Golf, with its increasingly competitive nature, has expanded to every corner of the globe. For proof, check the only Filipino, Rico Hoey, who has been stepping towards becoming the first golfer from the Philippines to win on the PGA Tour.

Currently, not many from the golf world know him, but it wouldn’t be surprising that the golfing star gets the traction with his increased appearances on the course, that’s our prediction at least. Considering that, let’s take a deep dive into the career and early life of the golfer who has already made his mark with his PGA Tour card.

Rico Hoey’s early life

Richard “Rico” Hoey was born on September 19, 1995, in Manila, Philippines. But didn’t spend much time of his childhood there as his family moved to Rancho Cucamonga, California. The professional who attended Rancho Cucamonga High School has developed an early interest in golf, all thanks to his golfing family. Though the details of his parents are not available, it was shared that golf was played as a family tradition. Interestingly, with support and tradition, Hoey got a push in joining the path towards professional golf.

Notably, after his win at Knoxville, he shared his feelings regarding his family. He said, “It’s nice doing it for my family. They believe in me so much.” Not just this, but his father also shared heartfelt words when he debuted on the PGA Tour in 2024. “Here [on the PGA Tour], it’s more like a relief that he’s here. It was on the Korn Ferry Tour that he felt that tension, and that’s where it all came together.” Remembering his historic win at the Korn Ferry Tour and how his journey has shaped towards earning the PGA Tour, Hoey’s father shared emotional feelings with wet eyes.

Well, the journey has been very long for the golfer before he reached the final goal of playing on the PGA Tour. It all began when he started to turn head during the junior years.

Junior and amateur career of Rico Hoey

The Filipino professional started competing at a young age, but what brought him to the spotlight was his victories in 2012. Hoey won the Callaway Junior World Championship and the Junior America’s Cup. Along with his wins, he also recorded a 7th-place finish at the California State Open. The spree of victories continued as he joined the high school winner’s circle. In 2013, he won four league titles and the 2013 CIF Southern Section Boys’ Golf Individual crown.

Further, he went on to pursue his studies at the University of Southern California, where he garnered praise for his performance. The golfer was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2014) with eight top-10 finishes and his first college win at the Gifford Collegiate. During those days, Rico was monikered “WGD,” which stands for “World’s Greatest Driver.

With his consistent performance over the years at the collegiate level, he earned All-Pac-12 First Team (Honorable Mention All-American) twice. He also represented the country at the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2014 and 2016. With great achievements in his amateur career, it was time for the golfer to step towards his professional career and make a mark along with the top names in the golf world.

Hoey’s journey as a professional

After ending his exceptional collegiate performance, in 2017, the golfer began to play on the PGA Tour Canada. Surprisingly, it didn’t take him long to clinch his first professional win, as he won the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship. He shot 19-under par, beating Jordan Niebrugge by one stroke. With the victory, he got into the bigger leagues and spent a huge chunk of his career improving alongside other professionals.

Hoey played on the Web.com Tour in 2018 and then on the Korn Ferry Tour from 2019 to 2023. The performance improvement came to light when he won the Visit Knoxville Open. With the help of his victory, he was placed fourth on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour points list. Gradually, with his top 30 position by the finals, he earned his PGA Tour card for 2024. Even though he has not won any tournament till now, his performance is certain that he is spotted soon. Earlier in the 2025 season, he recorded some notable finishes in T11 at the Houston Open and T12 at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

Now, after the struggle-filled journey and his family’s support, the golfer is not far away from achieving the historic feat with his first PGA Tour win. But will that be in 2025, or will he have to wait longer? What are your thoughts on it? Share with us in the comments below.