Yealimi Noh has established herself as one of the most promising young talents in professional golf. The 23-year-old American golfer recently achieved her breakthrough moment by capturing her first LPGA Tour victory at the 2025 Founders Cup.
In this article, you will know Yealimi Noh’s net worth, career earnings, biography, caddie, and more.
Yealimi Noh’s Biography
Detail | Information |
---|---|
Full Name | Yealimi Noh |
Date of Birth | July 26, 2001 |
Age | 23 years old |
Education | Carondelet High School (sophomore year), then homeschooled |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 feet 6 inches |
Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
Turned Professional | 2019 |
Net Worth | Estimated $3 million |
Career Earnings | $2.9 million+ |
Relationship Status | Single |
Not specified in available sources | |
Not specified in available sources |
Early Career
Yealimi Noh’s golf journey began when she was introduced to the sport by her father around age seven or eight. Born in San Francisco to Korean parents Brian and Kim Noh, who own a Japanese restaurant called Happy Roll in Concord, California, Yealimi showed exceptional talent from an early age. Her father played golf and would take her to the course, creating a unique bonding experience where both parent and child learned and improved together.
Noh’s amateur career was nothing short of spectacular. She first gained national attention in 2014 when she won the California Girls Championship. Her breakout year came in 2018 when she achieved an incredible feat by winning four major tournaments over five weeks.
This remarkable streak included victories at the California Junior Championship, the Girl’s Junior PGA Championship, the U.S. Girls’ Junior, and the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. The last three wins came in consecutive weeks, showcasing her exceptional consistency and mental toughness.
During her amateur career, Noh attended Carondelet High School until her sophomore year in 2017. She then switched to homeschooling to focus more intensively on her golf development.
Her amateur success also earned her spots in professional events, including the 2018 KEB Hana Bank Championship and the Canadian Women’s Open, where she was the low amateur. The rising star had originally committed to UCLA on a full scholarship but ultimately decided to forgo college to pursue her professional golf dreams.
Professional Career
Noh made the bold decision to turn professional in early 2019, choosing to skip her college commitment to UCLA. Her transition to professional golf began with Monday qualifying attempts and sponsor exemptions since she didn’t have tour status.
Her persistence paid off when she Monday qualified for the 2019 Cambia Portland Classic and nearly won her first professional tournament, finishing as runner-up to Hannah Green after holding a three-shot lead entering the final round.
This near-miss victory demonstrated her potential and led to more opportunities. Noh successfully navigated the challenging LPGA Q-Series, finishing third to earn her LPGA Tour card for the 2020 season.
Her rookie year was impressive, making 15 cuts in 16 events with two top-10 finishes. She continued to build momentum in 2021, earning selection to the U.S. Solheim Cup team as a captain’s pick and recording three top-10 results, including two third-place finishes.
The breakthrough moment finally arrived in February 2025 at the Founders Cup in Bradenton, Florida. Noh captured her first LPGA Tour victory by defeating former world number one Ko Jin-young by four strokes.
She shot rounds of 68-64-63-68 to finish at 21-under par, demonstrating the consistency and skill that had been building throughout her young career. This victory not only provided validation for her decision to turn professional but also established her as a legitimate contender on the LPGA Tour moving forward.
Caddie
Yealimi Noh’s caddie is Tyler Ekenberg, who has been working with her as of February 2025. Ekenberg was on the bag during Noh’s historic first LPGA Tour victory at the 2025 Founders Cup.
According to the Professional Ladies Tour Caddies Association, Ekenberg describes himself as a Wind and Yardage Consultant on the LPGA Tour and is a former collegiate golfer from the University of North Alabama.
Ekenberg hails from Apple Valley, Minnesota, and has an interesting background in professional golf. He initially played golf professionally before transitioning to caddying after meeting Alison Lee at the 2015 CME Tournament. He previously worked with Lee, including during the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
His favorite golf course is San Francisco’s Olympic Club, and he’s passionate about continuously improving his craft. Ekenberg enjoys the competitive aspect of caddying and takes pride in learning and adapting to help his players perform at their best.
Yealimi Noh’s Net Worth Details
Yealimi Noh’s net worth is estimated to be $3 million as of 2025.
Career Earnings
Year | Earnings |
---|---|
2019 | Limited earnings (Monday qualifiers) |
2020 | $415,307 |
2021 | $708,162 |
2022 | $226,398 |
2023 | $119,200 |
2024 | $826,000 (estimated) |
2025 (partial)** | $586,358+ |
Total Career | $2.9+ million |
Career Statistics
Statistic | Total/Details |
---|---|
LPGA Tour Wins | 1 (2025 Founders Cup) |
Major Championships | 0 |
Top-10 Finishes | 17 career |
Top-25 Finishes | 38 career |
Cuts Made Percentage | High (15/16 in rookie year) |
Career Low Round | 63 |
Solheim Cup Appearances | 1 (2021) |
Current World Ranking | No. 32 (as of February 2025) |
LPGA Tour Seasons | 6 (2020-2025) |
Career Starts | 100+ events |
FAQs
1. What is Yealimi Noh’s nationality and ethnic background?
Yealimi Noh is American by birth, having been born in San Francisco, California. However, her ethnic background is Korean-American, as both her parents, Brian and Kim Noh, are Korean immigrants who own a Japanese restaurant in Concord, California.
2. When did Yealimi Noh win her first LPGA Tour event?
Noh captured her first LPGA Tour victory at the 2025 Founders Cup in February, defeating former world number one Ko Jin-young by four strokes. She finished at 21-under par with rounds of 68-64-63-68 at Bradenton Country Club in Florida.
3. How much money has Yealimi Noh earned in her professional golf career?
Based on official LPGA statistics, Noh has earned over $2.9 million in her professional career through 2025. Her biggest single tournament payday was $300,000 for winning the 2025 Founders Cup, and she earned over $826,000 in 2024 alone.
4. What major amateur tournaments did Noh win before turning professional?
Her most impressive amateur achievement came in 2018 when she won four major tournaments in five weeks, including the Girl’s Junior PGA Championship, U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in consecutive weeks, plus the California Junior Championship.
5. Who is Yealimi Noh’s current caddie on the LPGA Tour?
Tyler Ekenberg serves as Noh’s caddie as of 2025. He’s a former University of North Alabama golfer from Apple Valley, Minnesota, who previously caddied for Alison Lee and was on the bag during Noh’s first LPGA Tour victory.