Doug Ghim was already walking the fairways of Augusta National as the lone amateur to survive the cut at the 2018 Masters — a feat that signaled a career worth watching closely. Now a full-time PGA Tour member with over $8 million in career prize money and a growing brand portfolio featuring Titleist, Nike, and MGM Resorts, Ghim’s financial story is only getting started.
Doug Ghim’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Doug Ghim |
| Date of Birth | April 16, 1996 |
| Age | 30 |
| Birthplace | Des Plaines, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height / Weight | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) / ~165 lbs (75 kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Turned Professional | June 2018 |
| Years Active | 2018 – present |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour (formerly Korn Ferry Tour) |
| Highest OWGR | 90 (November 3, 2024) |
| Major Titles | 0 |
| PGA Tour Wins | 0 |
| Career Prize Money | ~$8+ million |
| Net Worth | ~$4 million |
| Caddie | Shane Joel (since May 2023) |
| College | University of Texas (degree in Government) |
| Notable Amateur Honours | 2017 U.S. Amateur runner-up; 2018 Ben Hogan Award; 2018 Masters Low Amateur |
| Social Media | @DougGhim on X/Twitter | @dougghim on Instagram |
Early Life and Golf Journey
Doug Ghim was born on April 16, 1996, in Des Plaines, Illinois, and grew up in nearby Arlington Heights — a Chicago suburb where he picked up a club at the age of six. His parents, Jeff and Susan Ghim, both immigrated to the United States from South Korea. Jeff became Doug’s earliest and most influential instructor, building a backyard hitting bay so his son could practice year-round without the cost of a club membership.
That kind of resourceful dedication shaped Ghim’s game from the ground up. After graduating from Buffalo Grove High School, he enrolled at the University of Texas — one of the premier college golf programs in the country — where he majored in government and spent four years honing his competitive instincts.
His amateur credentials are exceptional. In 2017, Ghim reached the final of the U.S. Amateur at Riviera Country Club, where he held a 2-up lead with two holes to play before Clemson’s Doc Redman birdied the 36th hole and the first playoff hole to claim the title. Despite the heartbreak, that runner-up finish earned Ghim invitations to both the 2018 Masters Tournament and U.S. Open. He also won the 2017 Pacific Coast Amateur, competed for the United States at the 2017 Walker Cup with a perfect 4-0 record, and represented his country at the 2016 and 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup.
His senior season at Texas in 2017–18 was the crowning chapter. He captured the Big 12 Championship and the NCAA Raleigh Regional medalist honours, and in May 2018 he reached No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The University of Texas then recognized the peak of his college career with the 2018 Ben Hogan Award — given annually to the nation’s best male collegiate golfer. He turned professional just before the 2018 Travelers Championship.
Professional Golf Career
Ghim made an immediate impression as an amateur-turned-professional at the 2018 Masters, where he became the only amateur to make the cut and walked away with Low Amateur honours, finishing tied 50th at 296 (+8). That Masters debut — with his father Jeff carrying his bag — remains one of the most talked-about chapters of his early career.
His rookie professional season on the Korn Ferry Tour was workmanlike. He secured his PGA Tour card by finishing 47th on the combined 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, sinking a clutch putt on the final hole of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship to seal his status. His PGA Tour rookie year in 2019–20 was difficult — he made just five cuts in 16 events and finished 184th in FedEx Cup standings — but the COVID-19 pandemic suspension allowed him to retain his card without returning to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
Ghim found his footing in his first full season in 2020–21, posting nine top-25 finishes and ranking inside the top 25 on tour in Strokes Gained: Approach, Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, and Greens in Regulation percentage. He backed that up in 2021–22 with a breakout showing at The Players Championship, finishing T6 at TPC Sawgrass. The 2024 season marked a genuine step forward: he posted a career-best runner-up finish at the Shriners Children’s Open, shooting 21-under par, and earned a T35 at the PGA Championship at Valhalla — his strongest major result as a professional. That runner-up pushed his 2024 season earnings past $2.4 million, the first time he cracked $2 million in a single year.
Caddie
Doug Ghim has had Australian caddie Shane Joel carrying his bag. Joel is one of the more experienced loopers on the PGA Tour, having previously worked for Major champion Mark O’Meara and PGA Tour player Patrick Rodgers. Joel was even floated as a potential caddie for Tiger Woods in 2011 following a recommendation from O’Meara. The partnership between Ghim and Joel began at the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship, and the duo produced their most notable result together at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open, where Ghim finished runner-up. Joel is based in Dallas when not on the road.
Doug Ghim’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Doug Ghim’s has an estimated net worth of $4 million. He has built this figure through consistent PGA Tour prize money earnings north of $8 million, ongoing equipment and apparel endorsement deals with Titleist and Nike, and a lifestyle sponsorship with MGM Resorts that aligns with his Las Vegas base. While he has yet to claim a PGA Tour victory, Ghim’s steady presence on tour and his breakout 2024 season have quietly turned him into one of the more financially stable mid-tier players on the circuit.
Career Prize Money
Ghim’s total career prize money on the PGA Tour surpassed $7.9 million through the end of the 2025 season, according to available data, with additional 2026 earnings pushing his all-time total above the $8 million mark. His single best season came in 2024, when a runner-up at the Shriners Children’s Open helped him earn $2,435,308 — the first time he cleared $2 million in a calendar year.
His best-ever single-event payday came from that Shriners runner-up, where he collected over $900,000 for finishing second. In the 2025 season, he ranked 137th on the money list with $895,721 in earnings from 25 starts, making 17 cuts. His 2020–21 season had previously stood as his best earning year ($1,283,807) before 2024 redefined his ceiling.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season / Year | Events Played | Tournament Wins | Prize Money Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 (Korn Ferry) | – | 0 | Korn Ferry status earnings |
| 2019–20 | 16 | 0 | ~$150,000 |
| 2020–21 | 29+ | 0 | $1,283,807 |
| 2021–22 | ~28 | 0 | ~$800,000 |
| 2022–23 | ~26 | 0 | ~$700,000 |
| 2024 (calendar) | ~30 | 0 | $2,435,308 |
| 2025 | 25 | 0 | $895,721 |
| Career Total (through 2025) | – | 0 | ~$7.9 million+ |
- Note: PGA Tour season structures vary between calendar and wrap-around formats. Figures sourced from publicly available tour data and statistical databases.
Endorsements
Ghim’s brand portfolio sits on three clear pillars: equipment, apparel, and lifestyle. On the equipment side, he is a Titleist Tour ambassador, carrying a full bag of Titleist gear — a GT2 driver, GT1 3-wood, a GT2 hybrid, a combination of T100/T150/T250 irons, Vokey SM10 wedges, and a Scotty Cameron putter. Titleist’s investment in Ghim traces back to his amateur years, when his natural precision-based game made him a natural fit for the brand’s identity.
On the apparel and footwear side, Nike Golf dresses him from head to toe. His partnership with Nike covers shirts, trousers, outerwear, and footwear, and his clean, professional image has kept the relationship stable since his early years on tour. The combination of Titleist and Nike effectively mirrors the approach of many of the sport’s most marketable mid-tier players.
Beyond the course, MGM Resorts rounds out his sponsor roster — a deal that makes particular geographic sense given that Ghim lives in Las Vegas. MGM’s status as a global entertainment and hospitality giant gives Ghim’s portfolio a lifestyle dimension that extends well beyond golf. Endorsement deals at Ghim’s level on the PGA Tour typically generate between $200,000 and $500,000 annually in combined brand income, providing a meaningful supplement to his prize money.
Career Statistics
| Year | Events Played | Cuts Made | Wins | Top 10s | Best Finish | Year-End OWGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | T21 | ~300+ |
| 2020–21 | 29 | ~17 | 0 | 2 | T5 (Players) | ~130 |
| 2021–22 | ~28 | ~15 | 0 | 1 | T6 (Players) | ~150 |
| 2022–23 | ~26 | ~13 | 0 | 0 | T14 | ~160 |
| 2024 | ~30 | ~18 | 0 | 2 | 2nd (Shriners) | ~110 |
| 2025 | 25 | 17 | 0 | 0 | T7 | ~156 |
- Statistics sourced from publicly available PGA Tour records, StatMuse, and ESPN. Some figures are approximate due to wrap-around season structures.
FAQs
What is Doug Ghim’s net worth?
Doug Ghim’s net worth is estimated at approximately $4 million. His wealth comes from PGA Tour prize money exceeding $8 million in career earnings, along with sponsorship deals with Titleist, Nike, and MGM Resorts.
How much career prize money has Doug Ghim earned?
Ghim has earned more than $7.9 million in career prize money on the PGA Tour through the 2025 season, with 2026 earnings pushing his all-time total past the $8 million mark. His best single season was 2024, when he earned $2,435,308.
Has Doug Ghim won a PGA Tour event?
Doug Ghim has not won a PGA Tour event. His best professional result is a runner-up finish at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open, where he finished at 21-under par and earned over $900,000.
Who are Doug Ghim’s main sponsors?
Doug Ghim is sponsored by Titleist for equipment (clubs and balls, including a Scotty Cameron putter), Nike Golf for apparel and footwear, and MGM Resorts for lifestyle and hospitality. These three deals form the core of his endorsement income.
What is Doug Ghim’s highest OWGR ranking?
Ghim reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 90th on November 3, 2024, following his runner-up finish at the Shriners Children’s Open. He is currently ranked outside the top 100.
