Lilia Vu Facts: 26 Things You Didn't Know About LPGA Tour Star
UCLA graduate Lilia Vu is one of the game's top players with two Major wins to her name already
Lilia Vu has quickly ascended to the top of the women's game, with the Californian winning two Majors in 2023 to reach the World No.1 spot.
So how well do you know her? Get to know her life and career better with these facts...
Lilia Vu facts:
1. Her full name is Lillia Kha-Tu Du Vu.
2. Her home town is Fountain Valley, California.
3. Her older brother, Andre, played on the UC Riverside golf team.
4. Vu first picked up a golf club at the age of seven.
5. She was a two-time American Junior Golf Assn. All-American and she qualified for the 2015 US Women’s Open.
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6. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied political science.
7. She was once named Pac-12 Player of the Year.
8. Her father, Douglas, who teaches at David L. Baker Golf Club in Fountain Valley, has been her coach.
9. Vu was the world number one amateur in 2018.
10. The Californian was part of America’s victorious Curtis Cup team in 2018, claiming four points in the process.
11. She ranked first on the all-time UCLA career victory list with eight individual titles.
12. Vu was in the US team that won the Arnold Palmer Cup in France in 2018.
13. Vu turned professional in 2019, but missed the cut in eight of her first nine events, making just $3,830 along the way.
14. She once considered quitting her pro golf aspirations and going to law school.
15. Vu won three times on the Symetra Tour, which is now known as the Epson Tour, the LPGA’s feeder Tour in 2021 and was named Symetra Tour Player of the Year.
16. Her first win on the LPGA Tour came at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February 2023.
17. Her maiden Major title came not long after that at the 2023 Chevron Championship, where she defeated Angel Yin in a playoff before making the traditional leap into the 'new' Poppies Pond.
18. Vu names Rory McIlroy as one of her favorite golfers.
19. She won her second Major title at the 2023 AIG Women's Open, where she carded a stunning final round 67 to beat Charley Hull by six strokes.
20. Several caddies have worked alongside Vu, including her mom, Yvonne, while Cole Pensanti was the lucky looper who carried the bag for her during her Major victories.
21. Her other interests include television and music. Shawn Mendes is one of her favourite singers.
22. Vu was very close to her late grandfather, who built a boat to help his family escape a war-torn Vietnam.
23. She was named LPGA Tour Player of the Year in 2023 and also won the money list and the Rolex Annika Major Award.
24. Vu made her Solheim Cup debut in 2023, where she won 1 point from her four matches at Spain's Finca Cortesin.
25. She won over $3.5m during the 2023 LPGA Tour season.
26. She made her Olympics debut at Paris 2024.
Full Name | Lilia Kha-Tu Du Vu |
Born | October 14 1997, Fountain Valley, California, USA |
College | UCLA |
Turned pro | 2019 |
Current tour | LPGA Tour |
LPGA wins | 5 |
Major wins | 2 |
Career-high world ranking | 1st |
Tournament | Tour | Score |
2021 Garden City Charity Classic | Symetra Tour | -8 (1 stroke) |
2021 Twin Bridges Championship | Symetra Tour | -8 (2 strokes) |
2021 Four Winds Invitational | Symetra Tour | -12 (2 strokes) |
2023 Honda LPGA Thailand | LPGA Tour | -22 (1 stroke) |
2023 Chevron Championship | Major | -10 (playoff) |
2023 AIG Women's Open | Major | -14 (6 strokes) |
2023 The Annika | LPGA Tour | -19 (3 strokes) |
2024 Meijer LPGA Classic | LPGA Tour | -16 (playoff) |
Michael has been with Golf Monthly since 2008. As a multimedia journalist, he has also worked for The Football Association, where he created content to support the men's European Championships, The FA Cup, London 2012, and FA Women's Super League. As content editor at Foremost Golf, Michael worked closely with golf's biggest equipment manufacturers, and has developed an in-depth knowledge of this side of the industry. He's now a regular contributor, covering instruction, equipment and feature content. Michael has interviewed many of the game's biggest stars, including six world number ones, and has attended and reported on many Major Championships and Ryder Cups. He's a member of Formby Golf Club.
- Elliott HeathNews Editor
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