Let us make a guess. You have been keeping up with Cognizant Classic and you’re curious about the player currently tied at T3 with Russell Henley and Ben Griffin. You want to know who makes Doug Ghim the golfer that he is, on and off course. Well, here you go. Was it easy for this Illinois star? Well, not really. But he’s got someone to rely on.

Who is it, you wonder? It’s none other than his girlfriend, Kelly Xac.

There’s not much information about Kelly Xac in the public space. She is a private person, given her private Instagram profile with a little over 1,200 followers. However, going by Ghim’s Instagram posts, he has been dating “love my life” for more than four years now. Here’s what we know about her.

Though not an athlete, Xac does share her boyfriend’s interest in golf. At least, a little. Her freshman year started with her joining Longhorns in 2017, but she did not compete in the tournament action. She followed it up by participating in the 2017 Betsy Rawls Invitational, as an individual golfer. She eventually tied for 78th with a total of 247.

Then, during her college years at Texas McCombs School of Business, she was an active member of the Texas Woman’s Golf team. Xac was named All-South Texas Most Valuable Player in 2016, and set a new Golf Club of Texas course record in 2016 (67)! This was similar to her course record back in 2013 (67) at the Riverside Golf Club. Beyond that, Xac also has a Big 12 Academic Honor Roll, starting in Spring 2017 and ending in Spring 2020. Sounds good? But there’s a reason Kelly Xac is not active on the greens.

Ghim’s “partner in crime” is interested in Accounting. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 2020 from Texas McCombs School of Business. She followed it up with a Masters in Professional Accounting from the same uni. So, you see, their interests lie far. Currently, according to her LinkedIn profile, Xac worked at Deloitte as a Tax Consultant for almost two years. Eventually, she climbed the ladder. Now, she works as a Tax Senior with more than 3 years of experience in her hands.

There’s no doubt that Kelly Xac is as busy as her golfer boyfriend, Doug Ghim. Do they find time for each other? Though a wonder, they do. Although Xac is very cautious about her social media presence, Ghim makes sure to flaunt his beautiful girlfriend whenever he can with his frequent Instagram posts about her. The couple is often seen going on dates and attending the greens to support Ghim for his mission on the greens. They were latest seen together at this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM. But Ghim has another important figure in his life.

Doug Ghim’s father is his next important supporter

The Arlington Heights-raised Doug Ghim is not really a well-known name in the golf world. Despite that, he has achieved some great feats. Take, for instance, the fact that he was once ranked 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Additionally, at the 2018 Masters, he scored multiple eagles, eventually earning two pairs of crystal goblets and becoming the only amateur to make the cut. His 2024 season was pretty good, with him reaching his peak (2) at the Shriners Children’s Open.

Doug Ghim’s reach into the golf world hasn’t been easy. Although the PGA Tour star started playing golf by the age of 6, his life did not start on expensive courses but in modest spaces. Jeff, Ghim’s father, wanted to be a professional golfer himself, but three back-to-back surgeries forced him back to reality. He didn’t lose hope. Pointing at Doug Ghim once, his father said, “This is my crown.” Ghim proved himself to be a worthy child who could carry on his father’s dream.

His father built a makeshift bay in the backyard of their home and, in tandem, Ghim continued his practices. Doug Ghim agreed that his family must have dealt with financial stress. But as the love of a parent goes, Ghim says, “I think more than anything, he wanted to see if I actually loved the game.” And this is why every time he takes a swing on a PGA Tour golf course, it’s a win for his entire family. And, as you already know, that includes Kelly Xac.

Now that you know a little more about this rising star, what do you think of his rise in the Cognizant Classic? Let us know in the comments section!