger Woods in the final of the 1993 U.S. Junior Amateur at Waverly Golf Club in Portland, Ore., and a solid campaign on the PGA Tour in 2007, which saw him notch three top-10s (including a fourth place at the Mayakoba Golf Classic) and earn $862,979. That the former Buckeye broke through in Panama was not entirely surprising. Ryan Armour had made six of eight cuts there before this year’s season-opener. He was solo third in 2004, set the course record (61) in 2011 and tied for second (a shot back of champion Edward Loar) in 2012. Nor was it surprising that persistence was part of his 2016 Panama Claro storyline: Nine shots off the pace through 36 holes, Armour crafted weekend rounds of 65 and 64 to become a winner after 645 Web.com Tour rounds. “I’ve always been a grinder. This cements that I can get it done over four rounds,” said Armour, his $112,500 payday exceeded only by his sense of relief. And accomplishment.

Personal Notes Ryan Armour attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Earliest golf memory is having Sunday brunch and playing golf with his family. Played high school basketball. Biggest thrill outside golf was the birth of his sons. Never travels without his computer.