Lilia Vu 2025: Net Worth, Career Earnings, Caddie

Lilia Vu has emerged as one of golf’s most compelling success stories, transforming from a promising amateur to a two-time major champion and former world number one.

The 27-year-old Vietnamese-American golfer from Fountain Valley, California, captured global attention with her breakthrough 2023 season that included victories at the Chevron Championship and Women’s British Open.

Her journey from UCLA standout to LPGA Tour star showcases the dedication and resilience required to compete at golf’s highest level.

In this article, you will know Lilia Vu’s net worth, career earnings, career overview, stats, relationship status, and more details about her remarkable rise in professional golf.

Lilia Vu’s Biography

Early Career

Lilia Vu’s golf journey began at age seven when she started following her father Douglas and older brother Andre around David L. Baker Golf Course in Fountain Valley, where her father worked as the club professional.

Her parents, both first-generation Vietnamese immigrants, supported her passion despite having no golf background themselves. Douglas, who holds a Ph.D. in computer science and works as a computer consultant and stockbroker, became her primary coach and mentor throughout her development.

Vu’s amateur career was nothing short of spectacular. She became a two-time American Junior Golf Association All-American and qualified for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open as a teenager. Her high school years at Fountain Valley High School were marked by consistent excellence, playing varsity golf all four years and graduating in 2015.

During this period, she captured several prestigious amateur titles, including the 2013 AJGA Junior at Robinson Ranch, the CIF-WSCGA Championship in 2014, and the 2016 SCGA Women’s Amateur.

Her amateur achievements reached their peak in 2018 when she held the number one position in the World Amateur Golf Rankings for an impressive 31 weeks. That same year, she represented the United States in multiple international competitions, winning the Curtis Cup where she contributed four crucial points to the American victory.

She also captured the Espirito Santo Trophy in Ireland alongside Jennifer Kupcho and Kristen Gillman, and won the Arnold Palmer Cup at Evian Resort Golf Club in France.

Professional Career

Vu turned professional in January 2019, ending her remarkable run at the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Her transition to professional golf proved challenging initially, as she made only one cut in nine starts during her first year on the LPGA Tour. This setback forced her to compete on the Symetra Tour, where she spent time developing her professional game and building confidence.

The breakthrough came in 2021 when Vu dominated the Symetra Tour with three victories in four months. She captured wins at the Garden City Charity Classic, Twin Bridges Championship, and Four Winds Invitational, along with the 2021 Potawatomi Cup and bonus prize money.

Her exceptional performance earned her the Symetra Tour Player of the Year honors and secured her LPGA Tour card for 2022, finishing first on the money list.

Vu’s first LPGA Tour victory came at the 2023 Honda LPGA Thailand, setting the stage for what would become a career-defining season. Her major championship breakthrough occurred at the 2023 Chevron Championship, where she defeated Angel Yin in a playoff with a clutch 10-foot birdie putt.

The victory was celebrated with the traditional jump into the lake beside the 18th hole, a moment that became iconic for both Vu and her caddie Cole Pensanti.

Her second major championship came just four months later at the 2023 Women’s British Open, where she dominated the field with a commanding six-shot victory over Charley Hull.

This win propelled her to the number one position in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, cementing her status as one of the game’s elite players. The 2023 season concluded with Vu earning LPGA Tour Player of the Year honors and the Rolex Annika Major Award.

Caddie

Cole Pensanti serves as Lilia Vu’s caddie and has been instrumental in her major championship success. Raised in Los Angeles, California, Pensanti brings extensive experience to the bag, having previously worked with notable players including Alex Kang and Danielle Kang.

His background includes caddying for Danielle Kang’s victory at the 2017 Women’s PGA Championship at Olympia Fields, where she defeated Brooke Henderson by one shot.

Pensanti describes himself as an “Analyst in distance, wind, and trajectory consultation” on his social media profiles, highlighting his technical approach to the game. He has an impressive track record with hole-in-ones, having caddied for nine aces despite never achieving one himself as a player.

His partnership with Vu began during her breakthrough period and proved immediately successful.

The duo’s most memorable moment came at the 2023 Chevron Championship, where Pensanti joined Vu in the traditional victory jump into the lake beside the 18th hole.

Despite concerns about alligators and other wildlife in the water, both Vu and Pensanti took the plunge, with Pensanti executing what became known as his signature caddie belly flop. This celebration became an iconic image representing their successful partnership and Vu’s first major championship victory.

Lilia Vu’s Net Worth Details

Lilia Vu’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $8 million as of 2025.

Career Earnings

Endorsements

Lilia Vu has secured several notable endorsement partnerships that contribute significantly to her overall net worth. Her primary equipment sponsor is a combination of top golf brands, with TaylorMade providing her driver, Callaway supplying fairway woods, Srixon manufacturing her irons, Vokey crafting her wedges, and Scotty Cameron creating her putter. She plays Titleist Pro V1x golf balls, completing a premium equipment setup.

Her major endorsement deals include partnerships with Acumatica, a cloud-based business management software company, Arcis Golf, the second-largest owner and operator of private and daily fee golf clubs in the United States, Secretariat, Kingston Technology, and Urban Golf Performance.

The Arcis Golf partnership holds special significance as Vu grew up playing at their David L. Baker Golf Course in Fountain Valley, where her father Douglas continues to work as a teaching professional.

The Arcis Golf ambassador role represents a natural fit given her deep connection to their facilities throughout Southern California. During her UCLA years, she practiced at The Oaks Club at Valencia and Valencia Country Club, both Arcis properties.

This long-standing relationship with the company made the formal partnership announcement a logical progression that benefits both parties through authentic brand alignment.

Career Stats

FAQs

1. How many major championships has Lilia Vu won in her career?

Lilia Vu has won two major championships, both in 2023. She captured the Chevron Championship in a playoff and the Women’s British Open with a six-shot victory over Charley Hull.

2. What is Vu’s educational background and college achievements?

She graduated from UCLA in 2018 with a degree in political science. During her college career, she was named Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016 and WGCA Player of the Year in 2018.

3. When did Lilia Vu reach number one in the world rankings?

Vu reached number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings in August 2023 following her victory at the Women’s British Open, her second major championship of that season.

4. What injury forced Vu to withdraw from the 2024 Chevron Championship?

She suffered a debilitating back injury that prevented her from defending her title at the 2024 Chevron Championship, forcing her to take two months away from competitive golf for recovery.

5. Who are Vu’s parents and what is their background?

Her parents are Douglas and Amy, both first-generation Vietnamese immigrants. Douglas works as a computer consultant and stockbroker with a Ph.D. in computer science and serves as the club professional at David L. Baker Golf Course.