Jhonnatan Vegas isn’t the most well-known golfer, but people will certainly get to know him more now as he finished on top of the leaderboard at the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow after the first round.
Vegas was born in Venezuela in 1984. The 40-year-old turned professional in 2008 after moving to the United States. He has four Tour wins in his career but has never won a major. Vegas has had a unique path to the PGA Tour and has made some history along the way.
Here is more on where he is from and his path to the PGA Tour.
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Where is Jhonnatan Vegas from?
Vegas was born in Maturin, Venezuela in 1984. His parents and three brothers lived in Venezuela when he was growing up. Vegas developed into one of the top junior golfers in Venezuela. Eventually, he moved to the United States in 2002. Vegas and a golf instructor from Venezuela moved to Houston, Texas.
He earned his PGA Tour card in 2011, becoming the first person from Venezuela to accomplish this. Vegas is also the only Venezuelan to win a PGA Tour event, as well as the only Venezuelan to represent the country in the Presidents Cup or the Olympics.
MORE: Every PGA Championship champion by year
Where did Jhonnatan Vegas go to college?
Vegas moved to Houston, Texas from Venezuela, but he didn’t stay in the city for college. Instead, after winning three junior tournaments in 2003, the University of Texas awarded him a scholarship. As a freshman, he helped the Longhorns win the Big 12 Championship, and they finished fourth nationally. That was Texas’ best finish while he was there, but they did make it back to the NCAA Championship in 2005 and 2007, finishing 24th and tied for 11th, respectively.
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Has Jhonnatan Vegas won a major?
Not yet. Vegas has participated in 17 majors, but he missed the cut in 10 of those appearances. Vegas’ best major finish was tied for 22nd at the 2016 PGA Championship.
Jhonnatan Vegas OWGR
Vegas is ranked as the No. 70 overall golfer in the world by OWGR.
