Andy Bean, who won 11 PGA Tour events and three times on the Champions Tour, died Saturday after complications from double lung replacement surgery last month, a statement from The PGA Tour confirmed. He was 70 years old at the time of his passing.
Bean turned pro in 1975 following a standout collegiate career at the University of Florida. Four years later, he became a member of the United States Ryder Cup team, making the team a second time in 1987. His first PGA victory came in 1977 at the Doral-Eastern Open, and his most recent victory was in 1986 at the Byron Nelson Golf Classic in Texas.
At 6-foot-4 and about 210 pounds, Andy Bean was an imposing presence on the tour, making him popular among golf fans. He had just as big a personality and was known to win bets in bars by biting a chunk out of the cover of a golf ball
In 1980 and 1989, Bean finished second at the PGA Championship.
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In 1978, the columnist Dave Anderson of The New York Times called him “one of golf’s most appealing players.”
“He’s big and strong and emotional,” Anderson wrote. “Whether it’s a tee shot or his annoyance at a bad shot, he lets it all hang out. The other touring pros call him Li’l Abner for his strength.”
According to multiple news reports following his passing, Andy Bean developed respiratory issues following a bout with COVID-19 and underwent a double lung transplant last month. Survived by his wife Debbie, three daughters, and multiple grandchildren, Bean died in his hometown of Lakeland, Florida.
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