Background
Hinkle was born in Flint, Michigan.
Hinkle was born in Flint, Michigan.
He attended San Diego State University, where he was a member of the golf team
He turned pro and joined the Professional Golf Association Tour in 1972. That year in the first round of the United States. Open at Inverness Club he took a shortcut, cutting the dogleg on the par-5 8th hole by hitting onto the 17th fairway. Overnight, United States Golf Association officials planted a tree (known ever afterwards as The Hinkle Tree) to block the shortcut.
His best finish in a major was a T-3 at both the United States. Open and the Professional Golf Association Championship in 1980.
During his career on the Professional Golf Association Tour, he had more than 50 top-10 finishes. After turning 50 in 1999, Hinkle joined the Champions Tour.
His best finish at that level is a T-12 in the 2000 Audi Senior Classic. Hinkle lives in Bigfork, Montana in the northwest corner of the state.
Professional Golf Association Tour (3) Ben Hogan Tour (1) Other (2) DNP = Did not play World Development = Withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place Yellow background for top-10 Summary Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (1982 United States Open – 1987 Professional Golf Association) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (four times).