Patrick Cantlay

At a glance

Who he is

Cantlay was born March 17, 1992, in Long Beach, California, attended UCLA and turned professional in 2012. He is 6 feet tall and plays right-handed.

Current PGA TOUR profile: 8 wins; world ranking and season totals change over time.

Career peak

The 2021 breakthrough

Cantlay won the FedExCup in 2021 after victories at the Memorial Tournament and BMW Championship, then captured the season-ending TOUR Championship. He was named PGA TOUR Player of the Year.

His defining professional season so far.

Amateur legend

A remarkable UCLA career

Cantlay was the world’s No. 1 amateur for more than a year and won major college honors including the Jack Nicklaus Award, Haskins Award and Ben Hogan Award. He also shot 60 in a PGA TOUR event while still an amateur.

He remains one of UCLA golf’s most accomplished players.

Playing style

Why his game travels

Cantlay is a strategist first: he controls trajectory, chooses conservative targets when needed and tends to excel in approach play and long-pressure situations. His rhythm is deliberate rather than flashy.

Best suited to demanding courses where decisions matter as much as raw power.

Major championships

Still chasing the first major

Cantlay has produced several strong major performances, including top-three finishes at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, plus top-10 finishes at the Masters and Open Championship. A major title remains the biggest missing piece on his résumé.

His consistency makes him a perennial major contender.

The comeback

From setback to contender

After turning professional, Cantlay lost significant time because of a back injury and the death of his close friend Chris Roth. His return to the PGA TOUR and eventual rise to FedExCup champion is one of golf’s better comeback stories.

The adversity shaped his patient, private approach to competition.

Team golf

A proven U.S. team player

Cantlay has represented the United States in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, including Ryder Cup appearances in 2021, 2023 and 2025. He is valued for his match-play temperament and partnership potential.

• Ryder Cup: 2021, 2023, 2025
• Presidents Cup: 2019, 2022, 2024

His 2021 Ryder Cup became especially memorable because of the hat controversy and his late singles victory.

Off the course

Foundation and interests

Cantlay founded the Patrick Cantlay Foundation in 2019, supporting first responders, military-related initiatives and junior golf. He studied history at UCLA and is known for keeping his personal life relatively private.

A low-key public profile with a strong connection to golf development.