Ally Ewing Bio
Ally Leigh Ewing (née McDonald, born October 25, 1992) is an American retired professional golfer who competed on the LPGA Tour. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised in nearby Fulton, she played college golf at Mississippi State University before turning professional in 2015. Over the course of her LPGA career, Ewing accumulated three tour victories and represented the United States in several international team events, including the Solheim Cup.
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2016, Ewing continued to compete at the highest level while managing her condition. She was recognized with the LPGA’s Founders Award in 2024 and announced her retirement following the 2024 season.
Early Life and Background
Ally Leigh Ewing was born on October 25, 1992, in Tupelo, Mississippi, and grew up in Fulton, a small town in the same northeastern corner of the state. She was introduced to golf at a young age and developed her game through local junior circuits in Mississippi. Her path through the amateur ranks included winning the Mississippi State Amateur twice as well as the prestigious North and South Women’s Amateur.
At Mississippi State University, Ewing played four seasons of college golf and became one of the program’s most accomplished players. She won five individual tournaments during her collegiate career, establishing the foundation that would carry her to the professional ranks. Her amateur résumé also featured two major United States team appearances: the 2013 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship and the 2014 Curtis Cup, both of which ended with the U.S. team winning.
Path to Golf
Following her graduation from Mississippi State, Ewing transitioned directly into professional golf in 2015. She earned a conditional LPGA Tour card for the 2016 season by finishing T-22 at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. The early months of her professional career unfolded on the Symetra Tour, the official developmental circuit of the LPGA, where she finished runner-up four times and ended the 2016 money list in second place.
That strong developmental season earned Ewing full-time status on the LPGA Tour beginning in 2017. Her breakthrough on the bigger stage came in 2019, when she was a late addition to the U.S. Solheim Cup team, replacing an injured Stacy Lewis. The invitation signaled her arrival among the top American players and set the stage for her first LPGA victory the following year.
Ally Ewing Career
Early Career (2015-2016)
Ewing’s first years as a professional were spent sharpening her game on the Symetra Tour. She contended regularly, posting four runner-up finishes during the 2016 season and climbing to No. 2 on the developmental tour’s money list. The experience prepared her for the longer courses and deeper fields she would face on the LPGA Tour.
Shortly after securing her LPGA Tour card, Ewing was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She has since worn a glucose alarm patch at all times to monitor her blood sugar during competition, an adjustment she has spoken about as a defining part of her professional journey.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2017-2019)
Ewing played full-time on the LPGA Tour beginning in 2017, gradually working her way into contention in major championships. Her strongest early major result came at the 2019 Chevron Championship, where she finished tied for sixth, confirming her status as a rising American player.
That same year, Ewing received a call-up to the United States Solheim Cup team, stepping in for an injured Stacy Lewis. Her selection for the biennial match between the United States and Europe marked a career milestone and introduced her to one of the most pressurized events in women’s golf.
LPGA Tour Prime (2020-2022)
In October 2020, Ewing won the LPGA Drive On Championship, her first victory on tour. The event was a new addition to the schedule, created in response to cancellations of Asian events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Later in 2020, she began using her married name, Ally Ewing, in official competition.
The 2021 season brought her second LPGA title at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play at Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Ewing went 6-1-0 for the week and defeated Sophia Popov 2&1 in the final match, showcasing her comfort in head-to-head formats. In September 2022, she added a third trophy by making five back-nine birdies to win the Kroger Queen City Championship.
Final Season and Retirement (2023-2024)
Ewing’s 2024 campaign featured a series of strong major-championship performances, including a T5 at the Women’s PGA Championship, a T3 at the U.S. Women’s Open, and a T10 at the Evian Championship. She added a T6 at the 2023 Women’s British Open the previous year, underscoring her consistency across the biggest events in women’s golf.
Off the course, Ewing was honored with the LPGA’s Founders Award in November 2024 in recognition of her character and contributions to the tour. She announced her retirement from professional golf following the 2024 season, closing a decade-long career that began on the Symetra Tour in 2015.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ewing built her reputation on a steady, positional style of play, relying on accurate iron play and a calm temperament in match-play formats. Her victory at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play highlighted her comfort in head-to-head situations, while her repeated contention in major championships reflected a consistent approach under pressure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Ewing’s career were her late selection to the 2019 United States Solheim Cup team, her first LPGA win at the 2020 Drive On Championship, and her match-play title at Shadow Creek in 2021. Her three LPGA Tour victories and her 2024 Founders Award stand as the headline achievements of her professional résumé.
Ally Ewing Career Wins
Ally Ewing recorded three victories on the LPGA Tour between 2020 and 2022, a tally she reached after a developmental season on the Symetra Tour in 2016. Her wins came in three different formats, reflecting a well-rounded skill set across stroke play and match play.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Ewing’s first LPGA title came at the Drive On Championship in October 2020, a tournament created that year due to the cancellation of several Asian events during the COVID-19 pandemic. She added the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play in May 2021 at Shadow Creek, defeating Sophia Popov 2&1 in the final. Her most recent victory came in September 2022 at the Kroger Queen City Championship, where she made five birdies on the back nine to secure the title.
Other Wins & Performances
Before turning professional, Ewing won the Mississippi State Amateur twice and the North and South Women’s Amateur, key amateur victories that signaled her potential. On the Symetra Tour in 2016, she finished second on the money list with four runner-up results, the foundation of her rise to the LPGA Tour.
Ally Ewing Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ewing’s immediate family details outside of her marriage are not widely documented in public sources. Her ties to Mississippi and to Mississippi State University, where she played college golf and where her husband later coached, remain the most prominent family connections associated with her career.
Personal Life
Ally Ewing is married to Charlie Ewing, the head coach of the Mississippi State women’s golf team. The couple’s shared connection to the university has remained a consistent part of her story, both during her amateur years and throughout her professional career. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2016, she has managed the condition throughout her time on tour with the help of a glucose alarm patch worn at all times.
2025 Season Performance
Ewing announced her retirement from professional golf following the 2024 season, meaning she will not compete on the LPGA Tour in 2025. Her final season featured some of her strongest major-championship results, including a T5 at the Women’s PGA Championship, a T3 at the U.S. Women’s Open, and a T10 at the Evian Championship, along with her Founders Award honor.
Although she is no longer playing a full LPGA schedule, Ewing remains connected to the game through her husband Charlie Ewing’s role as head coach of the Mississippi State women’s golf program. Her legacy in women’s golf is anchored by three LPGA Tour victories, a Solheim Cup appearance, and the example she set while competing with Type 1 diabetes.