Eric Cole Bio
Eric James Cole (born June 12, 1988) is an American professional golfer from Delray Beach, Florida, who plays on the PGA Tour. He was awarded the 2022–23 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, becoming the second oldest player to receive the honor since its inception in 1990. Cole is the son of professional golfers Bobby Cole and Laura Baugh, making golf a central part of his life from childhood.
Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Eric James Cole was born on June 12, 1988, in Palm Springs, California, the year after his parents remarried and two years after their divorce. He grew up as one of seven siblings in a household shaped by professional golf. With both parents active as tour golfers, Cole spent much of his childhood on golf courses and began playing the sport seriously at age 11. He never worked with coaches other than his parents, who served as his primary instructors during his formative years.
At age 14, while playing high school golf, Cole became a friend of Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer. Through that friendship, Cole also came to know Palmer, and the three of them played golf together at Palmer’s home clubs, Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida and Latrobe Country Club in Pennsylvania. In later years, Cole caddied for Saunders at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour, gaining early exposure to the highest level of professional competition. He attended Nova Southeastern University.
Path to Professional Golf
Cole’s transition into the professional ranks began on the Minor League Golf Tour, where he developed his competitive game. He won the Minor League Golf Tour championship in 2009, the same year he turned professional, and went on to claim 56 victories on that circuit, including another tour championship in 2021. He also won the Minor League Golf Tour money list in 2019, establishing himself as one of the circuit’s most consistent performers.
Cole earned his Korn Ferry Tour card in 2017 and made eight starts that year, posting two made cuts with a best finish of a tie for 39th. He returned to the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2021 season and made 31 starts, recording his first top-10 finish at the Savannah Golf Championship in October 2020, where he tied for third. During the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season, he added five more top-10 finishes, including two third-place results, and closed the year by finishing tied for third at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2023 season.
Eric Cole Career
Early Career (2009–2017)
Eric James Cole began his professional career in 2009 on the Minor League Golf Tour, where he quickly established himself as a dominant player. His first major success came that same year when he won the Minor League Golf Tour championship, signaling his potential in competitive golf. Over the next several years, he continued to accumulate wins on the developmental circuit, building a foundation that would eventually carry him to higher levels of the sport.
By 2017, Cole had earned his Korn Ferry Tour card, marking his first significant step toward the PGA Tour. He played in eight events during that season, making two cuts, with his best finish a tie for 39th place. While his first Korn Ferry campaign was modest, the experience helped him prepare for a more serious run at the top tier of professional golf in subsequent years.
Korn Ferry Tour Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Cole returned to the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2021 season and made 31 starts, signaling a clear commitment to reaching the PGA Tour. His first top-10 finish on the circuit came at the Savannah Golf Championship in October 2020, where he tied for third. That result was a turning point, giving him the confidence and momentum to compete at a higher level throughout the following seasons.
During the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season, Cole recorded five top-10 finishes, including two third-place results, demonstrating consistency and the ability to contend week after week. He capped the season by finishing tied for third at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, a performance that secured his PGA Tour card for the 2023 season. That breakthrough came at age 34 and represented the culmination of more than a decade of professional work on developmental tours.
PGA Tour Debut and Rookie Success (2023)
Cole qualified for the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course, where he missed the cut after rounds of 77 and 73, marking his first appearance in a major championship. Although the result was modest, the experience provided valuable insight into the demands of major-level competition. He continued to grind on the Korn Ferry Tour before finally reaching the PGA Tour full-time in 2023.
In February 2023, Cole finished tied with Chris Kirk atop the leaderboard of the Honda Classic before Kirk won with a birdie on the first playoff hole. That performance announced his arrival on the PGA Tour and established him as a player to watch. Later that year, he was voted the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2022–23 season, becoming the second oldest player to receive the award since its inception in 1990. Only Todd Hamilton, at 38 in 2004, had been older at the time of his honor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cole’s career has featured several signature moments, including his 2021 U.S. Open appearance at Torrey Pines, his playoff loss to Chris Kirk at the 2023 Honda Classic, and his Korn Ferry Tour Championship performance that earned his PGA Tour card. His 56 wins on the Minor League Golf Tour, including championships in 2009 and 2021, also stand as a defining accomplishment. The 2022–23 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award represents the highest recognition of his professional journey so far.
Eric Cole Career Wins
Eric James Cole has compiled an extensive list of professional victories, primarily on developmental circuits before reaching the PGA Tour. He has won 12 times in documented professional events, with the bulk of his success coming on the Minor League Golf Tour. His career wins reflect years of consistent play and steady progression toward the highest levels of the sport.
PGA Tour Highlights
On the PGA Tour, Cole has notched a runner-up finish at the 2023 Honda Classic, where he tied Chris Kirk before falling in a playoff. He has yet to secure a PGA Tour victory, though his strong rookie season positioned him as a rising player on the circuit. His playoff record on the PGA Tour stands at 0–1, with the Honda Classic loss representing his only postseason appearance at the top level to date.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the PGA Tour, Cole has been a dominant force on the Minor League Golf Tour, where he won 56 times, including the tour championship in 2009 and again in 2021. He also topped the Minor League Golf Tour money list in 2019. He has recorded multiple top-10 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour, including third-place results at the Savannah Golf Championship in 2020, two third-place finishes in 2022, and a tie for third at the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Championship.
Eric Cole Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Eric James Cole comes from a deep golf lineage, as the son of two accomplished professional players. His father, Bobby Cole, won the Buick Open on the 1977 PGA Tour and recorded three top-10 finishes in major championships. In 1966, at age 18, Bobby became the youngest winner ever of the British Amateur. Cole’s mother, Laura Baugh, was the 1971 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, winning at age 16 as the youngest champion in the event’s history, and she was named the 1973 LPGA Rookie of the Year.
Personal Life
Cole was born in 1988, the year after his parents remarried, two years after their divorce, and grew up as one of seven siblings. He is a United States citizen and currently resides in Delray Beach, Florida, where he continues to base his professional golf career.
2025 Season Performance
Eric James Cole entered the 2025 PGA Tour season looking to build on the momentum of his 2022–23 Rookie of the Year campaign. As a full-time PGA Tour member, he has continued to compete in a full schedule of events, working to translate his strong Korn Ferry Tour form into consistent results against the world’s top players. His early-season play has reflected the same steady approach that defined his developmental years, with a focus on accuracy and course management.
Cole’s progress on the PGA Tour has been supported by the same disciplined work ethic he developed on the Minor League Golf Tour, where he won 56 events. He has continued to lean on the coaching influence of his parents, Bobby Cole and Laura Baugh, both of whom remain central figures in his development as a professional golfer. His career trajectory suggests that 2025 represents an opportunity to compete for his first PGA Tour victory.
Looking ahead, Cole’s combination of experience, family pedigree, and proven consistency position him well for a strong 2025 campaign. With multiple seasons of competitive play at the highest level now under his belt, he has the tools to make a deeper run in the FedExCup standings and contend in select events throughout the year.