Background
Small was born in Aurora, Illinois and grew up in Danville, Illinois.
Small was born in Aurora, Illinois and grew up in Danville, Illinois.
At Illinois, he was a member of the 1988 Big Ten Championship team, where he finished second behind teammate and current Professional Golf Association Tour member Steve Stricker.
Small turned professional in 1990 and played on various tours before joining the Professional Golf Association Tour in 1995. He played on the Professional Golf Association Tour in 1998, where his best finish was 9th place at the Bell Canadian Open. He would repeat that feat three more times on the way to winning ten Indian Pharmacy Graduate Association titles and four Illinois Opens.
He has played in 96 Nationwide Tour events finishing in the top-10 eight times.
He has played in over 50 Professional Golf Association Tour events in his career, including eleven major championships. He has also finished as the low club professional in the Professional Golf Association Championship in 2007 and 2011.
Small has been the head golf coach at the University of Illinois since 2000. He led the Illini to the Big Ten championship in each of the next four seasons, again winning conference coach of the year honors each year.
lieutenant marks Illinois" best finish in school history.
On October 25, 2013, Small was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. 1984 Junior Masters Nationwide Tour wins (2) Other wins (18) DNP = Did not play CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied Yellow background for top-10.