Jennifer Song Bio
Jennifer Song (born December 20, 1989) is an American professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour. She first gained national attention in 2009 when she won both the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Women’s Amateur in the same year, becoming only the fourth player in history to capture both championships and the second to do so in a single season. After a standout amateur career at the University of Southern California, she turned professional in 2010 and built her resume on the developmental circuit before earning full LPGA Tour status.
Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and based in Orlando, Florida, Song has remained a consistent presence on tour for more than a decade. She is recognized for her sharp iron play and her ability to perform under pressure in marquee events, including a runner-up finish at a major championship in 2018.
Early Life and Background
Jennifer Song was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on December 20, 1989, while her father was a graduate student at the University of Michigan. Shortly after her birth, the family relocated to South Korea, where she was raised and where she developed her early love of sport. She holds dual citizenship in the United States and South Korea.
While living in Korea, Song attended Taejon Christian International School in Daejeon, where she stood out as a student-athlete. In addition to her growing interest in golf, she was a striker on the school’s girls’ soccer team and ranked among the top goal scorers in the KAIAC Conference during her sophomore year. Her time on the soccer pitch helped build the athleticism and competitive instincts that would later serve her well on the golf course.
Path to Golf
Song took up golf in South Korea and rose through the national youth system, eventually joining the Korea National Team as a teenager. In 2007, she tied for low amateur honors at the U.S. Women’s Open and reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur, signaling her arrival on the American amateur stage. The following year, she qualified for both the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Women’s Amateur once again, establishing herself as one of the top young amateurs in the world.
In 2008, Song enrolled at the University of Southern California, where she played two seasons of collegiate golf for the Trojans. During her freshman year in 2008-2009, she posted eight top-ten finishes in ten starts, set the program’s all-time single-season scoring average record, and finished the season ranked third in the country. Her honors that year included Freshman of the Year, All-American, All-Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, and All-Pac-10. As a sophomore, she was again named All-American, tied for fifth at the NCAA Championships, and was voted Pac-10 Golfer of the Year.
Jennifer Song Career
Early Career (2010)
Jennifer Song turned professional in June 2010, immediately after representing the United States on the winning 2010 Curtis Cup team. She had been a member of the Duramed Futures Tour since June 2009, qualifying for the developmental circuit while still an amateur. Stepping into the professional ranks, she wasted no time making an impact, winning her first start as a professional at the 2010 Tate & Lyle Players Championship, the sole major tournament on the Futures Tour schedule.
She added a second Futures Tour victory later that season at the Greater Richmond Golf Classic, climbing to fourth on the tour’s money list despite playing in only eight events. Song finished 2010 in second place on the Futures Tour money list, a result that earned her full playing privileges on the LPGA Tour for 2011, and she was also named Futures Tour Rookie of the Year.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2011-2017)
Song joined the LPGA Tour full time in 2011 and steadily built her presence in the professional ranks. In her early years on tour, she posted several made cuts and top finishes, gradually transitioning from a developmental standout to a regular contender. Her amateur pedigree, including low-amateur honors at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship, helped establish her reputation as a player capable of competing in the biggest events.
By 2017, Song was recording top finishes in major championships, including an eighth-place result at the Evian Championship. Her game continued to mature, built on consistent ball-striking and a steady temperament. That consistency set the stage for her biggest career moment the following year.
Major Championship Runners-Up Era (2018-Present)
The defining moment of Song’s professional career came in April 2018 at the ANA Inspiration, one of the LPGA Tour’s five major championships. She finished as a runner-up at the event, ultimately losing in a sudden-death playoff that also included Pernilla Lindberg and Inbee Park. On the second extra hole, Song narrowly missed a putt that would have won her the title, and she was eliminated on the third extra hole with a par while her competitors converted birdies.
Despite the close call, the result cemented her place among the tour’s most resilient competitors. She has continued to play regularly on the LPGA Tour since then, recording additional top finishes in major championships, including a T7 at the 2020 Women’s British Open. As an active LPGA member in the 2025 season, Song remains a steady presence in events around the world.
Driving Style and Strengths
Song is widely regarded as a precise iron player whose ball-striking allows her to attack pins from a variety of lies. Her comfort on Korean-style and parkland courses alike reflects a versatile short game and a strategic approach to course management. Combined with the composure she has shown in pressure moments, such as her three-hole playoff at the 2018 ANA Inspiration, her style has made her a consistent competitor across tour, major, and team events.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Song’s signature achievements are her back-to-back U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women’s Amateur victories in 2009, her role on the winning 2010 U.S. Curtis Cup team, and her 2018 runner-up finish at the ANA Inspiration major. She also won the 2010 Tate & Lyle Players Championship as her first event as a professional and was named Futures Tour Rookie of the Year the same season.
Jennifer Song Career Wins
Jennifer Song has compiled two documented professional victories, both coming on the developmental Epson Tour (formerly the Duramed Futures Tour) during her 2010 rookie season. She has yet to record a win on the LPGA Tour, though her major championship runner-up finish and consistent play in high-profile events have marked her as a perennial contender.
Futures Tour Highlights
Song’s first professional win came at the 2010 Tate & Lyle Players Championship, recognized as the sole major tournament on the Futures Tour schedule. She added a second victory later that year at the Greater Richmond Golf Classic, vaulting to fourth on the tour’s money list despite playing in only eight events. Her strong season ultimately placed her second on the Futures Tour money list and earned her LPGA Tour membership for 2011.
Other Wins and Performances
While Song has notched two professional wins on the Futures Tour, her amateur résumé is filled with major achievements, including her 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women’s Amateur double. She also represented the United States on the victorious 2010 Curtis Cup team, capping one of the most decorated amateur careers of her generation.
Jennifer Song Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jennifer Song was born into an academic family in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where her father was pursuing graduate studies at the University of Michigan at the time of her birth. The family later returned to South Korea, where she was raised and where her parents supported her development in both golf and soccer. Her multicultural upbringing between the United States and South Korea has shaped her dual citizenship and her international perspective on the game.
Personal Life
Song resides in Orlando, Florida, a common home base for many LPGA Tour professionals. She is recognized publicly for her professional accomplishments rather than her private life, and she continues to focus on her career on the LPGA Tour.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 LPGA Tour season, Jennifer Song remains an active member of the tour and continues to compete in regular events. Building on her career-best major finish at the 2018 ANA Inspiration, she has worked to maintain a consistent schedule and remain in contention in weekly events. Her veteran presence on tour provides stability, and she continues to draw on the experience gained from more than a decade of professional competition.
Song’s 2025 outlook is shaped by her history of strong iron play and her ability to navigate major championship setups. With a proven track record of contending in high-pressure moments, including her three-hole playoff at the 2018 ANA Inspiration, she remains a player capable of posting top finishes when her game is in form. Her continued participation in the LPGA Tour reflects a commitment to competing at the highest level of women’s golf.