The golf world has a new star – Rico Hoey. The professional golfer wanted his full-time PGA Tour card for the 2023 to 2024 season for the first time by bagging the fourth position in the Korn Ferry Tour season rankings in 2022. It was indeed the best season for him so far, after turning pro in 2017. The 29-year-old participated in twenty-five events, out of which he made the cuts in seventeen of them. He also achieved seven top-10 finishes, including his victory at the Visit Knoxville Open.

While Rico Hoey has already earned his name in the rest of the realm, he is yet to clinch a trophy at the PGA Tour event. He came very close once. He was the runner-up in the 2024 ISCO Championship, a PGA Tour event in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Well, looks like he finally might be able to grab his first win, only if he paces up. The rising PGA Tour star has raised curiosity among fans about his nationality.

Rico Hoey was regarded as an American golfing professional till 2023. He was, however, born in Manila in the Philippines, which makes him a Filipino. He eventually moved to Rancho Cucamonga in California at a very young age. His entire family was always deeply involved in golf, including both his sisters, who had competed at the collegiate level. Following in their footsteps, even Hoey was enrolled in the University of Southern California.

Hoey has been bearing the flag of the Philippines ever since his teenage years. He played for the Philippine National team in the 2013 Putra Cup. He was among the top stars of the victory that year. And well, this was only among the many times he made his Country proud.

Rico Hoey became the first Philippine Pro to earn the PGA Tour card

Rico Hoey turned professional in 2017, and well that must be regarded as one of the greatest achievements in his career so far. However, for him, it was heading the Philippine flag on the standings with him on the PGA Tour. At the age of 28, he became the first ever Filipino player to earn a full-time PGA Tour season card. And not to forget, in his first year, he has already managed to bag three top-10 finishes. 

He finished in a tied-third place in the American Express tournament in California, and with this, the Philippine flag, which he proudly wears and represents — has been easy to spot on the PGA tour results. “It truly is pretty special to me and I want to carry on the flag as long as I can. And I’m gonna represent the country as long as I can. It’s a growing game and I just want to show the world that you know, we’re up and ready,” he shared in an interview. In the 2024 Black Desert Championship, he was finished decently at T21, but he showed massive potential. Do you think he will finally be able to bag his first win on the Tour?