Carlota Ciganda Bio
Carlota Ciganda Machiñena (born 1 June 1990) is a professional golfer from Pamplona, Spain, who competes on both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, she is recognized for her powerful ball striking and steady temperament under pressure. Over the course of her career, Ciganda has built a reputation as one of the most successful Spanish golfers of her generation, highlighted by her 2012 sweep of the LET’s top individual honors. Her international schedule and consistent finishes across major championships have made her a fixture in team competitions representing Europe.
Early Life and Background
Carlota Ciganda Machiñena was born on 1 June 1990 in Pamplona, Spain, where she continues to make her home. She first picked up a golf club at the age of five, encouraged by her father, whose influence helped shape her early connection to the sport. Coming from a family with a strong sporting tradition, Ciganda drew inspiration from her uncle, the former football player and coach José Ángel Ziganda, whose competitive mindset left a lasting impression on her approach to athletics.
Growing up in Pamplona, Ciganda quickly rose through Spain’s junior golf ranks, becoming the Spanish National age group champion every year from 2000 to 2006. Her success at home earned her selection to prominent junior teams, including the 2004 and 2006 European Junior Ryder Cup sides and the 2005 and 2007 European Junior Solheim Cup teams. She also represented Spain at the 2006 and 2008 Espirito Santo Trophy, helping her country to a runner-up finish in 2008. These formative experiences established her as one of Europe’s most promising amateurs.
Path to Professional Golf
Ciganda moved to the United States to attend Arizona State University from 2008 to 2011, where she majored in Business Administration. As a freshman in 2009, she was part of the Sun Devils team that won the NCAA Championship, and she went on to make conference history by winning consecutive Pac-10 Championships in 2009 and 2010 before finishing third in 2011. Her college experience sharpened both her game and her comfort competing on American soil, paving the way for her eventual transition to the LPGA Tour.
Before turning professional, Ciganda compiled an impressive amateur résumé, including the British Ladies Amateur title in 2007 and the European Ladies Amateur Championship in 2004 and 2008. She returned to the British Ladies Amateur final in 2009, finishing as runner-up to her Arizona State teammate Azahara Muñoz. Ciganda also gained early exposure to professional events as a teenager, playing the 2005 Tenerife Ladies Open at just 14 years old and later posting top finishes at the 2007 Open De España Femenino and the 2008 Tenerife Ladies Open.
Carlota Ciganda Career
Early Career (2011–2012)
Carlota Ciganda Machiñena turned professional in May 2011 and made her debut the following month at the Tenerife Ladies Match Play, where she finished second to Becky Brewerton. She spent her rookie season primarily on the Ladies European Tour Access Series, capturing the Murcia Ladies Open. In December 2011, she tied for 34th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn Priority List Category 20 status, then secured full playing rights on the Ladies European Tour by finishing third at the LET Final Qualifying School later that month.
Her 2012 LET season marked one of the most celebrated rookie campaigns in tour history. Ciganda played in 19 tournaments, winning twice at the Deloitte Ladies Open and the China Suzhou Taihu Open while recording ten additional top-10 finishes. She claimed the ISPS Handa Order of Merit with €251,289.95 in earnings, finished second on the European Solheim Cup points list, and was voted Players’ Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and overall Player of the Year by her peers.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2012–Present)
Ciganda joined the LPGA Tour in 2012 alongside her LET membership, transitioning into a global schedule that soon produced strong major championship showings. Her breakthrough result came at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2018, where she finished third, followed by top finishes at the Women’s PGA Championship and Women’s British Open later that same season. Between 2015 and 2023, she posted multiple top-five finishes across all five LPGA majors, reinforcing her status as a consistent contender on the biggest stages.
She has accumulated three LPGA Tour victories and eight Ladies European Tour titles, along with one win on the LPGA of Korea Tour and one additional professional victory, for a total of 12 professional wins. In 2019, Ciganda claimed the ladies’ prize in the AON Risk Reward Challenge, earning a $1,000,000 payout. Her major championship résumé includes a T4 at the Chevron Championship in 2015 and 2019, a T3 at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2020 and 2023, a T7 at the Women’s British Open in 2018 and 2019, and a T3 at the Evian Championship in 2022.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most discussed moments of Ciganda’s career came at the 2023 Evian Championship, where she was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard after a slow-play penalty on the ninth hole. Despite appealing the ruling, she returned her card without adding the two-stroke penalty and was removed from the tournament. She was also a member of Spain’s 2009 Mediterranean Games team, contributing to a team gold in Pescara, and she has been a longtime presence on Europe’s Solheim Cup rosters.
Carlota Ciganda Career Wins
Across her professional career, Carlota Ciganda Machiñena has recorded 12 verified victories spanning four tours. Three of those wins have come on the LPGA Tour, eight on the Ladies European Tour, one on the LPGA of Korea Tour, and one additional title on a secondary circuit. She has also captured the 2009 Mediterranean Games individual and team gold medals while representing Spain.
Ladies European Tour Highlights
Ciganda’s LET career began with her 2011 win at the Murcia Ladies Open on the Access Series, followed by her two breakthrough victories in 2012 at the Deloitte Ladies Open and the China Suzhou Taihu Open. She added further LET titles across subsequent seasons to reach eight total wins on the tour, including strong showings that helped her qualify for multiple European Solheim Cup teams. Her consistency on the LET has been a hallmark, with frequent top finishes that have kept her inside the tour’s upper ranks for more than a decade.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her LET success, Ciganda has posted three LPGA Tour wins and one co-sanctioned victory on the LPGA of Korea Tour, underscoring her ability to win across multiple competitive landscapes. Her amateur record remains one of the most decorated in Spanish golf history, highlighted by the 2007 British Ladies Amateur and back-to-back European Ladies Amateur titles in 2004 and 2008. She also medaled at the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, both individually and as part of Spain’s team.
| Tour | Wins |
|---|---|
| LPGA Tour | 3 |
| Ladies European Tour | 8 |
| LPGA of Korea Tour | 1 |
| Other | 1 |
Carlota Ciganda Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carlota Ciganda Machiñena comes from a family with deep sporting roots in Pamplona. Her father introduced her to golf at the age of five and remained a guiding influence throughout her junior career. Her uncle, José Ángel Ziganda, is a well-known former Spanish football player and coach, and his competitive example helped shape her disciplined approach to elite sport.
Personal Life
Ciganda continues to reside in her hometown of Pamplona, Spain, where she was born and raised. A multilingual athlete, she speaks four languages, a skill that has served her well across the international tour schedule. Outside of competitive play, she maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow her career through her official channels.
2025 Season Performance
Carlota Ciganda Machiñena entered the 2025 LPGA Tour season continuing her dual membership on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, building on more than a decade of consistent professional play. Her schedule remains centered on the major championships, where she has compiled multiple top-five finishes throughout her career, including top results at the Chevron Championship, the Women’s PGA Championship, and the Evian Championship. With 12 professional wins already in hand, Ciganda remains focused on adding to her total while pursuing a first individual major title.
Her role within the European Solheim Cup framework continues to be a defining element of her season outlook, as her career points and match-play experience keep her in contention for team selection. As one of the most experienced Spanish players on tour, she carries leadership responsibilities both on and off the course, mentoring younger European players. Her familiarity with American venues, sharpened during her Arizona State years, gives her a competitive edge when the LPGA Tour visits U.S. courses.
Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Ciganda’s priorities include strong major championship performances, continued accumulation of LET points, and another push into the season-ending events. Her combination of distance off the tee, reliable iron play, and steady temperament suggests she remains a threat in any field she enters. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see whether the 2025 campaign delivers the long-awaited breakthrough major victory for one of Spain’s most accomplished golfers.