Cristie Kerr Bio
Cristie Kerr (born October 12, 1977) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She has 20 wins on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships, and over $19 million in career earnings. Kerr was the number one-ranked golfer in the Women’s World Golf Rankings for three time periods in 2010. She is naturally left handed but plays golf right handed.
Over a career that began in 1996, Kerr has become one of the most recognizable American players in women’s golf, with consistent success across the LPGA Tour, the Ladies European Tour, and international team competitions. She is also known for her breast cancer activism and her wine ventures.
Early Life and Background
Cristie Kerr was born on October 12, 1977, in Miami, Florida. She started playing golf at the age of eight and developed quickly through junior competition in the region. Her parents are both diabetics, and her mother had a heart attack when Kerr was in the ninth grade. Her parents are later noted to have divorced.
Kerr attended Miami Sunset High School in West Kendall, Florida, from which she graduated before turning professional. Her early competitive record in junior and amateur events signaled a promising career. She won the 1994 Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship, the 1995 Women’s Western Amateur, and the 1995 American Junior Golf Association Junior Player of the Year award.
During her amateur career, she played in the 1996 Curtis Cup and was the low amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open that same year. Her time in Miami shaped the foundation of her game and her competitive mindset before she joined the professional ranks.
Path to Professional Golf
Kerr’s first professional-style victory came in April 1995, when she won the Ironwood FUTURES Classic on the Futures Tour while still an amateur. That win offered an early indication of her ability to compete at a higher level before she finished high school.
She turned professional in 1996 at age 18, playing on both the Futures Tour and the Players West Tour. In October 1996, she tied for sixth at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, earning exempt status for the 1997 LPGA Tour season. Her path from junior standout to exempt LPGA player was completed in just over a year of competitive professional golf.
Cristie Kerr Career
Early Career (1996–2001)
Kerr began her LPGA career in 1997, though her early seasons on tour developed slowly. She broke into the top fifty on the money list in her third season in 1999 but did not record an LPGA win until her sixth season. That period allowed her to gain experience and refine her approach to tournament play.
A highlight during these years was her tie for second at the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open, signaling that she was ready to compete with the tour’s top players. She also began representing the United States in team events, including the 2002 Solheim Cup, as her career progressed.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2002–2009)
Kerr won her first LPGA event at the Longs Drugs Challenge in California in 2002. By 2004, she had become one of the leading players on the tour, with three tournament victories and a fifth-place finish on the money list. She added two wins in 2005 and moved up to third on the money list.
In 2006, she was the only American to win more than one event on the LPGA Tour, claiming three titles. Her first win of 2006 came at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship, where she posted a tournament-record score of 19 under par. She also tied for second at the 2006 Women’s British Open, reinforcing her position as a contender in major championships.
The 2007 season brought her first major championship victory, the U.S. Women’s Open. She followed that with steady play, and by 2009 she had recorded strong major finishes, including a runner-up result at the Chevron Championship. Across these years, she also represented the United States in the Solheim Cup in 2002, 2003, and 2005.
Major Champions Era (2010–2018)
In 2010, Kerr won two of the first 10 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, including the LPGA Championship. She won that major by a record-breaking 12-stroke margin over Song-Hee Kim, the largest victory margin in the event’s history at that time. As a result of her strong play, she rose to the top of the Women’s World Golf Rankings on June 28, 2010, holding the position for three weeks before Ai Miyazato regained the top ranking by a narrow margin.
In 2015, Kerr won the CME Group Tour Championship by one shot over Gerina Piller and Jang Ha-na. That year she made 24 cuts out of 25 events, captured her 17th career victory at the Kia Classic, and posted a 3–0–1 record at her eighth Solheim Cup, helping the U.S. team to victory.
In 2016, she recorded four top-10 finishes, including a tie for seventh at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. She was also part of the victorious U.S. team at the UL International Crown, posting a team-best 3–1–0 record. In 2017, Kerr recorded her 19th and 20th career wins, moving into a tie with Laura Davies for 26th all-time on the LPGA career wins list. That year she also participated in her ninth Solheim Cup, posting a 3–0–1 record and surpassing Juli Inkster for the all-time lead in points recorded by a U.S. player in Solheim Cup history. In 2018, she recorded two top-10 finishes, with a season-best tie for second at the Kia Classic.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kerr’s game is built on strong putting and iron play. She finished in the top five on the LPGA Tour in putts per greens hit in 2005 and 2006, and ranked fifth in greens-in-regulation in 2005. In 2005, she finished in the top 10 in half of the tournaments she entered and ranked second in the LPGA in scoring average, trailing only Annika Sörenstam.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kerr’s most defining moments are her 2007 U.S. Women’s Open title, her 2010 LPGA Championship victory by 12 strokes, and her ascent to number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings in 2010. Her 2017 Solheim Cup performance also set the all-time U.S. record for points in that competition.
Cristie Kerr Career Wins
Cristie Kerr has 20 LPGA Tour wins, two major championships, and additional victories on the Ladies European Tour and the Epson Tour, bringing her professional total to 25 wins. Her victories span more than two decades of competitive play.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Her first LPGA win came at the 2002 Longs Drugs Challenge, and her most recent major was the 2010 LPGA Championship. She won the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2010 LPGA Championship as her two major titles, with multiple wins in nearly every season of her prime years.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her LPGA success, Kerr has recorded one Ladies European Tour win, one Epson Tour win, and additional victories on developmental tours during her early professional years. She represented the United States in numerous Solheim Cup and UL International Crown competitions, contributing to several team titles.
Cristie Kerr Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Cristie Kerr was born and raised in Miami, Florida, by parents who are both diabetics. Her mother, Linda, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and later suffered a heart attack when Kerr was in the ninth grade. Linda has been a key inspiration for Kerr’s breast cancer fundraising efforts, including the Birdies for Breast Cancer foundation, which Kerr created in her mother’s honor.
Personal Life
Kerr married businessman Erik Stevens in 2006. The couple maintains a residence in Scottsdale, Arizona. Their first son, Mason, was born on December 8, 2013, via a surrogate, and their second son, Griffin, was born on August 28, 2018. Kerr is also involved in the wine industry, having launched the Curvature wine label with Pride Mountain Vineyards beginning with the 2006 vintage and later founding Kerr Cellars with winemaker Helen Keplinger.
2025 Season Outlook
Cristie Kerr continues her long-standing career on the LPGA Tour in 2025, building on more than two decades of competitive play. As a two-time major champion and 20-time LPGA winner, she remains a respected veteran presence in events across the tour schedule.
Her career earnings of more than $19 million and her 20 LPGA victories place her among the most accomplished American players in the history of the tour. Her experience in major championships and team competitions, including the Solheim Cup, continues to inform her approach each season.
Looking ahead, Kerr is expected to balance her playing career with her work through Birdies for Breast Cancer, Curvature Wines, and Kerr Cellars. Her continued involvement in charity, business, and competition highlights a well-rounded career in and beyond professional golf.