As of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge, Hayden Buckley has participated in almost 70 events. Still, the first victory hasn’t come to him! You may be wondering what drives this professional player to keep going forward, as he is always making moves and trying to win. The answer is his wife.
Even when she was only his fiancée and they weren’t even married, Feleysa Buckley, the wife of the PGA Tour golfer, has always been a source of support. Let’s go further and learn more about their relationship!
Hayden Buckley has known his wife since childhood
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Feleysa Buckley appears to be a pretty private person despite being the wife of a professional athlete. Feleysa has just over 1500 followers on her private Instagram account. Other than her birthdate of May 17, no details are known about her parents or childhood. However, because of her occasional appearances, some fascinating information is available. The pair have known each other for more than fifteen years. At their initial meeting in middle school, Buckley confessed his love for Feleysa for the first time. Interestingly, she “friend-zoned him” right away because she was a grade older than little Hayden Buckley, as she disclosed on their wedding page.
View this post on Instagram
They stayed close friends through high school when he took up the game of golf. Feleysa’s gift to him when his golf team won the state championship was a decorated truck. That has been carried by the pro ever since. He tried his luck again that same high school year, and you know what happened? Buckley was turned down yet again! After some time, they split up, but fate had other plans, and they finally got back in touch.
How did Buckley and Feleysa start dating?
You might think Buckley would have quit after getting turned down twice in middle and high school. But he’s not one to give up easily. His determination pushed him then, and it’s still driving him now as he chases his first victory. Despite losing touch in high school, the couple reunited after graduating from college.
In 2020, while browsing casually on Instagram, Feleysa found a post about her future husband. On a whim, she decided to send the post to Buckley. That unexpected night marked the start of their love story. The pro replied, “I was JUST thinking about you and about how much I miss you,” in response to the screenshot.
They started having frequent meetings and video calls after this incident. Following the conclusion of the golf season, the 28-year-old made his third shot and asked Feleysa out on a date. Feleysa was unexpectedly ready to reject him a third time, but she chose not to. Later, she disclosed her reasons, saying, “Not because I didn’t want to go, but because I knew his career. He was never in the same place for more than a week, and I had just settled into a career of my own. But like I said, he is very persistent! After finally agreeing, we had our first date at Saint Leo in Oxford, MS.”
Just a week into dating, the pro proposed to her confidently, saying, “I’m going to marry you.” This time, she couldn’t say no and later revealed her thoughts saying “God had a plan for us and brought us back together. As intimidating as it was, we decided to go all in.” On December 3, 2022, the couple decided to get married. Since then, Feleysa Buckley has been regularly spotted on the greens with her husband.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Feleysa likes to support her husband on the professional greens
In February 2021, Buckley won his first Korn Ferry Tour championship at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Feleysa, his fiancée at the time, was there to support him. The pro later acknowledged her presence on Instagram with a post captioning, “A lot of crazy things have happened in the last week, but finally got to celebrate with @feleysanguyen today.”
View this post on Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Feleysa has been present at most of her husband’s tournaments since the Korn Ferry. The 28-year-old often posts photos of himself and his wife from their time on the greens. Feleysa is always there for Hayden Buckley when he needs her, just as he is for her. Could her support help him win this week? Share your thoughts in the comments below!