Last updated: August 2026
| Full Name | Eric James Cole |
| Born | June 12, 1988, Palm Springs, California, USA |
| Nationality | 🇺🇸 American |
| Profession | Professional Golfer (PGA Tour) |
Eric Cole is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. While no single authoritative net worth figure exists for Cole, his PGA Tour career earnings — built through tournament winnings since turning professional — run into the millions of dollars.
Early Life & Family
Eric James Cole was born on June 12, 1988, in Palm Springs, California. Golf runs in his family: his father, Bobby Cole, was a professional golfer from South Africa, and his mother, Laura Baugh, was also a professional golfer in the United States. Growing up around golf courses, Cole began playing seriously at age 11.
Rise to Fame
Cole played college golf at Nova Southeastern University before turning professional in 2009. He spent years competing on developmental circuits, including the Korn Ferry Tour and the Minor League Golf Tour, picking up 12 professional wins before earning his PGA Tour card.
Career History
Cole’s breakthrough season came in 2022-23, when he won the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award. His major championship results include a tie for 15th at the 2023 PGA Championship, a tie for 39th at the 2023 U.S. Open, a 52nd-place finish at the 2024 Masters Tournament, and a tie for 31st at the 2024 Open Championship. As of May 2026, he had reached a career-high world ranking of 36th.
How They Built Their Wealth
As a PGA Tour professional, Cole’s income comes primarily from tournament prize money, supplemented by sponsorship and equipment deals, including his partnership with golf equipment brand PXG. His earnings have grown steadily since he graduated from developmental tours to full PGA Tour status.
Personal Life
Cole comes from a golfing family, being the son of two professional golfers, Bobby Cole and Laura Baugh, and now resides in Delray Beach, Florida.
Eric Cole’s path from developmental golf tours to PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors reflects a career built on family golfing pedigree combined with years of steady progress through the sport’s lower tiers.