Sepp Straka: Player Profile

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Tour

Aug 8, 2023

Who is Sepp Straka?

Sepp Straka is another of the young European cohort on the PGA Tour to have come through the American collegiate system.

The Austrian made the move to the United States at the age of 14 along with his family, and would go on to play collegiate golf at the University of Georgia. After graduating with a Business Management degree, Straka won on the Web.com Tour before becoming the first Austrian-born player to secure a PGA Tour card.

Straka continued to make history for his nation, as his win at the Honda Classic in 2022 was the first by an Austrian on the PGA Tour. He now has two wins on Tour, having also been victorious at the John Deere Classic a year later. Straka also finished joint runner-up at the Open Championship in 2023 as well.

He follows in the footsteps of Bernd Wiesberger, becoming only the second Austrian to feature in the Ryder Cup. Thanks to Straka’s performances over the course of 2023, European captain Luke Donald selected the Austrian as one of his six captain’s picks.

Sepp Straka | An Overview

Personal Information

Name: Josef ‘Sepp’ Straka
Born: May 1, 1993
Nationality: Austria
Residence: Vestavia Hills, Alabama, United States

Career

College: University of Georgia
Turned Pro: 2016
Professional Wins: 3
Highest World Ranking: 23 – August 27, 2023

Best Results In Majors

Best Finishes:
– Masters Tournament – T30 (2022)
– PGA Championship – T7 (2023)
– US Open – T28 (2019)
– Open Championship – T2 (2023)

Professional Wins – 3

2018 (1) – KC Golf Classic
2022 (1) – Honda Classic
2023 (1) – John Deere Classic

Sepp Straka | What’s In His Bag?

Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (9°; Mitsubishi Kai’li White 60 TX shaft)
Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15°, 21°; Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Orange 80 TX shafts)
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9; True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore (46°, 52°, 56°, 60°; True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts)
Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Tuttle
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV
Shoes: SQAIRZ Speed Bold

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sepp Straka

When and where was Sepp Straka born?

Sepp Straka was born in Vienna, Austria on May 1, 1993. The family moved to Valdosta, Georgia, United States when Sepp was 14.

When did Sepp Straka turn professional?

Straka turned professional after graduating from the University of Georgia. He graduated with a degree in Business Management, and began his professional career on the PGA Tour Canada in 2016, before moving up to the Web.com (now Korn Ferry) Tour a year later.

How many PGA Tour titles has Sepp Straka won?

As of September 2023, Straka is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour. He claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory in February 2022, beating Shane Lowry by a single shot to win the Honda Classic. He then doubled his tally with a victory at the John Deere Classic in 2023, firing in a final round of 62 to win by two strokes.

Who is Sepp Straka married to?

Straka is married to Paige Dean, with the pair getting married in 2021. Dean is the senior acquisitions manager at Southern Veterinary Partners.

Did you Know?

Playing Alongside Twin Brother

Sepp’s twin brother Sam was another member of the team at the University of Georgia. The pair also represented Austria at the European Boys Team Championship, where they came 2nd, which was the highest finish for Austria in the competition.

Austrian PGA Tour History

After finishing in the top 20 on the Web.com Tour Finals money list in 2018, Straka secured his PGA Tour card for the 2018-2019 season. In doing so, he became the first Austrian-born player to secure a full-time PGA Tour card. He then became the first Austrian winner on Tour with his victory at the Honda Classic in 2022.

Breakout Major Season

2023 was Straka’s best year as a professional. Along with winning the John Deere Classic, Straka finished in the top ten of a major for the first time. He came home in a tie for 7th at the PGA Championship, before then finishing T2 at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.