10 Things You Didn't Know About Mina Harigae

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Matt Cradock

published 14 August 2021

Get to know Mina Harigae a little bit better.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Mina Harigae

Mina Harigae enjoyed a very successful amateur career before turning professional in 2009.

Having been part of the LPGA Tour since 2010, get to know her here.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Mina Harigae

1. Mina Harigae was born 1st November 1989 in Monterey, California.

2. She began playing golf at the age of eight.

3. Growing up, Harigae went to the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. Her high school golf team played its home matches at Spyglass Hill.

4. At the age of 12, she won the California Women’s Amateur Championship. She would go on to win the title a total of four times.

5. Harigae's family own a Japanese restaurant in Monterey called Takara; it has been running for for 31 years.

6. She attended Duke University, leaving after a year to pursue a professional golf career.

7. Turning professional in 2009, Harigae would finish first on the Duramed Futures Tour season-ending money list to earn membership for the 2010 LPGA season.

8. Harigae's fiancé (and also her caddie) is Travis Kreiter, a former professional golfer. They met whilst Kreiter was working in the clubhouse at Superstition Mountain Golf Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona.

A photo posted by on

9. In the 2020 season, she recorded four top-10 finishes including a career-best result of fourth at the CME Group Tour Championship.

10. Harigae currently lives in Arizona.

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Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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