Kratzert was born in Quantico, Virginia when his father was in the service but spent most of his youth in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he attended Elmhurst High School. His father was head pro for over 20 years at the Fort Wayne Country Club.
He attended the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and was a distinguished member of the golf team – an All-American in 1973 and 1974. Kratzert graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Bachelor of Business Administration) degree in 1974.
He turned pro in that same year. Kratzert, after two failed attempts at earning his Tour card, quit golf and worked as a forklift operator. After eight months at that job, Kratzert returned to golf and succeeded on his third attempt in 1976 to get his Professional Golf Association Tour card.
His most successful years in professional golf were 1977–1980 when he finished in the top-12 on the money list in three of those 4 years.
Kratzert"s best year for majors was 1978, when he finished with a T-5 in The Masters and a T-6 in the United States. Open. His career earnings exceed $1.4 million.
He continued to play on the Professional Golf Association Tour until 1997, when he went to work as a television golf commentator. Since turning 50 in June 2002, Kratzert has played some on the Champions Tour.
His best finish in this venue is T10 at the 2003 Royal Caribbean Golf Classic.
The main focus of his work continues to be as an on-course reporter for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network and Turner Sports. He has also worked with SiriusXM Professional Golf Association Tour Radio and pgatour.com. During the 2013 Professional Golf Association Championship, Columbia Broadcasting System on-course reporter Peter Kostis was unable to work due to his recovery from cancer surgery.
Kratzert, already on site for his Turner Sports duties, filled in on Columbia Broadcasting System"s weekend telecasts.
When Mark Rolfing was given a week off from his National Broadcasting Company duties at the 2014 Hero World Challenge, Kratzert was chosen to fill in. Kratzert was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame in 1993.
1968 Indiana Amateur Professional Golf Association Tour wins (4) Other wins.
