Name: Eric Cole's journey to PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year
Uploaded: 2024-01-03T20:14:35.110Z
Duration: 536 s

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Justin Rose makes birdie on the par-3 17th hole.

Justin Rose makes birdie on No. 17 at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Sungjae Im powers in 40-footer from from fringe for birdie on the par-3 14th hole.

Sungjae Im powers in putt for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Keegan Bradley nails 22-footer for birdie on the par-4 6th hole.

Keegan Bradley curls in 22-foot birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Brian Harman knocks in 11-foot birdie putt on the par-5 2nd hole.

Brian Harman knocks in birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Adam Scott makes birdie on the par-3 14th hole.

Adam Scott's aggressive tee shot sets up birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Ludvig Åberg ends his day with a 12-footer for birdie from the fringe on the par-4 18th hole.

Ludvig Åberg sink 12-foot birdie from fringe at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Matt Fitzpatrick makes a 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 6th hole.

Matt Fitzpatrick makes birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Maverick McNealy cards back-to-back birdies on the par-5 2nd hole.

Maverick McNealy makes back-to-back birdies at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Brian Harman hits a dialed-in approach, leading to birdie on the par-4 1st hole.

Brian Harman's dialed-in approach yields birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Cameron Young hits a well-played tee shot that leads to birdie on the par-3 17th hole.

Cameron Young's well-played tee shot sets up birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Maverick McNealy hits a well-flighted approach shot, leading to birdie on the par-4 1st hole.

Maverick McNealy's well-flighted approach sets up birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Ryo Hisatsune powers in 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 9th hole.

Ryo Hisatsune powers in putt for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Brian Campbell makes birdie on the par-5 2nd hole.

Brian Campbell's nice pitch leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Keegan Bradley hits a tight approach shot, setting up birdie birdie on the par-4 3rd hole.

Keegan Bradley's tight approach leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Jacob Bridgeman hits a lovely tee shot, leading to birdie on the par-3 14th hole.

Jacob Bridgeman's beautiful tee shot leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Sepp Straka puts in 14-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th hole.

Sepp Straka puts in 14-footer for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Davis Thompson hits a perfect tee shot that leads to birdie on the par-3 17th hole.

Davis Thompson's perfect tee shot leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Matt Fitzpatrick chips in for eagle on the par-5 2nd hole.

Matt Fitzpatrick chips in for eagle at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Thomas Detry hits a greaat tee shot that sets up birdie on the par-3 7th hole.

Thomas Detry's great tee shot leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Patrick Cantlay rolls in 12-footer for birdie on the par-4 1st hole.

Patrick Cantlay rolls in birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Cameron Young hits a beautiful approach shot that leads to birdie on the par-4 12th hole.

Cameron Young's beautiful approach sets up birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Ludvig Åberg chips in from 22-feet for birdie on the par-4 12th hole.

Ludvig Åberg's chip-in for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Austin Eckroat hits a tremendous tee shot that sets up birdie on the par-3 17th hole.

Austin Eckroat's tremedous tee shot leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Jason Day rolls in 5-foot birdie putt on the par-4 1st hole.

Jason Day gets his day started with birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Byeong Hun An thorw dart on approach, leading to birdie on the par-4 16th hole.

Byeong Hun An throws dart to set up birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Tony Finau cards back-to-back birdies on the par-4 16th hole.

Tony Finau cards second-straight birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Adam Scott from off the green nails a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 7th hole.

Adam Scott nails 27-footer for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Viktor Hovland makes birdie on the par-5 2nd hole.

Viktor Hovland puts down short birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Tony Finau hits a bump-and-run pitch shot that leads to birdie on the par-5 15th hole.

Tony Finau's bump-and-run leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Max Homa hits a gorgeous bunker approach shot, leading to birdie on the par-4 16th hole.

Max Homa's gorgeous bunker approach leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Xander Schauffele drains a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4 1st hole.

Xander Schauffele drains 25-footer for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Cameron Young from the off green sinks a 13-footer for birdie on the par-4 10th hole.

Cameron Young sinks 13-footer for birdie from off green at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Daniel Berger drips in a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 2nd hole.

Daniel Berger drips in birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Cameron Young hits a smart bunker shot, setting up birdie on the par-4 9th hole.

Cameron Young's smartly-played bunker shot leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Patrick Rodgers buries 17-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 17th hole.

Patrick Rodgers buries 17-foot birdie putt from off green at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Austin Eckroat from the fringe rolls in 40-foot birdie putt birdie on the par-3 14th hole.

Austin Eckroat rolls in birdie putt from 40-feet at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Byeong Hun An cards his second-straight birdie on the par-4 13th hole.

Byeong Hun An makes back-to-back birdies at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Akshay Bhatia hits a well-executed chip, setting up birdie on the par-5 2nd hole.

Akshay Bhatia's well-executed chip leads to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Byeong Hun An nails a 28-footer for birdie on the par-4 12th hole.

Byeong Hun An nails 28-foot birdie putt from off green at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Tony Finau cards his second-straight birdie on the par-4 12th hole.

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Max Homa hits a right-to-left breaking putt for birdie on the par-4 13th hole.

Max Homa's right-to-left breaking birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Tony Finau trickles in 23-footer for birdie on the par-4 11th hole.

Tony Finau trickles in 23-foot birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Sam Burns starts his third round with birdie on the par-4 1st hole.

Sam Burns starts his day with birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Cameron Young hits a wonderful approach shot that leads to birdie on the par-5 5th hole.

Cameron Young's wonderful approach eventually sets up birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Davis Thompson curls in a 20-foot birdie putt birdie on the par-3 7th hole.

Davis Thompson curls in 20-footer for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Shane Lowry buries 12-foot birdie putt on the par-4 1st hole.

Shane Lowry buries putt for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Byeong Hun An hits a chip that rattles flagstick, leading to birdie on the par-4 9th hole.

Byeong Hun An nearly chips in leading to birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Eric Cole drops in 39-foot birdie putt on the par-3 7th hole.

Eric Cole drops in 39-footer for birdie at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Byeong Hun An pours in 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 7th hole.

Byeong Hun An pours in birdie putt at RBC Heritage

In the third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage, Bud Cauley rolls in a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-4 9th hole.

Bud Cauley rollls in short putt for birdie at RBC Heritage

Recap his route to the PGA TOUR with 35-year-old Rookie of the Year Eric Cole and insight from his mom, Laura Baugh, who earned the 1973 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. The journey included his time spent on the Minor League Golf Tour, and recovering from a back injury. Cole earned the 2023 Arnold Palmer Award for Rookie of the Year with two runner-up finishes, seven top-10 finishes and being the only rookie to finish in the top 50 of the FedExCup.