The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorn legends: Men's Golf Hall of Honor inductee Brandel Chamblee
11.07.2008 | Men's Golf
Nov. 7, 2008
Rafiq el Arculli, Texas Media Relations
Few people can claim to have been only one of four student-athletes to earn an athletic honor at The University of Texas. But former Texas golfer Brandel Chamblee can be proud to make such a statement.
During his time on the Forty Acres, Chamblee established himself as an elite golfer and was one of only four Longhorn golfers to earn first-team All-America honors and win a Southwest Conference individual title. In recognition for his contributions to the Texas golf and athletics programs, Chamblee will be inducted into the 2008 Longhorn Hall of Honor.
Chamblee, now one of the lead commentators for television's The Golf Channel, first stepped foot on the Forty Acres in 1981, and garnered three All-America honors during his four years on campus, with first-team acclaim coming in 1983.
After an unpleasant first experience with the game of golf at the age of seven, Chamblee did not lay hands on a golf club for five years. However, after watching countless golf tournaments on television, he taught himself how to swing a golf club by carefully mimicking the players he saw on TV.
Due to his success of teaching himself the sport, Chamblee spent four years at Texas playing golf. From 1981 to 1984, he won five college tournaments, including the Southwest Conference title in 1983 and the Morris Williams Intercollegiate in 1984.
After graduating from UT, Chamblee officially turned professional in 1985 and spent 17 seasons on the PGA Tour, where he recorded 25 top-10 finishes, including a victory at the 1998 Greater Vancouver Open. In addition to that victory, he finished second four times on the Tour and spent six straight years in the top-100 on the Tour Money List from 1995-2000. Chamblee also shared a first round lead at the 1999 Masters Tournament, and has posted a career earnings mark of $3.5 million.
After retiring from the PGA Tour in 2003, Chamblee has since worked as an analyst for ABC and The Golf Channel covering the Champions Tour and participating in the Sprint Pre and Post Game shows. During his time away from television, Chamblee also writes for Sports Illustrated magazine, writing columns for the golf section.
Chamblee now currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he lives with his wife, Karen, two sons, Brandel Jr. and Brennen and one daughter, Bergen. The Chamblee family experienced their roughest time during the summer of 2000, when their second son, Braeden, was born two months early. Nine days later, young Braeden passed away due to complications within his intestines.
In his memory, the Chamblee family wanted to create a playground at Phoenix's Children's Hospital, but had no idea where to begin. Fortunately, two friends from the pro golfers' tour, Kirk and Cathy Triplett, devised a plan to create a foundation in Braeden's name, and encouraged other professional golfers to help contribute. They also persuaded the Professional Golf Association to match what the other golfers raised.
Soon after the foundation was created, the Chamblees put together an annual golf tournament to help benefit the Phoenix Children's Hospital. The Braeden's Charity Golf Classic was born and was an instant success, with professional golfers such as Tom Lehman, Hale Irwin and Fuzzy Zoeller taking part. Chamblee now coordinates the annual golf tournament from his Scottsdale, Ariz. home.
After experiencing several major ups and downs since his college years, Chamblee is now set to return to Texas to accept his Hall of Honor induction during this upcoming weekend. And after having accomplished many major feats in his life, the induction will be a well-deserved honor for Chamblee.
