A Korn Ferry Tour qualifier who briefly led the 2022 U.S. Open by three shots — then bounced back from two years of injuries and surgeries to win on the Challenge Tour in 2026 — M.J. Daffue’s story is one of the most compelling in modern golf.
His estimated net worth sits at approximately $650,000, built on more than $1.7 million in verified PGA Tour career earnings, equipment relationships, and a resilience that no number can fully capture.
M.J. Daffue’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthys Johannes Daffue |
| Date of Birth | January 13, 1989 |
| Age | 37 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Height / Weight | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) / 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Birthplace | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Residence | Kingwood, Texas, U.S. |
| College | Lee University; Lamar University |
| Turned Professional | 2012 |
| Tours | HotelPlanner (Challenge) Tour, Sunshine Tour (former: PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour) |
| Professional Wins | 3 (1 Sunshine Tour, 2 Challenge Tour / co-sanctioned) |
| Best Major Result | T31 – 2022 U.S. Open (The Country Club, Brookline) |
| Career-High OWGR | No. 141 (2023 Sony Open in Hawaii) |
| Current OWGR | Approx. 233 |
| Career Prize Money (PGA Tour) | $1,700,399 |
| Net Worth | ~$650,000 |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Children | One son (Oliver) |
| Social Profiles | Instagram / Twitter: @MJDaffue |
Early Life and Golf Journey
Matthys Johannes Daffue grew up in Pretoria, South Africa, in a family that loved the game of golf. His country had produced world-class players, and that culture left a deep mark on the young Daffue.
The defining moment of his childhood came in early 2000, when his father pulled him out of school with a simple message: they were going to play a round of golf. The playing partners were Retief Goosen and his brother.
Daffue, just 11 years old, was stunned. As he later told the PGA Tour, “I still remember it as if it happened right now, standing behind him on the first tee.
He shot 64 that day. My life was changed.” Within a year, Goosen won the 2001 U.S. Open. Daffue sat up until 4 a.m. watching him do it, and again in 2004.
Daffue moved to the United States for college, beginning at Lee University before transferring to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
At Lamar he thrived, winning five college tournaments including the 2011 and 2012 Southland Conference Championships. He earned NAIA All-American honours and was named Southland Conference Player of the Year in 2011.
He turned professional in 2012 after that strong collegiate run. His early pro years were a grind — mini-tour events, Monday qualifiers, and stretches where he sold wine for Retief Goosen’s label just to keep his career alive.
Those years tested him, but they also built the mental toughness he would need later.
Professional Golf Career
Daffue’s path to the game’s biggest stages was long and unconventional. He played mini-tour events and grinded through qualifier after qualifier for years before finding consistent footing on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019.
The 2021–22 season became his breakthrough. He Monday-qualified for six PGA Tour events and played so well on the Korn Ferry Tour — including back-to-back third-place finishes at the Knoxville Open and the AdventHealth Championship in Kansas City — that he secured his PGA Tour card for the 2022–23 season with room to spare.
Then came the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts — the defining moment of his career to date.
Daffue qualified by sharing medalist honours at a qualifier in Springfield, Ohio, and played the opening round in 67.
By the turn of Round 2, he had reached six under par and stood three shots clear of the entire field, including Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
He briefly became the first player in the 122nd U.S. Open to reach that mark. He eventually finished T31, earning a paycheque from a major for the first time.
His full PGA Tour season in 2022–23 produced $830,918 in earnings, his best year on Tour and good enough for a career-high FedExCup ranking of No. 99 at the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship.
His career-high world ranking of No. 141 came at the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii. He did not retain his Tour card after that season.
Injuries and surgeries kept him away for much of 2024 and into 2025. He returned to South Africa to recover and rebuild his game, competing on the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner (Challenge) Tour.
That comeback produced a deeply emotional win in February 2026 at the NTT DATA Pro-Am at Fancourt Golf Estate in George, South Africa — a co-sanctioned event between the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour.
He eagled the 72nd hole to win by four shots on 16 under par, with his wife and son watching from the 18th green.
As he told reporters afterwards:
“I’ve always dreamt of having my son run onto the 18th green after a win, and to be honest there was a time when I wondered if it would ever happen.”
Caddie
At the 2022 U.S. Open, Daffue’s caddie was Jonathan Dismuke, the golf coach at the University of Houston, where Daffue has also worked as a volunteer assistant.
Dismuke’s familiarity with Daffue’s game and their close personal bond made for a comfortable partnership during that memorable major appearance.
At his 2026 NTT DATA Pro-Am victory at Fancourt, Daffue’s caddie was John Moloi, who won the Sunshine Tour medallion for the best caddie at that event — a fitting recognition of the pair’s strong week together.
No confirmed primary Tour caddie is publicly documented for his current HotelPlanner Tour campaign.
Wife
M.J. Daffue is married to Kamila Daffue, known widely as Kamie. The couple has one son, Oliver, whose birth was one of the motivating forces behind Daffue’s 2026 comeback push.
Kamila and Oliver were present at Fancourt when Daffue holed his winning eagle putt in February 2026 — a scene he had imagined for years.
The family has deep roots on both continents, with Daffue having lived in Kingwood, Texas, during his PGA Tour years while maintaining close ties to South Africa.
The loss of Kamila’s mother in 2013 — she was struck by a car after tripping on a curb — was a tragedy that shaped the couple profoundly in their early years together.
M.J. Daffue’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, M.J. Daffue’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $650,000.
He built this figure through verified PGA Tour prize money, Korn Ferry Tour and Challenge Tour earnings, equipment relationships, and careful management of expenses across a career that has stretched more than a decade.
Career Prize Money
According to the official PGA Tour player profile, Daffue’s career earnings on the PGA Tour total $1,700,399 across his official events.
His single best season was 2022–23, when he collected $830,918 on the PGA Tour — a figure driven largely by multiple made cuts and consistent performances in the FedExCup Fall events.
His career-high FedExCup ranking hit No. 99 at the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship. His best single-event result in terms of major championship prestige was his T31 at the 2022 U.S. Open, where he received an official payout from the USGA purse.
Beyond the PGA Tour, Daffue also accumulated earnings on the Korn Ferry Tour from 2019 onward and has since added income through his 2026 HotelPlanner Tour and Sunshine Tour campaign.
His winner’s share at the NTT DATA Pro-Am was €58,427 (approximately $64,000 USD) from a total purse of $439,000.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season / Year | Tour | Tournament Wins | Prize Money Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Korn Ferry Tour | 0 | $66,940 |
| 2021 | Korn Ferry Tour | 0 | $176,780 |
| 2022 | Korn Ferry Tour / PGA Tour | 0 | $116,531 |
| 2022–23 | PGA Tour | 0 | $830,918 |
| 2024 | PGA Tour (limited) | 0 | $17,577 |
| 2025 | Korn Ferry Tour / Challenge Tour | 0 | Minimal (injury affected) |
| 2026 (to date) | HotelPlanner / Sunshine Tour | 1 | ~$64,000+ (€58,427 win) |
Endorsements
Daffue as an exclusive staff deal. However, equipment usage data from GolfWRX bag reports shows he has been a consistent Ping player, using the Ping G425 driver, Ping iBlade and Blueprint irons, and Ping Glide 4.0 wedges throughout his PGA Tour years.
Ping equipment relationships — even without full staff contracts — often include complimentary gear and modest financial arrangements for Tour-level players.
In early 2023, Daffue was among several non-contracted players who chose to game the Callaway Paradym driver at the Sony Open — a notable signal of equipment flexibility and the trust manufacturers place in his testing feedback.
Non-contracted Tour players who regularly test and game equipment from leading brands sometimes receive indirect compensation in the form of club fittings, travel support, and complimentary product.
Daffue has also maintained a relationship with the University of Houston golf programme as a volunteer assistant coach — an unpaid role, but one that keeps him connected to future development pathways in the sport, including potential coaching roles he has mentioned aspiring to in his post-playing career.
Career Statistics
| Year | Tour | Events Played | Wins | Cuts Made | Notable Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Korn Ferry Tour | Limited starts | 0 | — | — |
| 2020 | Korn Ferry Tour | Multiple | 0 | Yes | — |
| 2021 | Korn Ferry Tour | Multiple | 0 | Yes | — |
| 2021–22 | Korn Ferry Tour / PGA Tour (Monday Q) | 6 PGA starts | 0 | Yes (multiple) | Earned PGA Tour card |
| 2022 | U.S. Open (Major) | 1 | 0 | Yes (T31) | Led Round 2 by 3 shots |
| 2022–23 | PGA Tour | ~50 (career total) | 0 | Multiple | FedExCup No. 99; OWGR No. 141 |
| 2024 | PGA Tour (limited) | Limited | 0 | Yes | Injury-affected season |
| 2025 | Korn Ferry / Challenge Tour | 9 (per Yahoo Sports) | 0 | 3 | OWGR ~233 |
| 2026 | HotelPlanner / Sunshine Tour | Growing | 1 | Yes | Road to Mallorca No. 3 |
FAQs
What is M.J. Daffue’s career prize money?
Daffue has earned over $1.7 million in official PGA Tour earnings. His total across all tours, including the Korn Ferry Tour, Challenge Tour, and Sunshine Tour, brings his career prize money higher than that figure.
Has M.J. Daffue ever won on the PGA Tour?
Daffue has not won on the PGA Tour. He has three professional victories: one on the Sunshine Tour and two on the Challenge Tour (co-sanctioned events), with his most recent win coming at the 2026 NTT DATA Pro-Am at Fancourt.
What is M.J. Daffue’s best result in a major championship?
His best major result is a T31 at the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he famously led the field at six under par midway through Round 2.
What equipment does M.J. Daffue use?
Daffue is a long-time Ping equipment user, having gamed the Ping G425 driver, Ping Blueprint irons, and Ping Glide 4.0 wedges during his PGA Tour years. He has also tested Callaway equipment on Tour as a non-contracted player.
What is M.J. Daffue’s current world golf ranking?
Daffue’s OWGR sits around 233. His 2026 win at the NTT DATA Pro-Am earned 7.2 OWGR points and moved him to third on the HotelPlanner Tour’s Road to Mallorca rankings.
