Eric Cole

Eric Cole is a professional golfer competing on the PGA Tour. Cole's journey to the sport's highest level is recognized as a compelling story in modern golf. Known for his perseverance after a 13-year period on lower-tier circuits, Cole was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year at age 35, becoming the second-oldest recipient of the Arnold Palmer Award.

Cole is the son of professional golfers Bobby Cole, who won the Buick Open on the PGA Tour, and Laura Baugh, the LPGA Rookie of the Year with 71 top-10 finishes over a 25-year career. He grew up immersed in golf alongside six siblings, often traveling with his mother on the LPGA Tour. As a teenager, Cole befriended Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, and played golf with Palmer at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida and Latrobe Country Club in Pennsylvania.

Cole's path to the PGA Tour was not straightforward. While at Nova Southeastern University, he was diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases: type 1 diabetes and Addison's disease, a rare adrenal condition that also affected John F. Kennedy. Cole manages his health with an insulin pump, blood glucose monitor, and carefully chosen snacks. Despite these challenges, he continued to pursue professional golf, winning 56 times on the Minor League Golf Tour, including two tour championships. After six attempts at Q School, he earned status on the Korn Ferry Tour. When a stress fracture in his back forced him to pause his playing career, Cole taught golf at Abacoa in Jupiter, helping junior golfers develop their skills.

Cole's resilience led to a tie for third at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, earning his PGA Tour card. In his debut PGA Tour season, Cole started 37 tournaments, recorded two runner-up finishes, placed in the top five on six occasions—including four of his final five events—and finished inside the top 25 fourteen times. His performance, which included seven top-10 finishes, resulted in $5.4 million in earnings. In one notable moment, Cole finished tied with Chris Kirk at the Honda Classic before Kirk won with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Among the 50 rookies on the PGA Tour that season, Cole was the only one to place within the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings.

Cole has maintained a consistent and competitive presence on the PGA Tour. Still seeking his first official PGA Tour victory, Cole has demonstrated his ability to contend, including posting a 7-under 63 to lead in the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge, where Russell Henley ultimately won in a playoff. Cole's career highlights the challenges and resilience required in professional golf, underscoring the importance of perseverance and self-belief.