Smylie Kaufman

His full name is Carter Smylie Kaufman; Smylie is a family name, not a nickname. He began playing golf around 2 years old and credits his parents, who both played golf and graduated from Louisiana State University, for introducing him to the sport. Grandfather (Alan Kaufman) was a golf coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and one-time coach of Graeme McDowell.
Before playing college golf at LSU, Smylie compiled an impressive junior golf resume. Was a participant at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2006 at age 14, which made him one of the youngest qualifiers in tournament history. Was competitive in the AJGA, winning his first tournament in 2008, the AJGA Junior at Steelwood presented by AT&T. Had six total top-10 finishes during his AJGA career. Was a nationally-ranked prospect who signed with LSU as the No. 21-ranked recruit in the country for the class of 2010 by Golfweek.
Was a four-time letter winner at LSU where, in his senior year, he was runner-up at the SEC Championships at Sea Island after shooting rounds of 67-68-64. Finished T-6th at the NCAA Columbia Regional and T-19th at the NCAA Division 1 Championships with scores of 68-72-69. Was named to the SEC Community Service Team in 2013-2014 and was a member of the SEC Honor Roll for all four years on campus (2011-2014).
Turned pro in June 2014 and made his first start on any professional tour at the U.S. Open, where he missed the cut. At the end of the year, finished T-67th at the Web.com Tour Qualifying tournament, securing a spot on the Web.com Tour for 2015.
2015 Notes: Missed his first three cuts on the Web.com Tour before finishing T-4th at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open. Three weeks later, posted another T-4th at the El Bosque Mexico Championship. In his sixth Web.com Tour start, won by five at the United Leasing Championship. In August, solidified his standing on the money list with a runner-up finish at the Price Cutter Charity Championship. Ended the season 6th on the money list to earn his PGA Tour Card for 2016.
2016 Notes: Started the year with T-10th at the Frys.Com Open. The following week, shot a final-round 10-under 61 (which came two-and-a-half hours before the final group holed out) to finish the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at 16-under 268. It turned out to be a winning score, one shot ahead of six other players. His closing-61 (equaling the best final round ever in Las Vegas) marked the lowest finish on Tour by a winner since Tommy Gainey closed the 2012 McGladrey Classic with a 10-under 60. His final-round, seven-stroke, come-from-behind victory marked the largest in Las Vegas and the largest on Tour since Gainey climbed back from the same number to win at Sea Island in 2012. The victory came in his fifth career PGA Tour start (second as a member) at age 23 years, 10 months, 25 days. His next top-10 was T-8th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, then T-10th at the Quicken Loans National.