Brian Claar

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Brian Claar

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname = Brian J. Claar

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|7|29}}

| birth_place = Santa Monica, California

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

| weight = {{convert|150|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{USA}}

| residence =

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college = University of Tampa

| yearpro = 1981

| tour =

| extour = PGA Tour
Asia Golf Circuit

| prowins = 3

| asiawins =

| champwins =

| seneurowins =

| otherwins =

| majorwins =

| masters = CUT: 1990

| usopen = 5th: 1989

| open = T49: 1995

| pga = T9: 1992

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 = PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year

| year1 = 1986

| award2 = Asia Golf Circuit
Order of Merit winner

| year2 = 1989

| awardssection =

}}

Brian J. Claar (born July 29, 1959) is an American professional golfer.

Early life

Claar was born in Santa Monica, California. He played college golf at the University of Tampa where he was a two-time All-American.{{cite book |title=Official 1991 PGA TOUR Media Guide |year=1990 |publisher=PGA Tour |page=58 }} He was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.[http://www.tampaspartans.com/page.asp?articleID=5 University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527100710/http://www.tampaspartans.com/page.asp?articleID=5 |date=2010-05-27 }}

Professional career

Claar turned professional in 1981. He played on the PGA Tour from 1986 to 1998. He was selected as the PGA Rookie of the Year in 1986.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100203120911/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065763/2/index.htm The Power of Love] His best finish was a T-2 at the 1991 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He then played primarily on the Nationwide Tour from 1999 to 2002. His best finishes on this tour were a pair of T-2s in 2002, a playoff loss at the Hershey Open and T-2 at the Utah Classic.

Outside of the United States, Claar had success on the Asia Golf Circuit. In 1989 he claimed the Order of Merit title having won twice during the season, at the Hong Kong and Thailand opens.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/92e6a57e54b926c9258823d78851d712 |title=Sport Shorts |website=The Associated Press |date=April 23, 1989}}

Claar twice finished in the top-10 at a major. At the 1989 U.S. Open, he finished fifth, two shots behind Curtis Strange. At the 1992 PGA Championship, he finished tied for ninth, six shots behind Nick Price.{{cite web|title=Golf Major Championships|url=http://golfmajorchampionships.com/players?player=997}}

Claar has also worked as Champions Tour official.[http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070811/SPORTS05/708110370/1013/SPORTS&nav_category=SPORTS Preparing for Champions: Crosswater gets a 'major' new look from Tour officials] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707223137/http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070811%2FSPORTS05%2F708110370%2F1013%2FSPORTS&nav_category=SPORTS |date=July 7, 2011 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnycentral.com/sports/story.aspx?id=415923 |title=Champions Tour event suspended due to high winds |access-date=2011-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708171530/http://www.cnycentral.com/sports/story.aspx?id=415923 |archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead }}