Who Is Austin Eckroat? All You Need to Know About the American PGA Tour Pro

The beauty of sports lies in the moments when someone incredible and talented pops up every now and then. They do so and, through their hard work and perseverance, go on to leave a mark in the history of the game. Well, currently, that new face in golf has come as none other than Austin Eckroat, who, through his efforts, has slowly made his way up the ranks of the golfing world.

The pro pulled off an amazing performance at the Sony Open in Hawaii over the two days, making easy work of the Wai’alae Country Club. Although he has been a part of the field for numerous events in the 2022–23 season, there would be many who would be unable to recognize the golfer. Nevertheless, his inspiring story is something that needs to be heard!

Meet Austin Eckroat, the 25-year-old American golfer

The American professional was born to Steve and Natalie Eckroat on January 12, 1999, in Edmund, Oklahoma. Having an interest in the game at the early age of five, came to become a big fan of Tiger Woods. Moreover, his favorite golf memory was seeing the legend win his PGA Championship in 2007 when Eckroat was just 8 years old.

Growing up, he managed to join Oklahoma State University, where he excelled in the sport as part of the collegiate golf team in 2017. Through the three years he played at college until 2020, he was able to successfully emerge as a talented golfer, propelling himself to the top ranks of the Amateur Golf Rankings. Placed at the highest of No. 11 in the standings, he was part of the Oklahoma State team that won the NCAA Championship in 2018 alongside the likes of teammates and current professionals Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff.

His accolades do not end there. Eckroat was named a second-team Rolex Junior All-American in 2015 and was also able to represent his country at the 2016 TOYOTA  Junior Golf World Cup in Japan. Moreover, his eighth-place finish at 8-under 276 helped play a key role in the US emerging triumphant over Germany at the championship. Years down the lane, the amateur golfer was able to play for the United States at the 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club, where he was able to record a 7&6 win during his singles match and propel his team to victory.

A successful career as an amateur pushed him to turn professional in 2021. His journey since then has been a bumpy one.

Eckroat’s bumpy road as a professional golfer

The athlete managed to finish 7 at the BMW Charity Pro-Am in the Korn Ferry Tour during his first week as a pro, scoring 18 under 267 and taking home a cut of $22,400. However, in the same season, he went ahead to miss out on eight guaranteed starts on the circuit by a single stroke at the 2021 KFT Qualifying Tournament. Adding more misfortune to his plate, he could only appear in two of the first 12 tournaments that took place in 2022.

But, later that season, the American finished at T23 in the AdventHealth Championship, earning himself a spot in the next event. Following the same, he finished a total of three times in the top 25, including a runner-up position in the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. This left him with one of the 25 PGA Tour cards that were available during the final event.

In 2023, the current world No. 95 placed himself at the 74th position on the season-ending FedEx Cup points list, with a total of 594 points, earning him exempt status from full-field events in 2024. The 25-year-old was able to do so owing to his remarkable performance, raking in a total of four top-10 finishes in the year, including a T2 at the AT&T Byron Nelson.

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Now, the PGA Tour Pro is currently at T1 two days into the 2024 Sony Open in Hawaii with a score of 9-under, all set to leave his name in the history books. Even though such a rise in his career can be attributed to the skills and talent that he boasts, one cannot disregard the support he has received off-course, along with that of his parents. In his case, it is none other than his wife, Sally Merrill.

Eckroat’s support system off the greens

The pair got married to his longtime girlfriend, Merrill, in 2022. Although they had known each other since when they were kids, the two decided to enter into a relationship in 2019, following which he proposed to her on May 23, 2021, at Karsten Creek, Oklahoma State’s home club. She has been a constant pillar of support for the golfer, all the while pursuing her career as a public relations professional.

Well, one thing is for sure:. With the amount of talent that the golfer boasts and the support that he receives on and off the course, Eckroat would surely be able to make his mark on the history of the sport as he moves forward in his professional career.

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