Lizette Salas Bio
Lizette Salas (born July 17, 1989) is an American professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour. A native of Azusa, California, she has been a steady presence on the circuit since earning full playing status in 2012. She is recognized for her accurate ball striking and has represented the United States in multiple international team competitions. Across her career, she has collected two LPGA Tour titles and has come close to major-championship glory on several occasions.
Early Life and Background
Lizette Salas was born on July 17, 1989, in Azusa, California, where she was raised and still resides. She graduated from Azusa High School in 2007 after developing her golf game in the local junior circuits. Standing 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m), she learned the game in the same foothill community that continues to serve as her home base.
Salas went on to earn a scholarship to the University of Southern California, where she played four seasons of college golf. She graduated in 2011 with a degree in sociology, becoming the first member of her immediate family to earn a college degree. Her time at USC laid the foundation for a smooth transition into the professional ranks.
Path to Golf
At the University of Southern California, Salas piled up three collegiate wins and earned a string of conference and national honors. She was named the 2008 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, followed by Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 2009 and 2010. She was a Pac-10 All-Conference First Team selection in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and an NGCA All-American First Team selection in 2009 and 2011. She remains the only USC student-athlete to be recognized as an All-American in each of her four collegiate seasons.
In July 2010, while still an amateur, Salas qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open, her first taste of a professional tournament. She opened with rounds of 79 and 77 and missed the cut, but the experience confirmed her readiness to compete at the highest level. She turned professional in 2011 after completing her USC degree.
Lizette Salas Career
Early Career (2011)
Salas began her professional career on the Symetra Tour in 2011, playing seven events and finishing 45th on the money list. That same year she returned to the U.S. Women’s Open as a professional and improved to a T15 finish, signaling quick progress. She capped the season at LPGA Qualifying School in the fall, finishing 20th to earn full status on the LPGA Tour for 2012.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2012–2014)
After joining the LPGA Tour in 2012, Salas built momentum through steady ball striking and accurate driving. Her breakthrough came in 2014 at the Kingsmill Championship, where she won by a four-stroke margin for her first LPGA title. That victory announced her arrival as a force on tour.
She continued to rise in 2015, surpassing the $2 million mark in career earnings after a runner-up finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic. That season she competed for the second time on the U.S. Solheim Cup team, ranked sixth on tour in driving accuracy, and placed 10th in putting average.
Consolidation and Major Contention (2016–2019)
In 2017, Salas posted eight top-10 finishes, including four consecutive top-five results, with a season-best T3 at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship. That year she also represented the United States for a third time on the Solheim Cup team. The following season she added four more top-10s, highlighted by runner-up finishes at the Kia Classic and the Indy Women in Tech Championship.
Her most memorable major-championship moment to date came in 2019 at the Women’s British Open, where she finished second. She has since continued to contend in the biggest events, including another runner-up at the Women’s British Open in 2021 and a second-place finish at the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship.
Notable Events and Milestones
Salas’s career is anchored by her four-stroke victory at the 2014 Kingsmill Championship and her back-to-back runner-up finishes in major championships. Reaching $2 million in career earnings in 2015 and three Solheim Cup appearances further underscore her longevity on the LPGA Tour.
Lizette Salas Career Wins
Lizette Salas has recorded two career LPGA Tour victories, both earned through sharp iron play and reliable scoring in the final rounds. Her wins have been spread across the regular schedule rather than concentrated in any single stretch, reflecting her consistency from year to year.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Her first LPGA Tour win came at the 2014 Kingsmill Championship, a four-stroke victory that announced her as a champion on the circuit. Her second title followed in the seasons after, cementing her status as a two-time winner. She has additionally posted runner-up finishes at the Women’s British Open in 2019 and 2021, and at the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship, narrowly missing major honors.
Lizette Salas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Salas grew up in Azusa, California, in a close-knit family. Her graduation from the University of Southern California in 2011 made her the first member of her immediate family to earn a college degree, a milestone she has often cited as a point of pride.
Personal Life
Salas continues to make her home in Azusa, California, the same foothill community where she grew up and learned the game. She keeps her personal life largely private while remaining active with fans through her social media presence.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Lizette Salas remains a familiar face on the LPGA Tour, drawing on more than a decade of experience. Her emphasis on accuracy off the tee and a steady short game continues to suit a variety of course setups, from tight parkland layouts to coastal British Open-style tests.
With two LPGA titles and a strong track record in major championships, she is positioned to contend for a third victory whenever her game clicks. Her history of team play, including multiple U.S. Solheim Cup appearances, also keeps her in the mix for international team events in 2025.