University of Houston Athletics
Houston Great Bruce Lietzke Passes Away
7/28/2018 12:28:00 PM | Men's Golf
1973 All-American was a 13-time champion on PGA Tour, seven-time winner on Champions Tour
University of Houston Men's Golf great and 13-time PGA Tour champion Bruce Lietzke passed away Saturday following a battle with brain cancer. He was 67 years old.
A native of Beaumont, Texas, Lietzke (pronounced Litz-Kee) competed for the Cougars from 1969 to 1973 under Head Coach Dave Williams.
"I will miss Bruce dearly. He was a good friend and a great Cougar. Bruce was always sending me encouraging messages and was willing to help every way possible through the years," Director of Golf Jonathan Dismuke said. "I am deeply saddened by his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
"I will miss my best friend," Houston letterman and 1981 Open Championship Bill Rogers said. "He was as good a friend as a person could have."
As a senior during the 1972-73 season, he earned All-America Second-Team honors and was a part of three Houston teams, which finished as the national runner-up in three straight NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973.
Lietzke posted a score of 143 to win the Johnny Goyen Intercollegiate during the 1971-72 season for the first collegiate title of his career and earned medalist honors at the Inwood Forest Invitational during the 1972-73 season.
Following his collegiate days, Lietzke began his professional career in 1974 and posted 13 PGA Tournament titles in a 17-year span, beginning with the 1977 Joe Garagiola Tucson Open. In 1981, he captured the Bob Hope Desert Classic, Wickes/Andy Williams San Diego Open and the Byron Nelson Golf Classic.
In 1991, he finished second at the PGA Championship behind John Daly for the best finish of his career at a major. He also earned sixth-place finishes at the 1979 and 1985 Masters and 1981 Open Championship.
On the international stage, Lietzke played on the winning 1981 U.S. Ryder Cup Team at Walton Heath Golf Club in England.
Joining the PGA Champions Tour, he won seven times, including the 2003 U.S. Senior Open, where he defeated Tom Watson by two strokes. In 2002, Lietzke teamed with Rogers to win the team portion of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.
Lietzke was inducted into the Houston Athletics Hall of Honor in 2002.
A native of Beaumont, Texas, Lietzke (pronounced Litz-Kee) competed for the Cougars from 1969 to 1973 under Head Coach Dave Williams.
"I will miss Bruce dearly. He was a good friend and a great Cougar. Bruce was always sending me encouraging messages and was willing to help every way possible through the years," Director of Golf Jonathan Dismuke said. "I am deeply saddened by his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
"I will miss my best friend," Houston letterman and 1981 Open Championship Bill Rogers said. "He was as good a friend as a person could have."
As a senior during the 1972-73 season, he earned All-America Second-Team honors and was a part of three Houston teams, which finished as the national runner-up in three straight NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973.
Lietzke posted a score of 143 to win the Johnny Goyen Intercollegiate during the 1971-72 season for the first collegiate title of his career and earned medalist honors at the Inwood Forest Invitational during the 1972-73 season.
Following his collegiate days, Lietzke began his professional career in 1974 and posted 13 PGA Tournament titles in a 17-year span, beginning with the 1977 Joe Garagiola Tucson Open. In 1981, he captured the Bob Hope Desert Classic, Wickes/Andy Williams San Diego Open and the Byron Nelson Golf Classic.
In 1991, he finished second at the PGA Championship behind John Daly for the best finish of his career at a major. He also earned sixth-place finishes at the 1979 and 1985 Masters and 1981 Open Championship.
On the international stage, Lietzke played on the winning 1981 U.S. Ryder Cup Team at Walton Heath Golf Club in England.
Joining the PGA Champions Tour, he won seven times, including the 2003 U.S. Senior Open, where he defeated Tom Watson by two strokes. In 2002, Lietzke teamed with Rogers to win the team portion of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.
Lietzke was inducted into the Houston Athletics Hall of Honor in 2002.
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