Ken Duke

As a seventh grader, was diagnosed with scoliosis. The Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., determined he had a 26 percent curvature of the spine and advised him to wear a back brace 23 hours a day. Two years later, with the curvature reaching 51 percent, he underwent surgery. Without the procedure, the pressure on his lungs and heart might have become life-threatening. Surgeons attached a 16-inch metal road to his spine to facilitate straightening. Remarkably, just months later he returned to his high school golf team–and playing in a back brace–won medalist honors at a district tournament. In 2009, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences established The Ken Duke Endowed Chair in Scoliosis. Funds from the chair treat spinal deformities, tumors and fractures.

As a seventh grader, was diagnosed with scoliosis. The Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., determined he had a 26 percent curvature of the spine and advised him to wear a back brace 23 hours a day. Two years later, with the curvature reaching 51 percent, he underwent surgery. Without the procedure, the pressure on his lungs and heart might have become life-threatening. Surgeons attached a 16-inch metal road to his spine to facilitate straightening. Remarkably, just months later he returned to his high school golf team—and playing in a back brace—won medalist honors at a district tournament. In 2009, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences established The Ken Duke Endowed Chair in Scoliosis. Funds from the chair treat spinal deformities, tumors and fractures.

He credits his dad for giving him his start in golf but says legendary instructor Bob Toski changed his swing and his life. His biggest golf thrill was playing a round at Augusta National in 2009 with Toski, who was 82 at the time.

An avid fisherman and country music fan.

Lists Larry Bird as his hero.

Was inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame in October 2013 at Pleasant Valley CC in Little Rock.

Along with former teammates, helped raise money for the Ken Duke Golf Center on the campus of Henderson State. The state-of-the-art facility, which opened in the summer of 2016, includes coaching staff offices, classrooms, TrackMan simulators and an indoor putting green.

In addition to the Korn Ferry Tour and Canadian Tour, has also played on the Asian Tour and the South American Tour.