Golf world mourns the passing of 'gentle giant' Andy Bean
- Planet Sport writer
- 15 October 2023
Former PGA Tour professional Andy Bean, who won 11 tournament titles and was runner-up at the 1983 Open, has died aged 70.
Bean died of complications from double-lung-replacement surgery in early September, the PGA Tour said.
Born in Lafayette, Georgia before the family moved to Lakeland in Florida, Bean turned professional in 1975 having qualified for the PGA Tour while still a student at university.
Bean's first PGA Tour win came at the 1977 Doral-Eastern Open in Miami and he also played for the United States' Ryder Cup team twice, in 1979 and 1987.
Success at a major, though, eluded Bean.
He finished one stroke behind Tom Watson at Royal Birkdale in 1983 in a tie for second with Hale Irwin as well as also twice a runner-up at the PGA Championship, in 1980 and 1989.
After turning 50, Bean played on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, winning three titles before retiring after the 2014 season.
"Andy was a tenacious competitor on the course, but the kindest of men off of it," said PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady.
"He was affectionally referred to as a gentle giant, someone who always had time for fans, the media and his fellow players."
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