Mark Stephen Hayes (July 12, 1949 – July 17, 2018) was an American professional golfer. He had three victories on the PGA Tour in the 1970s, including the 1977 Tournament Players Championship. He played in the 1979 Ryder Cup as a late replacement for Tom Watson.

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Mark Hayes
Personal information
Full name	Mark Stephen Hayes
Born	(1949-07-12)July 12, 1949 Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	July 17, 2018(2018-07-17) (aged 69) Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Sporting nationality	United States
Career
College	Oklahoma State University
Turned professional	1973
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	7
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	3
Other	4
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	T10: 1982
PGA Championship	T15: 1976
U.S. Open	T6: 1980
The Open Championship	T9: 1977

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Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma,^[1] Hayes played collegiately at Oklahoma State University, where he was a two-time All-American.^[2] He won the Sunnehanna Amateur in 1972.

Hayes won three times on the PGA Tour: the Byron Nelson Golf Classic and Pensacola Open in 1976 and the Tournament Players Championship in 1977.^[3] He also won the PGA Tour-sponsored Tallahassee Open in 1986 and three Oklahoma Opens.

Hayes had his best finish in a major championship at the U.S. Open in 1980, where he began the final round of play two shots out of the lead^[4] but shot a final round 74 to finish T6. He was also the first round leader^[5] at the 1975 PGA Championship, but finished T22. In the second round of The Open Championship in 1977, Hayes shot 63 at the Ailsa Course at Turnberry to establish a new single round record at The Open Championship by two strokes. The previous record of 65 was set by Henry Cotton in the second round in 1934 at Royal St. George's.^[6]

Hayes played in the 1979 Ryder Cup team after Tom Watson gave up his spot to be with his wife at the birth of their first child.^[7] Hayes lost both his matches on the second day but won his singles match against Antonio Garrido on the final day, to help the United States to a 17 to 11 win over the European team.

After turning 50, Hayes joined the Senior PGA Tour. His best finish was T10 at the 2001 Siebel Classic in Silicon Valley.^[8]

Hayes was well known for his trademark bucket caps.^[9]

In the late 1980s, Hayes began preparing for a career in golf course design and construction. In 1990, he established a golf course design firm.^[2] His projects were built in Oklahoma and neighboring states.^[10]

Hayes died on July 17, 2018, from early-onset Alzheimer's disease.^[11]

• 1972 Sunnehanna Amateur

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Amateur

• Eisenhower Trophy: 1972 (winners)

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 1979 (winners)

• 1973 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
• 1988 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
• 1989 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
• 1990 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates