The world of golf has had some losses this year. In April, JC Snead passed away, and in July, Kayla Hale lost the battle to cancer. On August 4th of 2025, the golf world began mourning the loss of a star. He joined the PGA Tour after already winning three events and continued playing until 2007, at the age of 70. He spent a good portion of his time under his brother’s shadow, but managed to shine in the 1990s. Today, the PGA is mourning the loss of one Mike Hill, who became a legend on the PGA Tour Champions.
Who Was Mike Hill
Mike Hill was a PGA Tour pro golfer who originally went pro back in 1967. His brother Dave Hill had a head start of roughly nine years. Mike Hill, however, did manage to earn three PGA wins throughout the 1970s. Those wins include the 1970 Doral-Eastern Open, the 1972 Texas Open in San Antonio, and the 1977 Ohio Kings Island Open. Mike Hill was often compared to his brother, but he always had some admiration for his older brother.
“Dave became the best golfer in the family, and he deserved it because he worked so hard on his game,” Mike said. “Sometimes I kind of leach off Dave’s knowledge of the game and the courses.”
The rest of Mike Hill’s time in the regular Tour did not see another victory. However, that would change in the 1990s when Hill joined the Champions circuit. That is where he really came into his own.
Mike Hill As A PGA Tour Champion Player
In 1989, Hill decided it was time to leave the regular Tour and join the Champion Tour. Starting in 1990 and up through 1996, Hill would earn 18 wins, with his best years both having five wins each. According to the PGA Tour Champions President, Miller Brady, Mike Hill is what made the circuit so popular in the 90s.
“Mike Hill was one of the players who made the PGA TOUR Champions so popular in the early 1990s as his name was seemingly on every leaderboard at a time he made winning a regular part of his game,” said Miller Brady. “We are saddened by Mike’s death, and we extend our condolences to his family while we look back fondly on his career.”
During his time in the Champions circuit, Hill played in 382 events, only missing the cut in four of them. He made the top ten a total of 149 times, the top five 89 times, and for the first time in his career, Mike Hill was not compared to his brother.
After The Champions
Hill would stay on the PGA Tour Champions until his official retirement in 2007. When he decided it was time to take a step back and enjoy his remaining years. Hill did not leave golf entirely. His family owned an 18-hole course in Brooklyn, Michigan, where he would play for leisure. He would also teach lessons at the course, showing newbies the ropes. He would pass away on August 4th, 2025. A legend who blossomed late in his career, now remembered fondly by the Tour, which saw his greatest success. As well as his family, who still run the golf course he taught at. He may someday be honored in a similar way to Payne Stewart, but for now, golf must say goodbye to the legendary Mike Hills.
Main Photo Credit: © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
