With only a year on the PGA Tour, Austin Eckroat is gearing closer to his maiden victory. The Oklahoma native is leading the Sony Open with 9 under after two rounds. From the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA Tour, if the 25-year-old wins, it will be his first professional victory.

It will indeed be a momentous occasion for him and his support pillar as well. Meet the woman of his life, Sally Merrill Eckroat, who has seen him walk through all the stages of his career and now awaits his first win at the $8.4 million event.

Sally Eckroat: Early Life and Family

Sally Merrill Eckroat was born on September 22, 1999, in Oklahoma. Sal is the oldest daughter of Joanie Pansza Merril (mother) and Jimmy Merrill (father). She has two siblings, Annie and Jack Merrill, whom she loves wholeheartedly. A glimpse through Sal’s Instagram professes the love she has for all of her family.

The 22-year-old adores her family, as she frequently celebrates them on social media. Her love could be seen when Sal called her father the best dad ever and thanked her mother, as she always put up with her. She also makes fun of her siblings, just like any other elder sister.

With her “total fangirl” moment with Pope Francis,  Sal seems to be fascinated with Christianity. Moving forward later in life, Sal was admitted to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.

There, she participated in many cross-country team events. In one of the competitions, Sal won a gold medal at the Oklahoma Cross-Country Championship. It was during her younger years that she was introduced to Austin Eckroat, though they never pursued each other then.

After high school, Sal joined the University of Oklahoma in 2017. At the university, Sally Eckroat did her bachelor’s in public relations and business marketing. It was at the university that she started cheering for her college’s golf team, the Normans, and even cheered for them.

She graduated from the university in 2021, and while pursuing her degree, she did several jobs. She worked with her university’s Dance Marathon event to raise money for the Oklahoma Children’s Health Foundation and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Moreover, during her freshman year, she started working at Ivivva, a branch of Lululemon for women’s activewear. In 2019, she was a marketing intern for Sareh Nouri, a fashion brand located in New York. Around the same time, Sal met her childhood friend and then future husband, Austin Eckraot.

The magical marriage of Sally and Austin Eckroat

Austin and Sally Eckroat are both Oklahoma natives. As per reports, they have known each other since they were 18 months old. They both went to different schools and chose significantly different career paths. Although they always stayed in contact with each other. Around 2019, Sally and Austin met again after she moved from Oklahoma to Edmond.

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This time they assumedly made it official and started popping up on each other’s social media. On May 23, 2021, the golfer proposed to the love of his life. Eckroat popped the question on Karsten Creek. The soon-to-be bride posted her big diamond and complimented her partner by saying, “Wowie, he did so good!”

In the same year, Austin Eckroat turned professional, and Sal was there to accompany him at the BMW Championship’s charity pro-am. This was the first pro event that the golfer played. After a year and five months, Sally and Austin sealed the deal on 19th November 2022.

The wedding was held at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. Austin wore a white and black suit with a white rose, while the bride donned white from head to toe. Sharing the big news on her social media, Sal wrote, “There’s no better feeling than marrying your best friend. 🥰 here’s to a lifetime of happiness with you @austin_eckroat 🤍.”

After getting married to Austin Eckroat, Sal became a member of the PGA Tour Wives Association. She joined the team as the vice president, looking over their social media presence. She now accompanies her husband as he travels through the PGA Tour. It has been a year since their marriage, and they have a cat together. The pet parents have a ragdoll cat named Hogan, and they live together in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Through thick and thin, Sally Merrill Eckroat has supported Austin Eckroat, from his college golf days to now, as he is leading the scoreboard at the Sony Open in Honolulu. After a year on the PGA Tour, will Austin Eckroat card his maiden win with his wife Sal on his side? Stay tuned to find out!

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