When Ashleigh Buhai pocketed a $1.095 million winner’s cheque at the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield, she didn’t just claim her first Major — she rewrote her financial story entirely.
With more than 22 professional wins across multiple tours and a career stretching back to 2007, Ashleigh Buhai’s net worth, prize money, and endorsements paint the picture of one of South Africa’s most resilient champions in women’s golf.
Ashleigh Buhai’s Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ashleigh Ann Buhai (née Simon) |
| Date of Birth | 11 May 1989 |
| Age | 37 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Turned Professional | 2007 |
| Years Active | 2007–present |
| Tours | LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour (LET), ALPG Tour |
| Net Worth | ~$5 million |
| Career Prize Money (LPGA) | $4.7+ million |
| Professional Wins | 22 |
| Major Titles | 1 (2022 AIG Women’s Open) |
| Highest OWGR Ranking | ~23 (2023) |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse | David Buhai (married December 2016) |
| Social Media | Instagram: @ashbuhaigolf |
Early Life and Golf Journey
Ashleigh Ann Simon was born on 11 May 1989 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She grew up attending Holy Rosary School, a private Catholic girls’ school in Johannesburg, where she also competed in field hockey alongside golf.
Her father, Gianni Bugno Simon, introduced her to the game at just six years old, and she has consistently credited him as the most influential figure in her career.
As a junior, Buhai didn’t just participate — she dominated South African women’s amateur golf.
According to the LPGA Tour’s official player biography, she was a four-time South African Amateur Stroke Play champion (2004–07) and a three-time South African Amateur Match Play champion (2004, 2006–07).
She was the youngest player to win the ladies’ South African Amateur Stroke Play and Match Play double in the same year — a record that still stands.
She won the Acer South African Women’s Open as an amateur in both 2004 and 2007, and also captured the Pam Golding Classic (2005) and Nedbank Masters (2006) before she ever turned professional.
In 2006, she won the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions, one of the most prestigious junior titles in the world.
While still an amateur, Buhai represented South Africa in the mainly professional Women’s World Cup of Golf on three separate occasions — an extraordinary achievement that signaled just how far ahead of her peers she already was.
She turned professional the day after her 18th birthday in May 2007, stepping straight into international competition and wasting no time.
Professional Golf Career
Buhai’s professional debut was anything but tentative. In 2007, she won the Catalonia Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour, becoming one of the youngest winners in the tour’s history.
That result set the tone for a career built on consistency and grit across multiple tours and continents.
She added the Portugal Open in 2011, the Investec South African Women’s Open in 2018, and multiple titles on the Sunshine Ladies Tour and ALPG Tour throughout the 2010s.
She came agonizingly close to her first LPGA Tour title in 2020 but lost to Georgia Hall in a sudden-death playoff at the Cambia Portland Classic.
The moment that defined her career came on 7 August 2022 at Muirfield, Scotland. As CBS Sports reported, Buhai threw away a five-stroke final-round lead after a disastrous triple bogey at the 15th, then held her nerve across the last three holes and four playoff holes to defeat In Gee Chun.
She won on the fourth extra hole with a memorable par save from a bunker. The total prize fund for that 2022 AIG Women’s Open was $7.3 million, with Buhai claiming $1,095,000 as champion.
Her win made her the first South African woman to win the AIG Women’s Open since 1979, and she followed it days later with the 2022 ISPS HANDA Australian Open title — becoming the first player since Yani Tseng in 2011 to win both major championships in the same calendar year.
In 2023, she won the ShopRite LPGA Classic (her first standalone LPGA victory on American soil) and defended her Investec South African Women’s Open title.
She competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics, her second full Olympic appearance, having previously represented South Africa at Rio 2016.
Caddie
Ashleigh Buhai’s caddie is her husband, David Buhai, a South African-qualified golf professional.
David left a management career to carry Ashleigh’s bag full time, and the couple married in December 2016.
He has been on the bag for her biggest victories, including the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield — making their partnership one of the most recognizable husband-and-wife caddie arrangements in women’s professional golf.
His presence on the bag is widely considered a source of stability and calm during high-pressure rounds.
Husband
Ashleigh married David Buhai in December 2016. She was born Ashleigh Ann Simon and adopted her husband’s surname upon marriage.
The couple travels and competes together full-time as David carries her bag on tour.
She grew up alongside her younger sister, Jessica Simon, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her parents, Gianni Bugno Simon and Debbie Simon, played a central role in her upbringing.
Away from the course, Buhai enjoys playing sports, listening to music, strumming her guitar, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Ashleigh Buhai’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Ashleigh Buhai’s net worth is estimated at $5 million.
She built this fortune through more than 18 years of professional prize money, a landmark Major championship payday, equipment sponsorship income, endorsement deals, and appearance fees accumulated across the LPGA, LET, and ALPG Tours.
Career Prize Money
Buhai’s career LPGA Tour earnings exceed $4.7 million, built slowly and steadily across more than 15 LPGA seasons.
She first broke the $100,000 barrier in a single LPGA season in 2017. Before 2022, her annual LPGA earnings rarely rose above $300,000 in any given season.
The 2022 AIG Women’s Open changed everything. As detailed in the tournament records, Buhai’s $1,095,000 winner’s share from the $7.3 million AIG Women’s Open nearly doubled her LPGA career prize money total in a single week. That cheque remains the largest single-tournament payout of her professional career.
In 2024, according to available data from the LPGA Tour player overview, Buhai earned approximately $570,000 in LPGA prize money — a strong season that included consistent top-25 finishes.
When combined with LET co-sanctioned event earnings, ALPG Tour paydays, and Sunshine Ladies Tour winnings, her all-tours career prize money total comfortably exceeds $5 million.
Career Earnings By Season
| Season | Notable Results | Approx. LPGA Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 LPGA events | ~$25,000 |
| 2009 | 7 LPGA events | ~$42,000 |
| 2017 | First $100K+ LPGA season | ~$100,000+ |
| 2020 | Playoff runner-up, Cambia Portland Classic | Modest (COVID year) |
| 2022 | AIG Women’s Open (W), ISPS HANDA Australian Open (W) | $1.2M+ (est.) |
| 2023 | ShopRite LPGA Classic (W), Investec SA Women’s Open (W) | ~$600,000+ |
| 2024 | Paris Olympics, consistent LPGA appearances | ~$570,000 |
Endorsements
Buhai’s most publicly documented equipment relationship is with Srixon. As confirmed by Today’s Golfer’s equipment profile, she is a Srixon staff player but not on a full bag deal — meaning she retains flexibility to use clubs from other manufacturers.
This is a common arrangement for established tour professionals who sit outside the top-20 world ranking on a consistent basis.
Her 2022 Major win dramatically elevated her commercial profile, particularly in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia — three markets where the AIG Women’s Open receives strong broadcast and media coverage.
The visibility that comes with a Major victory typically brings renewed sponsor interest, and Buhai’s post-Muirfield years saw increased engagement from apparel and equipment brands.
Buhai has also served as a commercial ambassador for South African golf domestically. The Investec South African Women’s Open, which she has won multiple times and frequently contends in, carries meaningful title sponsorship dollars that include player appearance fees for leading names in the field.
Her dual-tour status across the LPGA and LET gives her access to Aramco Series and other co-sanctioned LET events that carry their own commercial packages.
Additionally, her two appearances at the Olympic Games — Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 — contribute to her profile in South Africa, where Olympic athletes attract local sponsorship attention and media exposure that goes beyond the golf bubble.
Career Statistics
| Tour | Wins | Majors | Key Victories |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPGA Tour | 2 | 1 | 2022 AIG Women’s Open, 2023 ShopRite LPGA Classic |
| Ladies European Tour | 6 | 1 (shared with LPGA) | 2007 Catalonia, 2011 Portugal Open, 2022 AIG Women’s Open, 2023 SA Women’s Open |
| ALPG Tour | 2 | 0 | 2022 & 2023 ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open |
| Sunshine Ladies Tour / Other | 12+ | 0 | Multiple SA Women’s Open titles, Order of Merit 2017 |
| Total Professional | 22 | 1 | Active 2007–present |
| Major Championship | Best Result | Year |
|---|---|---|
| AIG Women’s Open (Women’s British Open) | WON | 2022 |
| Evian Championship | T15 | 2022 |
| Women’s PGA Championship | T18 | 2020 |
| Chevron Championship | T18 | 2023 |
| U.S. Women’s Open | T27 | 2017 |
FAQs
What is Ashleigh Buhai’s net worth?
Ashleigh Buhai’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5 million. This reflects her career LPGA and multi-tour prize money, her $1,095,000 Major championship payday in 2022, equipment sponsorships with Srixon, and endorsement income built over 18+ professional seasons.
How much did Ashleigh Buhai earn for winning the AIG Women’s Open?
Buhai earned $1,095,000 as her winner’s share from the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield. The total tournament purse was $7.3 million. It remains the biggest single-event payday of her career and fundamentally transformed her financial position on the LPGA Tour.
How many Major titles has Ashleigh Buhai won?
Ashleigh Buhai has won one Major championship — the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield, Scotland. She defeated In Gee Chun in a four-hole sudden-death playoff after both players finished regulation at 10-under-par on a historic evening at the Home of Golf.
What is Ashleigh Buhai’s total career prize money?
Buhai’s LPGA Tour career prize money exceeds $4.7 million across 15+ seasons. Including earnings from the Ladies European Tour, ALPG Tour, and Sunshine Ladies Tour, her total all-tours career prize money surpasses $5 million — led by her 2022 Major championship haul.
Who is Ashleigh Buhai’s caddie and husband?
Ashleigh Buhai’s caddie is her husband, David Buhai. He is a South African-qualified golf professional who left a career in management to caddie for Ashleigh full time. The couple married in December 2016, and David has been on the bag for all of her biggest victories, including the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield.
