Golf star Bart Bryant dead at 59

Golf star Bart Bryant has tragically died aged 59 after being involved in a fatal car accident on Wednesday.

A three-time PGA Tour winner, Bryant beat Tiger Woods to claim the biggest and most lucrative victory of his career at the 2005 Tour Championship, The Sun reports.

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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office told TMZ Bryant was killed after a pick-up truck failed to stop and slammed into the back of his Volkswagen SUV.

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Police said the driver of the Ford F-150 did not see Bryant’s SUV stop and slammed into it. The golf star’s wife, Donna, was also in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

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First responders found Bryant unresponsive and transported him to a local hospital, where he later died.

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Tour commissioner Jay Monahan confirmed Bryant’s death on Thursday, saying: “The PGA Tour is saddened by the tragic passing of Bart Bryant and our hearts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.

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“The Bryants have been a part of the PGA Tour family for over four decades and we are grateful for the impact and legacy he made on our organisation and countless communities.

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Bryant turned pro in 1986 but struggled with injuries during the early stages of his career. He considered quitting the sport after a shoulder injury sent him off the Tour in the early ‘90s.

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Eventually, he won his first PGA Tour in 2004 at the Valero Texas Open, making him the oldest first-time winner at 41.

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Bryant earned three PGA victories after turning 40, two of which came in 2005 when he won two of the Tour’s biggest events, the Tour Championship and Memorial Tournament.

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