Kristen Gillman Bio
Kristen Gillman (born September 22, 1997) is an American professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour. She is widely regarded as one of the most-decorated junior golfers in recent United States history, capturing two U.S. Women’s Amateur titles and representing her country in numerous international team events before turning professional. Since joining the LPGA Tour in 2019, Gillman has recorded strong finishes in major championships and built a consistent presence on tour.
Early Life and Background
Kristen Gillman was born on September 22, 1997, in Austin, Texas. Growing up in Texas, she was introduced to golf at a young age and quickly developed a reputation as a prodigy within the state’s junior golf circuit. Her early progress through local and regional competitions laid the foundation for a national junior career.
As a junior player, Gillman began posting results that placed her on the radar of United States Golf Association officials. She captured multiple American Junior Golf Association titles, including the 2014 Junior PGA Championship. Her success at that level set the stage for selection to various United States national teams during her teenage years.
Path to Professional Golf
Gillman’s amateur career reached its first major milestone in 2014, when she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, New York, becoming one of the youngest champions in the event’s history. She continued to perform on the international stage, helping the United States win the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup, the 2015 Junior Solheim Cup, and a silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in the mixed team event.
She added the 2016 North and South Women’s Amateur title and contributed to American victories at the 2016 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan, the 2018 Curtis Cup, the 2018 Arnold Palmer Cup at Evian Resort Golf Club in France, and the 2018 Espirito Santo Trophy in Ireland alongside Jennifer Kupcho and Lilia Vu. In 2016, she enrolled at the University of Alabama, where she was named SEC Freshman of the Year for the 2016-17 season while setting several Alabama Crimson Tide golf records.
Kristen Gillman Career
Early Career (2014-2018)
During her amateur years, Gillman made six starts on the LPGA Tour, including a 2018 U.S. Women’s Open appearance in which she made the cut and finished tied for 27th. She also captured the Century 21 Ladies Golf Tournament on the 2018 LPGA of Japan Tour, demonstrating her ability to compete and win on professional circuits before officially turning pro.
Her second U.S. Women’s Amateur victory came in 2018, confirming her status as one of the top amateurs in the world. That same year, she finished tied for 13th at the inaugural LPGA Q-Series to earn full membership on the LPGA Tour for 2019, closing out a remarkable amateur résumé.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2019-2020)
Gillman turned professional in late 2018 and made her rookie season count in 2019. She made 22 cuts in 26 starts, posting a career-best tied for third finish at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. She finished 43rd on the money list and second in the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year standings, finishing behind Lee Jeong-eun, who won the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open.
That rookie year also included a tied for sixth finish at the 2019 ANA Inspiration, one of the LPGA’s five major championships. In 2020, she continued her upward trajectory with a tied for 11th finish at the Women’s British Open, a result that helped her rise to 38th in the Women’s World Golf Rankings.
LPGA Tour Continued Presence (2021-Present)
Building on her rookie experience, Gillman has maintained her LPGA Tour playing status in the seasons that followed, regularly making cuts in major championships and full-field events. Her major championship appearances have included the ANA Inspiration, the U.S. Women’s Open, the Women’s PGA Championship, the Evian Championship, and the Women’s British Open.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Gillman’s career are her two U.S. Women’s Amateur titles in 2014 and 2018, which bookended her amateur career. Her tied for third at the 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai and tied for sixth at the 2019 ANA Inspiration remain her best individual finishes on the LPGA Tour, while her 2018 victory at the Century 21 Ladies Golf Tournament in Japan marked her first professional win.
Kristen Gillman Career Wins
Kristen Gillman has compiled a varied list of victories across amateur, collegiate, and professional competition. Her win collection includes two U.S. Women’s Amateur titles, a Junior PGA Championship, and a professional victory on the LPGA of Japan Tour.
Amateur Highlights
Gillman won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2014 and 2018, the Junior PGA Championship in 2014, and the North and South Women’s Amateur in 2016. She represented the United States in winning efforts at the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup, the 2015 Junior Solheim Cup, the 2016 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, the 2018 Curtis Cup, the 2018 Arnold Palmer Cup, and the 2018 Espirito Santo Trophy.
Professional Wins
Gillman’s first professional victory came at the 2018 Century 21 Ladies Golf Tournament on the LPGA of Japan Tour, which she won as an amateur. Her best LPGA Tour finishes are a tied for third at the 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai and a tied for sixth at the 2019 ANA Inspiration.
Kristen Gillman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited public information available about Kristen Gillman’s family background and any sports lineage beyond her own achievements in golf. She has credited her upbringing in Austin, Texas, for introducing her to the game at a young age.
Personal Life
Kristen Gillman has kept much of her personal life private. She has pursued her professional golf career while based in the United States, and she has maintained an active presence on social media, where she shares updates about her tour schedule and tournament results.
2025 Season Performance
Kristen Gillman is expected to continue her career on the LPGA Tour during the 2025 season, drawing on the experience she has accumulated since her 2019 rookie campaign. Her 2025 schedule has included full-field events and major championships, where she has aimed to translate her amateur pedigree into a breakthrough professional victory.
With multiple major championship appearances under her belt and a best LPGA finish of tied for third at the 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai, Gillman entered 2025 focused on contending for her first LPGA Tour title. Her consistent ball-striking and comfort in major championship venues position her as a potential contender throughout the season.
Looking ahead, Gillman’s goals for the 2025 season include improving her standing in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, posting more top-ten finishes, and earning a spot in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Her track record of performing well in high-pressure amateur events suggests that her breakthrough professional win may be close.