14 Things You Didn't Know About Jhonattan Vegas

14 Things You Didn't Know About Jhonattan Vegas

Jhonattan Vegas TYDK
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Get to know Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas a little bit better.

14 Things You Didn't Know About Jhonattan Vegas

Jhonattan Vegas is Venezuela's most successful golfer with multiple PGA Tour titles to his name.

Representing his country twice at the Olympic games, get to know him here.

14 Things You Didn't Know About Jhonattan Vegas

1. Jhonattan Vegas was born 19th August 1984 in Maturín, Venezuela

2. Vegas started playing the game with a broomstick and a rock. He eventually started playing at a nine-hole course near his home built for oil camp employees.

Jhonattan Vegas TYDK

Vegas celebrates his third PGA Tour title at the Canadian Open. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

3. In 2002, despite not knowing much English, Vegas left Venezuela for Houston in the United States.

4. He earnt a scholarship to the University of Houston.

5. In 2006, he won the Venezuela National Amateur. The next year he would advance to the semi-finals of the US Amateur.

6. He married his wife, Hildegard Struppek, in 2013.

7. Turning pro in 2008, he would gain his PGA Tour card for the 2011 season, becoming the first Venezuelan to ever gain a card.

Jhonattan Vegas TYDK

Colt Knost defeated Vegas 4 and 3 in the semi finals of the US Amateur (Credit Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images)

8. Vegas was a standout third baseman as a junior baseball player, with his hobbies including baseball,  dancing and music.

9. He would win in only his second start as a PGA Tour member, defeating Gary Woodland at the Bob Hope Classic on the second playoff hole.

10. His coach, Franci Betancourt, was a a three-time World Cup participant for Venezuela in 1966, 1968 and 1975.

11. In 2019, Vegas made the longest ever putt at the legendary 17th hole at The Players Championship. It measured 70-feet.

Related: The Best Par 3s In The World

12. He is the only Venezuelan to compete at the President's Cup.

A photo posted by on

13. Vegas represented Venezuela at the 2016 Olympic games and is set to represent them in Tokyo at the 2020 games.

14. In 2016 he won the Canadian Open, defending his title the following year.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

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