Sepp Straka is the leader in the final round of the 2025 The American Express, the PGA Tour's kickoff to the West Coast Swing at PGA West on the Pete Dye Stadium Course. With Straka carrying a sizable lead into the final day, he has a great chance to win again.
Straka, whose real first name is Josef, is 31 years old, and he has status on the PGA Tour this season after finishing in the top 50 in the prior season's FedEx Cup points list.
However, for Straka, his journey to the PGA Tour and being on the precipice of a life-changing PGA Tour win is a remarkable story.
Straka was born in Vienna, Austria, and he competes under their flag, including in the 2020 Olympics (played in 2021). He moved to Georgia when he was 14 and went to the University of Georgia for school.
Straka is hitting his prime
Sepp Straka has won at every level, including as an amateur and after he turned pro in 2017. He joined the Korn Ferry Tour that year, winning the KC Golf Classic in the 2018 season on his way to the PGA Tour.
So far, Straka has two wins on the PGA Tour, taking the 2022 The Honda Classic and the 2023 John Deere Classic. He also was on the 2023 European Ryder Cup team.
Entering this week, Straka was 25th in FedEx Cup points and ranked 36th in the Official World Golf Ranking. He earned his way into this event through his status achieved this season on the PGA Tour.
In his personal life, Straka is married to wife, Paige Dean Straka.
What a win at PGA West means
With a win today, Straka would earn the benefits of being a PGA Tour winner, including berths into the The Players in March, the Masters in April (which he already has), the 2025 PGA Championship and British Open Championship in July. He would gain fully exempt status for the remainder of this season and the next two after that. And, according to the 2025 The American Express payout, he would win $1.584 million to top it all off.
