Natalie Gulbis Professional American golfer Date of Birth: 07.01.1983 Country: USA

1. Natalie Gulbis: American Professional Golfer
2. Early Life and Golf Career
3. Professional Golf Achievements
4. Personal Life, Business, and Media

Natalie Gulbis: American Professional Golfer

Natalie Gulbis is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She was born and raised in Sacramento, California, and is of Latvian descent.

Early Life and Golf Career

Gulbis became interested in golf at the early age of four. By the time she was seven years old, she had won her first tournament. She played in her first LPGA Tour event in 1997 as an amateur at the age of 14 (with a 2 handicap). Gulbis was the top player on the boys' golf team at Granite Bay High School, graduating at 16. She accepted a golf scholarship to the University of Arizona, the 2000 national champion, where she was teammates with fellow freshman Lorena Ochoa. After one season at Arizona, Gulbis left college to turn professional in July 2001 at the age of 18. At the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in October 2001 in Daytona Beach, Florida, Gulbis finished third, earning her card for the 2002 season.

Professional Golf Achievements

Although Gulbis did not win a tournament until her sixth season on tour, she finished sixth on the LPGA money list in her fourth season, earning over $1 million in 2005. She placed in the top 10 in four consecutive LPGA major championships in 2005 and finished in the top 5 twice in the 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship. Her first professional victory came in July 2007 at the Evian Masters in France, where she defeated Jeong Jang in a playoff. Gulbis made a two-putt birdie on the first extra hole to claim the $450,000 winner's purse. Gulbis played on three winning Solheim Cup teams—in 2005, 2007, and 2009. Gulbis announced her retirement after the 2020 LPGA Tour season.

Personal Life, Business, and Media

Gulbis has been considered a sex symbol in the LPGA. Natalie released a 2005 calendar, shortly before the 2004 U.S. Women's Open, which featured her in golf and modelling poses in swimwear. The United States Golf Association (USGA) banned its sale at the event, deeming it inappropriate. The calendar was sold openly in Golf Canada; the USGA was criticized for overreacting. Gulbis also appeared in the November 2004 issue of FHM magazine, who also got a chance to play a round of golf with her at her home course, the Lake Las Vegas Resort, where her calendar photo shoot took place. Gulbis said she enjoys the attention she receives, even if it is for her looks; she has endorsement deals with McGladrey LLP, TaylorMade/Adidas, Canon, Michelob Ultra, SkyCaddie, Data Payment Systems, MasterCard, Winn Golf Grips, Lake Las Vegas Resort, Pure Silk, Lexus, and EA Sports. In 2006, Gulbis began writing a monthly advice column in FHM. In November 2005, The Golf Channel premiered The Natalie Gulbis Show, a reality television show. The second season premiered on October 18, 2006. Gulbis also appeared in the 2007 release of EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour alongside fellow pros Annika Sörenstam, Ian Poulter, and Luke Donald. In August 2007, Gulbis appeared on the cover of the August/September issue of Sactown magazine, in an article profiling the rising star's whirlwind life involving product endorsements and photo shoots. Gil Ozier, vice president of marketing for Raymond Weil, a luxury watchmaker and one of Gulbis' endorsement deals, said that "once she starts winning, she'll be a megastar." Days later, Gulbis won the Evian Masters, her first professional LPGA title.

In 2009, Gulbis appeared as a celebrity apprentice in the second season. During the season, each celebrity raised money for a charity of their choice; Gulbis selected the Boys & Girls Club. She was fired on April 19, 2009, on the show. Gulbis appeared as a showcase model on an April 28, 2009, episode of The Price Is Right. She also participated in the "Hole in One" game to play for a "Shot at the Big Money." She appeared on Sports Jobs with Junior Seau where Seau caddied for her during a practice round for the Safeway Classic in Oregon. In 2010, she appeared on the tenth season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the 12th episode titled "Long Ball." Gulbis appeared in the 2012 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, wearing nothing but body paint. Gulbis contracted malaria while playing in the HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore in late February 2013 and missed tournaments while recovering.

In July 2013, Gulbis became engaged to Josh Rodarmel, a former Yale University quarterback. They were married in December. In 2016, Gulbis spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of Donald Trump. There was speculation that she would run for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District as a Republican in 2018. In May 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Gulbis to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.