#47 Stewart Cink

Home Course: Highland Park Golf Course – Birmingham, Alabama

From Alabama’s Oldest Muni to a Claret Jug

Stewart Cink is best remembered for his dramatic win at the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry, where he defeated a 59-year-old Tom Watson in a playoff to claim the Claret Jug. But before he became a major champion, Ryder Cup veteran, and one of the most respected professionals on the PGA Tour, Cink was a muni kid from Birmingham, Alabama.

His home turf was Highland Park Golf Course, the oldest public golf course in Alabama, opened in 1903. It was here, on the hilly fairways and small, quick greens of downtown Birmingham, that Cink learned the shot-making precision and mental discipline that became his trademarks.

Birmingham Beginnings

Born in 1973 in Huntsville and raised in Birmingham, Cink grew up in a middle-class family where golf was accessible only because of public facilities like Highland Park. This wasn’t a manicured, private-club junior program; this was real, everyday golf, open to anyone willing to put in the time.

The course’s location in the heart of the city meant Cink was surrounded by a mix of playing partners: retirees, high school kids, weekend warriors, and hustlers who knew how to bet on a match. It was an environment that built competitive toughness and adaptability.

The Course as a Teacher

Highland Park is not long, but it’s deceptively demanding. With narrow fairways, uneven lies, and greens that can run lightning-fast in the Alabama heat, the course demands accuracy over brute strength.

As a junior, Cink learned to value strategy, knowing when to attack and when to play safe. This mindset would carry him through his career, particularly in the pressure cooker of links golf and Ryder Cup matches.

Georgia Tech and the Rise to the PGA Tour

Cink’s skill earned him a spot on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men’s golf team, one of the premier programs in collegiate golf. There, he developed alongside other future tour pros, sharpening his competitive edge.

After graduating in 1995, Cink turned professional and immediately made waves. By 1997, he had won the Travelers Championship (then the Greater Hartford Open) and earned PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors.

Career Highlights

• PGA Tour Wins: 8
• Major Championships: 1 (2009 Open Championship)
• Ryder Cup Teams: 5 appearances
• Presidents Cup Teams: 4 appearances
• FedExCup Playoff Wins: Multiple top finishes over career

The 2009 Open Championship

Cink’s defining moment came at Turnberry in 2009. While the world cheered for Tom Watson’s near-miracle run, Cink stayed patient, birdied the 72nd hole to tie, and then outplayed Watson in the playoff. His victory was a masterclass in composure, the same kind he’d built over years at Highland Park, where every shot required calm calculation.

Longevity and a Late-Career Resurgence

In 2021, well into his 40s, Cink stunned the golf world by winning twice in the same season, at the RBC Heritage and the Fortinet Championship. Few players maintain that kind of form across decades, but Cink’s fundamentally sound game, forged on muni fairways, has always aged well.

Public Golf Roots and Perspective

Cink often credits Highland Park for giving him not just golf skills, but life skills:

• Humility from playing alongside golfers of all backgrounds.
• Resilience from adapting to conditions that weren’t always perfect.
• Creativity from learning to navigate a course that rewarded smart play over sheer distance.

He’s returned to Highland Park for clinics and community events, giving back to the same public course that gave him his start.

Why He’s #47 on the Countdown

Stewart Cink’s résumé, major champion, Ryder Cup veteran, and consistent PGA Tour winner, speaks for itself. But what makes him a Muni Kids Muni 50 pick is the way Highland Park shaped his competitive mindset. He’s proof that you can learn everything you need to win at the highest level on a municipal course, as long as you’re willing to put in the work.

Key Stats

• Born: May 21, 1973 – Huntsville, AL
• Home Course: Highland Park Golf Course, Birmingham, AL
• Professional Wins: 8 PGA Tour
• Major Championships: 1 (2009 Open Championship)
• Teams: Ryder Cup (5), Presidents Cup (4)

Quote

“Highland Park taught me the game, but it also taught me people. You play with everyone out there, and you learn how to win and lose with the same handshake.” – Stewart Cink