Sepp Straka’s journey in golf is truly inspiring. Back in 2013-14, during his junior year at the University of Georgia, Straka faced a tough battle. He struggled so much that he couldn’t even qualify for the men’s golf team. A severe case of the chipping yips forced him to sit out and take a redshirt season. At that time, making it to the PGA Tour seemed like a distant dream.
“I wasn’t very good,” Straka shared. “I never really thought I’d make it as a pro. It was more of a dream.”
Fast forward to today, and Straka is thriving on the PGA Tour. Recently, he clinched his third victory by finishing the final round of the 2025 American Express at the Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, California. He shot a solid 2-under 70, leaving Justin Thomas and Jason Day trailing four shots behind.
Straka kicked off the tournament with an impressive opening round of 65, followed by two rounds of 64. This performance marked his first time leading a Tour event after 54 holes.
“There’s no lead that is safe,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep hitting your spots and strike the ball well.”
In the final round, he played nearly flawlessly, only missing one green until the 14th hole. He didn’t score a bogey until the 70th hole, wrapping up the tournament with a remarkable total of 26-under 262.
Straka’s appearance is distinctive; he shaved his head this season. It was a suggestion from fellow golfer Brian Harman, who assured him it was better to embrace the change. “Once I realized he was right, I figured I might as well just go ahead and bite the bullet and shave it off,” Straka remarked.
His rise in golf is remarkable. Straka became the first Austrian to win on the PGA Tour and has earned three titles since teaming up with instructor John Tillery in late 2021. At that time, he was ranked No. 213 in the world. Now, he sits within the top 25, having gained both improved swing mechanics and renewed confidence.
John Tillery recalled saying to Straka, “You need to change your perspective a little bit and realize how good you are.” And he has certainly shown just how good he can be with his incredible performance in the desert.
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Sepp Straka,PGA Tour,redshirt season,University of Georgia