In the summer heat of the 1996 John Deere Classic, a veteran golfer quietly stepped into the spotlight. Ed Fiori, 43 years old and far removed from the peak of his career, found himself grouped with a 20-year-old sensation named Tiger Woods.
It was just Woods‘ third event since turning professional, and the excitement around the young star was electric.
While Woods was building momentum toward his first professional win, Fiori wasn’t exactly bursting with confidence.
After 14 years without a victory on the PGA Tour, doubts had crept in. His caddie, Bullet, tried to calm his nerves, but Fiori still didn’t feel sharp. Determined not to let Woods throw off his rhythm, Fiori avoided watching him swing.
From forgotten veteran to unlikely champion
By the time they reached the seventh hole, Woods had already run into trouble. A series of misses led to a double bogey after four-putting, a rare lapse of composure from the emerging superstar.
Fiori was quick to recall that moment years later.:”There’s no other way to put it: The kid self-imploded.”
Fiori went on to take the lead and never looked back, eventually winning the tournament by two strokes over Andrew Magee. Woods, the headline act, ended up well behind in the standings.
For over a decade, no other golfer would come from behind on the final day of a PGA Tour event and beat Tiger Woods. But Fiori had done it, outplaying the most hyped golfer of a generation when few thought he could.
Despite the headlines and glory, Fiori never lost sight of his respect for Tiger. Although he came from the Jack Nicklaus era, he had no doubt about Woods‘ greatness. That 1996 win, his fourth and final PGA Tour title, cemented his name in golf history. But his humility endured.
Who was Ed Fiori?
Fiori earned the nickname “The Grip” for his immense hand strength, a trait that helped him swing with control despite his stocky 5’7″, 200-pound frame. Born on April 21, 1953, in Lynwood, California, he later played for the University of Houston during the program’s dominant era in the 1960s and ’70s. Under legendary coach Dave Williams, Fiori helped lead the Cougars to the 1977 NCAA team championship, which launched him into the professional ranks later that year.
Years after his tour success, he remained a beloved figure in the golf community for his grit and sportsmanship.
Ed Fiori cause of death
Sadly, on July 6, Fiori passed away at age 72 following a battle with cancer. His death was mourned across the golf world. PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady paid his tribute.
“Ed Fiori was a true gentleman in our sport, and is a player who would often be referred to as a pro’s pro,” Brady said.
“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.”
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