Erik Van Rooyen

Erik Van Rooyen's Early Life and Background

Erik van Rooyen is a professional golfer from South Africa who has gained attention after winning the World Wide Technology Championship. Born on February 21, 1990, in Bellville, a suburb of Cape Town, Rooyen began playing golf in his home country, which has a rich golf history.

Van Rooyen attended the University of Minnesota for his higher education and also played for the university's golf team, refining his skills on the course. During his childhood, van Rooyen participated in various sports seasons in South Africa, including rugby, cricket, and track and field, before focusing solely on golf. He started competing at the age of 14.

Van Rooyen met his wife, Rose, while playing college golf at the University of Minnesota.

Erik Van Rooyen's Amateur Golf Career

Van Rooyen enjoyed a successful academic and golfing journey at the University of Minnesota, where he was enrolled from 2009 to 2013. During this period, he showcased his exceptional golfing skills by clinching notable victories, including the 2012 Minnesota State Amateur and the 2011 Southern Cape Open. These achievements highlight his dedication to his education and underscore his prowess on the golf course during his university years.

Erik Van Rooyen's Professional Career

2013, Erik van Rooyen turned professional and has since played on the Sunshine Tour. In early 2017, he won his first Eye of Africa PGA Championship tour tournament by making a birdie in a three-person playoff. He also played on the 2017 Challenge Tour, where he clinched his second professional win, the Hainan Open, and finished in the top five in other tournaments, earning a card for the 2018 European Tour season.

In December 2017, van Rooyen was the runner-up in the Joburg Open, and this high finish earned him a spot in the 2018 Open Championship, his first major championship. He also tied for 4th place in the 2018 Dubai Duty-Free Irish Open after leading by four strokes after three rounds.

In 2019, van Rooyen finished as the joint runner-up in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Hassan II Golf Trophy and had a top-10 finish in the PGA Championship. He won his first European Tour title at the Scandinavian Invitation in August 2019, setting a new tournament record.

After a T20 finish in the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in August, van Rooyen was granted Special Temporary Membership until the end of the 2019–20 PGA Tour season. In August 2021, he won his first PGA Tour event at the Barracuda Championship, breaking the tournament scoring record.

In November 2023, van Rooyen won the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship for his first PGA Tour win in over two years. He made an eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole on Sunday to win, playing the back nine in 8-under 28 as part of a 9-under 63 in the last round.

Erik Van Rooyen's Playing Style

Erik van Rooyen is a professional golfer famous for his attacking and aggressive approach on the golf course. His swing is powerful and fluid, which enables him to generate impressive distance off the tee. Moreover, he takes calculated risks in his shot selections, which is one of the reasons behind his aggressive approach.

Van Rooyen's short game is another notable strength, demonstrating his precision and creativity around the greens. He has a remarkable ability to navigate challenging situations and convert crucial putts, contributing to his success on the professional circuit. Additionally, he is known for his mental toughness and can maintain composure even in high-pressure situations.

Erik Van Rooyen's Caddie

Alex Gaugert has been the caddie of Erik van Rooyen since 2019. They first met at the University of Minnesota, where they played several collegiate golf events together from 2010 to 2013. Gaugert has played on multiple tours, including the Sunshine and PGA tours. When Rooyen turned professional, he chose Gaugert as his caddie, and they have formed an impressive partnership, enjoying a lot of success together over the past four years.

Gaugert provides valuable insight and guidance to Rooyen, helping him make the right decisions about proper club choice and shot selection based on wind conditions, distance, and the desired shape of the shot. He also provides Rooyen with mental and emotional support, helping him to stay confident, stress-free, and focused during tournaments.

Their notable achievements include winning the 2021 Barracuda Championship, the 2019 Scandinavian Invitation and finishing in the top 10 in numerous other tournaments such as the American Express, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, the BMW Championship, and the PGA Championship.

Gaugert takes on several responsibilities as a caddie, including carrying Rooyen's golf equipment and ensuring it is in workable condition. He also stays informed about the updated scores, leaderboard, and other important information during tournaments.

Overall, Rooyen and Gaugert have a strong working relationship, with Gaugert always beside him as a friend every step of the way. Working together, Rooyen reached 40th place in the Official World Golf Ranking, which is also his highest ranking since he became a professional.

Erik Van Rooyen's Golf Journey

Erik van Rooyen's journey in golf has been marked by determination, skill development, and notable achievements. He was born on May 21, 1990, in Bellville, South Africa, and started playing golf at a young age.

After refining his skills in the amateur ranks, van Rooyen turned professional and began to build a reputation for himself on various tours. He competed on the Sunshine Tour in his home country, securing victories and gaining valuable experience, which helped him explore international competition.

Van Rooyen’s breakthrough on the global stage came when he earned his European Tour card. He consistently performed well and showed a competitive spirit, securing notable finishes in various tournaments. Over the years, he has demonstrated versatility by adapting to different golf courses and conditions, showcasing his proficiency in long and short games.

One of Van Rooyen’s career highlights was participating in major championships, including The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. These experiences further solidified his reputation as a rising talent in professional golf.

Erik Van Rooyen's Majors

Erik Van Rooyen's Net Worth

As of January 2024, Erik Van Rooyen's estimated net worth is around $3 million. This includes most of his earnings from tournaments such as the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, and other major tournaments worldwide. Additionally, Van Rooyen has secured several endorsement deals with various companies to supplement his total net worth.

Based on reports and his latest career earnings, Erik Van Rooyen is estimated to earn between $800,000 and $1 million annually. However, his earnings may vary yearly depending on his performance and contracts.

Erik Van Rooyen's Ventures

Van Rooyen, a renowned golfer, has signed various sponsorship and endorsement deals with numerous well-known companies. He is endorsing Greyson Clothiers and has also served as the global brand ambassador for Slync.io, a SaaS operating platform for international shippers and logistics service providers, as part of a multi-year partnership repped by JMC Sport. He wore the Slync.io logo on his left chest during the 2021 World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, FL. In September 2019, ECCO, a leading footwear manufacturer, announced van Rooyen as their brand ambassador after his successful season, where he captured his first European Tour victory at the Scandinavian Invitation. However, the exact amount he received from these contracts has yet to be discovered.

Erik Van Rooyen's Assets

No information is available regarding van Rooyen’s assets.

Erik Van Rooyen's Family

Erik van Rooyen's father, Wim van Rooyan, is a business executive and currently serves as the managing director for GWK Farm Foods. According to The Gremlin, an online newspaper for his hometown area, his father and grandfather introduced him to golf and taught him the basics of the sport. Van Rooyen started playing golf at seven, and his father, a nearby club member, would accompany him to play nine holes every Saturday. After completing his senior year of high school, he began competing at 14 and was granted South African Provincial Honours and National Colours by the South African Golf Association.

Erik van Rooyen is also known as Frederick or Fred among his teammates and acquaintances. His mother, Elize van Rooyen, is a Douglas High School teacher.

Erik Van Rooyen's Wife

Erik van Rooyen is married to Rose (Roberts) van Rooyen. The couple met while attending the University of Minnesota. Per Erik van Rooyen's Instagram handle, they married in 2014 and had a child together in January 2023. Rose van Rooyen is originally from Woodbury, Minnesota and earned a design and retail merchandising degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in 2013.

Reportedly, Rose was a member of the hockey cheerleading squad and the Fashion & Design Club in college. She is a South African online retail buyer for BabyGroup, having worked for BestBuy as a merchant analyst for a year.

According to the European Tour website, Rose worked as her husband's caddie for a while in addition to her career. During the previous season of the Challenge Tour in 2017, she caddied for him as he dragged his trolley for the remaining distance. Although Rose never played golf, she quickly learned the fundamentals, including pars, bogeys, and birdies. Her job was to help with yardage, which saved van Rooyen’s energy. When they arrived in Oman, Rose had become skilled at estimating wind direction and club distances.

In an interview with the European Tour website, van Rooyen revealed that he and Rose share the dream of his professional golf career, including winning majors and other tournaments. They both treasure this shared experience, and Rose is just as dedicated to Erik's success as he is.

Per Erik van Rooyen's Instagram handle, they married in 2014 and had a child together in January 2023. Rose van Rooyen is originally from Woodbury, Minnesota and earned a design and retail merchandising degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in 2013.

Erik Van Rooyen's Cars

Although there is yet to be any information about Erik Van Rooyen's car collection or the type of car he drives, given his career earnings of around $7 million, he may own several luxury cars.