Although Bruce Lietzke moved quietly amid the noise and hoopla of the PGA Tour, he was a force to be reckoned with. Dangerous when aroused was the best way to describe Lietzke, who gained his Tour card in 1975.

Bruce, who began playing golf at age five with a set of cut down clubs provided by brother Duane (an assistant pro), grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He won the Texas State Junior Championship in 1968 in a very competitive field. Bruce then attended the University of Houston and played alongside the likes of Texans John Mahaffey and Bill Rogers. Lietzke won the Texas State Amateur title in the summer of 1971 and was the low Houston Cougar in both the Tucker Invitational and Rice Invitational the same year.

During the 1972-73 collegiate year, Lietzke won the Inwood Forest tournament and was a member of the UH team which won the Southwest Conference match play tourney. In 1973, shortly after leaving the UH, Lietzke put his clubs “in the closet” for a time. Having played non-stop for almost 15 years, he was “tired of it.” Six months later, he turned professional and earned his Tour card in 1975.

After that time, Lietzke was always high on the money list. In 1977, he was fifth; in 1979, eighth; in 1981, fourth; in 1984, sixth. He played on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team in 1981 and in the U.S. vs. Japan meet in 1984. Lietzke became known as the best “cross-handed” putter on Tour. Bruce played on the Champions Tour and consulted with golf course design, including TPC San Antonio.

In total, Lietzke won 13 times on the PGA Tour. He added another seven wins to his list on the Champions tour, including the 2003 U.S. Senior Open.

Birthplace: Kansas City, Kansas

Born: July 18, 1951

Died: July 28, 2018