Professional golfer
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Age: 24
Without LSU golf, Smylie Kaufman might not exist. Both of his parents played golf at the university, and they met through the sport.
Kaufman grew up cheering on the Tigers. And now, it’s his turn to give fans a reason to cheer.
The former LSU player won his first PGA victory last October—a win that will carry him this year to some of golf’s biggest tournaments and championships.
But getting there has been an uphill battle.
“There was a lot of times I didn’t think I’d even play on the pro field,” says Kaufman, who describes most of his college career as average.
But in his senior year at LSU, he started to find his rhythm. He finished second in the SEC championships in the spring of 2014. He’s been on a roll since then. October’s victory looks like only the beginning.
He credits much of his success to his experience as part of Coach Chuck Winstead’s golf team.
“I was really tested at LSU, surrounded with great coaches and teammates who made me tough and more motivated,” he says. “I don’t think I would be as tough as I am now if I didn’t go to LSU.”
• “Winning on the PGA Tour—that was always the dream,” Kaufman says. And last October, he did just that, winning the Shriners Hospital for Children Open. He finished with a 10-under 61.
• His first PGA victory earned him invites to compete in Georgia at the 2016 Masters Tournament in April and in New Jersey at the 2016 PGA Championship.
• As part of the LSU men’s golf team, he made two appearances at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships. His senior year, he finished 19th in the championship. He graduated in spring 2014 ranked by Golfstat website as the No. 44 collegiate player in the U.S.
His hopes for 2016:
“To be named rookie of the year would be a tremendous honor.”
“He understands what he needs to do to be a good player. That’s the biggest reason for the unbelievable path he’s had over the past two years. It’s the biggest improvement I’ve seen. It’s been incredible to watch.”
—Tony Ruggiero, Kaufman’s swing instructor and director of instruction at the Country Club of Mobile/lead instructor at Dew Sweeper’s golf school
