American golfer Ryan Gerard is the talk of the 2025 PGA Championship.
Gerard, 25, found himself at the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the tournament on Thursday, May 15, an impressive feat in a stacked field that includes names like Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler.
Making matters even more special is that Gerard is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, less than a 3 hour drive from Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, the location of this year’s PGA Championship.
“It’s really cool,” Gerard said after his round. “Obviously, it’s nice being where I came from. You know, I feel very comfortable here. There’s a lot of people here that I know and I’ve been fortunate enough to play this golf course a few times. And all of that is fantastic, and it’s definitely helped in the preparation.”
For more about Gerard’s history, keep reading.
He’s a Proud North Carolina Tar HeelGerard graduated from the University of North Carolina in June 2022.
“It’s hard for me to find words adequate enough to express how much UNC has meant to me the last few years,” he posted via Instagram after graduating. “When I first toured the UNC Campus 8 years ago, I knew it was a second home for me. Many years later it still feels that way. Thank you UNC for all the good memories and important moments that helped me grow as a person and as a student-athlete.”
Gerard added, “Thank you to my coaches, who took a chance on a young kid with a weird swing who just wanted to play golf in light blue. I have learned so much from you guys and this program that was built in the last 5 years will continue to get better because of you.”
He Turned Pro Right After Graduating From CollegeGerard made his PGA Tour debut at the 2022 US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
“What a cool week,” he wrote via Instagram. “Pro debut at the US Open was a childhood dream come true. Didn’t have my best stuff but learned a lot and had fun.”
He Started Playing Golf at a Young AgeAccording to Gerard, he received his first set of golf clubs when he was 2 years old.
“As soon as I could walk, I had a club in my hand,” Gerard told reporters in 2023. “I apparently just loved golf. I was told that as a little kid, I would take shovels and rakes I found at daycare and swing them around like golf clubs. I always got in trouble for doing it, because I nearly took the heads off other kids. Anything that could be turned into a ball or a club was fair game for me.”
His Father Was a Collegiate GolferGerard’s dad, Robert, played golf at Florida Atlantic University.
“Not only has my dad always been passionate about the game of golf, but he has made it a point to be there to push me along in any way he could help,” Gerard said in 2023. “He would drop anything to come and help me. I have really benefited from that, and I really, really appreciate him for that.
He added, “My mom and dad both care a lot.”
Gerard played the violin for “14 for 15 years,” he estimated.
While he doesn’t play regularly anymore, he told PGATour.com that if he picked up the instrument now he “wouldn’t embarrass myself in most social settings.”
“I never like doing something for super long because I’ll become too attached to it and it will be a time vacuum,” he explained. “I have a new hobby almost every year and lose it halfway through or change it up.”
