Cameron Mackray Champ Bio
Cameron Mackray Champ (born June 15, 1995) is an American professional golfer from Sacramento, California. Standing as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, Champ turned professional in 2017 and has built a reputation for raw power off the tee. He currently resides in Houston, Texas, and continues to compete at the top level of the sport.
Across his career, Champ has collected four professional victories, including three on the PGA Tour and one on the Korn Ferry Tour. His career-best Official World Golf Ranking stands at 66, reached on July 25, 2021. He is widely regarded as one of the most explosive drivers in the modern game.
Cameron Mackray Champ Career
Early Life and Background
Cameron Mackray Champ was born on June 15, 1995, in Sacramento, California, and grew up in the same region. He is of mixed heritage; his father is biracial, of Black and white descent, while his mother is white. This diverse background shaped his upbringing and his perspective on life inside and outside the sport.
Champ’s early sporting influence came from his father, Jeff Champ, who played two seasons of professional baseball in the Baltimore Orioles organization. That family connection to professional sports helped foster Cameron’s competitive drive from a young age.
Champ attended Texas A&M University, where he played collegiate golf for the Texas A&M Aggies. During his college career, he won the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational and posted top-10 finishes in six other tournaments. He also finished second to Adam Wise at the Pac-12 Robert Brandi Invitational, establishing himself as one of the top amateur players in the country before turning professional.
Path to Professional Golf
Champ’s first major championship exposure came at the 2017 U.S. Open, which he reached through sectional qualifying, where he had to win a playoff just to earn his place. It marked his debut in a major, and he made the most of the opportunity by tying for eighth after two rounds and leading the field in driving distance. He finished at even par, sharing low-amateur honors in spirit with Scottie Scheffler, who finished one shot better at 1-under.
Later in 2017, at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, Champ registered a 129.79 mph average clubhead speed, immediately announcing his power profile to the PGA Tour. In December of that year, he tied for 16th at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, which earned him a place on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2018.
Korn Ferry Tour Success (2018)
During the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour season, Champ won the Utah Championship in July 2018, his first professional victory. He earned $253,731 and finished 6th in the regular-season standings, securing his PGA Tour card for the 2018–19 season. That summer, he averaged 343.1 yards off the tee, the longest average on the tour.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2018–2019)
On October 28, 2018, Champ won his first PGA Tour title at the Sanderson Farms Championship, finishing at 21-under par. He followed that breakthrough with a strong Fall Series, recording a T25 at the Safeway Open, a T28 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a T10 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, and a 6th at the RSM Classic. By November 19, 2018, his world ranking had climbed to 97, and he stood 6th in the FedExCup standings heading into 2019.
For the 2018–19 PGA Tour season, Champ led all players in driving distance with a 317.1-yard average. On September 29, 2019, he captured the Safeway Open with a birdie on the 72nd hole, his first victory in a full-strength PGA Tour event.
Continued PGA Tour Success (2020–2021)
On June 23, 2020, prior to the Travelers Championship, Champ became the second PGA Tour player to test positive for COVID-19, following Nick Watney the previous week. Despite the interruption, he continued to compete at a high level.
On July 25, 2021, Champ won the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities by two strokes. He sealed the victory with a gap wedge from 127 yards on the 72nd hole, leaving himself three feet for par. His final round featured five birdies and no bogeys, finishing at 15-under 269. Louis Oosthuizen, Jhonattan Vegas, and Charl Schwartzel tied for second. The win pushed his career-best world ranking to No. 66.
Driving Style and Strengths
Champ is recognized as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, combining elite clubhead speed with a lower-than-average ball flight. He has worked with instructor Sean Foley since the age of 14, refining a power-based game built for modern, wide-open golf courses. That combination of distance and strategic course management defines his competitive identity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his three PGA Tour wins, Champ has recorded top-10 finishes in two major championships: a T10 at the 2020 PGA Championship and a T10 at the 2022 Masters Tournament. He also competed in the 2017 U.S. Open as an amateur, leading the field in driving distance at 337 yards. Each of these moments has reinforced his standing among the tour’s most dangerous long hitters.
Cameron Mackray Champ Career Wins
Cameron Mackray Champ has accumulated four professional wins, three on the PGA Tour and one on the Korn Ferry Tour. His victory total reflects steady progress since turning professional in 2017, with each win showcasing his power off the tee and his ability to perform under pressure.
PGA Tour Highlights
Champ’s first PGA Tour win came at the 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship, where he set the tone with a 21-under total. He added the 2019 Safeway Open with a clutch birdie on the final hole, then claimed the 2021 3M Open by two strokes. These three titles, combined with consistent FedExCup points, have cemented his place on the PGA Tour.
Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
Champ’s lone Korn Ferry Tour win came at the 2018 Utah Championship, a victory that secured his PGA Tour card for the following season. It marked the first official professional win of his career.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour | 3 | Multiple | Not verified |
| Korn Ferry Tour | 1 | Multiple | Not verified |
Cameron Mackray Champ Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cameron Mackray Champ comes from a family with a strong athletic foundation. His father, Jeff Champ, spent two seasons in the Baltimore Orioles organization, giving Cameron direct exposure to the demands of professional sport. That family legacy has helped shape his discipline and competitive mindset.
Personal Life
Champ is of mixed Black and white descent, with a biracial father and a white mother. He has publicly expressed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He makes his home in Houston, Texas, where he continues to train and prepare for the PGA Tour season.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 PGA Tour season, Cameron Mackray Champ remains one of the tour’s premier long hitters, with a career built on distance and steady ball-striking. His track record of three PGA Tour titles, including the 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship, the 2019 Safeway Open, and the 2021 3M Open, gives him a strong platform to chase additional victories. The combination of experience and power continues to position him as a threat on courses that reward length off the tee.
Working again with longtime instructor Sean Foley, Champ has continued to refine his game, balancing his aggressive driving style with improved accuracy and course management. While specific 2025 results will unfold across the season, his consistency on the PGA Tour since 2018 underscores his staying power. With his career-best world ranking of No. 66 still within reach, Champ remains a player to watch as the season progresses.
