Cameron Champ Bio
Cameron Mackray Champ (born June 15, 1995) is an American professional golfer from Sacramento, California. He turned professional in 2017 and competes on the PGA Tour, where he has built a reputation as one of the longest and most powerful drivers in the modern game. Beyond his distance off the tee, Champ is recognized for his calm demeanor in pressure situations and his commitment to using his platform for social causes.
Early Life and Background
Cameron Mackray Champ was born on June 15, 1995, in Sacramento, California. He is of mixed black and white descent; his father is biracial, while his mother is white. His father, Jeff, played two seasons of professional baseball in the Baltimore Orioles organization, giving the family a strong athletic foundation. Growing up in Sacramento, Champ was surrounded by a variety of sports, and the discipline required at the higher levels of professional competition became a familiar influence in his upbringing.
Champ developed an early fascination with golf and spent countless hours refining his game. He began working with swing instructor Sean Foley at the age of 14, and the partnership has endured throughout his amateur and professional career. Foley helped Champ develop a powerful, repeatable swing that has since defined his identity on tour.
Path to Golf
Champ attended Texas A&M University, where he played for the Texas A&M Aggies golf team. During his college career, he won the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational and recorded top-10 finishes in six other tournaments. He also finished second to Adam Wise at the Robert Brandi Invitational, establishing himself as one of the top amateur players in the country.
In 2017, Champ qualified for the U.S. Open through sectional qualifying, where he had to compete in a playoff to earn his spot. It marked his first major championship appearance. After two rounds he was tied for eighth place and led the field in driving distance. Along with Scottie Scheffler, he was one of only two amateurs to make the cut, finishing at even par. That performance announced his arrival on the national stage and set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks later that year.
Cameron Champ Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
After turning professional in late 2017, Champ tied for 16th at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament in December 2017, earning a place on the Web.com Tour for the 2018 season. The move into the professional ranks required adjustment, but Champ adapted quickly and posted strong results throughout the year.
During the 2018 Web.com Tour season, Champ won the Utah Championship in July 2018, his first professional victory. He finished 6th in the regular-season money list with $253,731, securing his PGA Tour card for the 2018-19 season. His powerful ball-striking and consistent ball flight made him an immediate threat on the developmental circuit.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2018-2019)
On October 28, 2018, Champ won his first PGA Tour title at the Sanderson Farms Championship, finishing at 21-under par. The victory was a defining moment and announced his presence among the tour’s elite. He followed that with a strong fall series, recording a T25 at the Safeway Open, a T28 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a T10 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, and a 6th at the RSM Classic. By November 19, 2018, he had climbed to 97th in the Official World Golf Ranking and sat 6th on the FedEx Cup standings heading into 2019.
On September 29, 2019, Champ captured the Safeway Open with a birdie on the 72nd hole, marking his first win in a full-strength PGA Tour event. The dramatic finish reinforced his reputation for performing under pressure and confirmed that his initial victory was no fluke.
Sustaining Success (2020-Present)
The 2020 season brought unique challenges, as Champ became the second PGA Tour player to test positive for COVID-19 prior to the Travelers Championship in June 2020. He recovered and returned to competition, continuing to log starts on tour.
On July 25, 2021, Champ scored a two-stroke victory at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, finishing at 15-under 269. He sealed the win with a gap wedge from 127 yards to within three feet on the 72nd hole to save par. His final round featured five birdies and no bogeys. Louis Oosthuizen, Jhonattan Vegas, and Charl Schwartzel tied for second, marking one of the most memorable closing stretches of his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Champ is widely regarded as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour. In 2017, he registered a 129.79 mph average clubhead speed at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. He led the PGA Tour in driving distance during the 2018-19 season with a 317.1-yard average and averaged 343.1 yards off the tee during the 2018 Web.com Tour season. At the 2017 U.S. Open, he led the field in driving distance at 337 yards. Working with instructor Sean Foley since age 14, Champ hits a lower ball flight than the average long hitter, which allows him to control his power in varying conditions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Champ’s career is defined by several signature moments, including his breakthrough Sanderson Farms Championship win in 2018 and his closing birdie at the 2019 Safeway Open. His 2021 3M Open victory, sealed with a clutch wedge shot on the 72nd hole, remains one of the highlights of his career. He has also represented the United States in amateur competition at the national team level.
Cameron Champ Career Wins
Cameron Mackray Champ has accumulated four professional victories across the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour, establishing himself as a consistent contender. His wins span the developmental circuit, regular PGA Tour events, and full-strength PGA Tour events, reflecting steady progression since turning professional in 2017.
PGA Tour Highlights
Champ has recorded three PGA Tour victories, beginning with the 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship, where he finished at 21-under par. He added the 2019 Safeway Open with a winning birdie on the final hole, becoming a winner in a full-strength PGA Tour event. In 2021, he captured the 3M Open by two strokes with a clutch par save on the 72nd hole. Louis Oosthuizen, Jhonattan Vegas, and Charl Schwartzel tied for second at TPC Twin Cities.
Other Wins and Performances
On the Web.com Tour, Champ won the 2018 Utah Championship in July 2018, a result that helped him secure his PGA Tour card for the 2018-19 season. During his college career at Texas A&M, he won the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational and posted multiple top-10 finishes.
Cameron Champ Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Although Champ is not part of a golfing family, his athletic roots run deep. His father, Jeff, played two seasons of professional baseball in the Baltimore Orioles organization, exposing Cameron to the demands of high-level sport from a young age. The family support he received throughout his amateur and professional journey has been a consistent anchor in his career.
Personal Life
Cameron Mackray Champ is of mixed black and white descent; his father is biracial, while his mother is white. He is a public supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, using his visibility as a professional athlete to advocate for social causes. Champ is based in Houston, Texas, where he continues to train and prepare for the PGA Tour season.
2025 Season Performance
As the 2025 PGA Tour season unfolds, Cameron Mackray Champ continues to compete at the highest level, building on the foundation of three PGA Tour wins and a reputation as one of the tour’s longest hitters. His game remains built around elite distance off the tee, and his long-standing partnership with instructor Sean Foley continues to shape his approach to tournament preparation.
Champ’s experience in major championships, including his 2017 U.S. Open debut as an amateur where he led the field in driving distance, provides a baseline for evaluating his performance against the strongest fields in golf. His ability to contend in varied conditions has been a hallmark of his career, and his closing stretch at events like the 3M Open demonstrates a comfort in high-pressure moments.
Looking ahead, Champ’s primary objectives include contending for additional PGA Tour titles, qualifying for major championships, and maintaining his standing among the tour’s longest hitters. With a stable coaching relationship and a game tailored to his strengths, he remains a player capable of producing tournament-winning rounds on any given week.