by Audrina Kingston

Created on: January 12, 2010   Last Updated: January 21, 2010

After some lackluster performances, Nicholas Alan Watney has traded missed cuts for chances to be in contention during the final round on Sundays. Since 2006, Watney has 2 tournament victories, along with 25 top-ten, and 41 top twenty-five finishes on the PGA Tour.

Watney was born in Sacramento, California, on April 25, 1981, and raised in nearby Dixon. He played baseball early on then switched to golf at age 13. He continued playing golf throughout high school in Davis, California, through to the collegiate level at California State University in Fresno.

Despite not being an early standout at Fresno, Nick Watney became a three-time collegiate all-American, and topped his senior year as the number-1 ranked amateur golfer. Watney's coach was his Uncle - former professional golfer, John Watney.

Watney turned pro in 2003 and tasted first victory on the Canadian Tour, winning the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial. In 2004, he clinched the Nationwide Tour Championship and joined the PGA Tour in 2005.

Watney's first tour win came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, along with a $1.1 million check. Flooding and debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina made the course difficult, but Watney persevered, won by three strokes, and entered the World Golf Rankings top 100.

With no other wins after Zurich, Watney decided that rededication to the game was in order and moved to Henderson, Nevada, to work closely with pre-eminent golf instructor, Butch Harmon. Results came quickly. The following year, Watney won the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines with a birdy on the 72nd hole to win by one shot.

Nick Watney maintains a stellar reputation. He is shy, but labeled as being extremely nice, polite, and gentlemanly. He is unphased by large galleries, or by cameras clicking during a round, and takes golf in stride.

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