Natalie Gulbis is an American professional golfer on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. With a distinct fashion-model appeal and looks, Natalie brought glamour and attention to women’s golf during the early 2000s. Even though she could never record a victory on the LPGA tour, her 1 career win on the Ladies European Tour and 4 other professional wins cemented her status as one of the recognizable names in women’s golf.
Natalie Gulbis Net Worth
As of 2023, Natalie Gulbis’ net worth is estimated to be around $4 million. While she could not achieve great success on the golf course during her career, she amassed a small fortune through endorsements and other business ventures. Her attractive looks and outgoing personality earned her lucrative deals with companies like Mastercard, Adidas, EA Sports, and more. She was also a part of the reality show ‘The Big Break’ in its early seasons.
Natalie Gulbis’s Early Life
Natalie Anne Gulbis was born on January 7, 1983, in Sacramento, California. Her grandparents ignited her passion for golf at the early age of 4. After noticing Natalie swinging a golf club in the backyard, they took her to a golf course.
She played her first tournament when she was just 7 years old. Natalie then went on to have a very successful junior amateur golf career. She won multiple AJGA and USGA-sanctioned junior events at a very young age. By turning 15 in 1998, Natalie was recognized as California’s top-ranked female junior golfer.
Transition: Now look at Natalie’s professional career after storming women’s amateur golf.
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Natalie Gulbis Career
Turning Pro And Early Success
Natalie officially turned professional in 2000 at the age of 17. She qualified for the LPGA tour soon after in 2001. Her rookie season was successful as the 18-year-old Natalie recorded three top-10 finishes in tournaments.
The year 2002 proved to be a breakthrough one. She recorded an impressive 7 top-10 finishes and ended the season at 34th on the money list. Natalie’s great run continued in 2003 as she grabbed her maiden professional victory at the SEGRA NSW Women’s Open on the Ladies European Tour.
Career-Best Season In 2005
The best season in Natalie’s 14-year-long LPGA career came in 2005. She achieved a career-best 2nd position finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, one of women’s golf’s major tournaments. With 10 top-10 finishes, Natalie ended 2005 with over $1 million in earnings. She also broke into the top 10 of the world amateur golf rankings for the first time, rising to the 9th spot.
Declining Fortune Post 2005
Natalie could never replicate the highs of the 2005 season in her later career. Even though she remained consistently in the top 30 rankings, Gulbis struggled to find positive results on the course.
A recurring back injury also didn’t help her cause. She failed to register a single victory in her 14-year LPGA career of nearly 300 starts. Natalie played her last professional tournament in November 2019, after which she officially announced her retirement in 2020 at 37 years of age.
Natalie Gulbis’s Personal Life
Since breaking onto the scene as a 17-year-old, Natalie’s life has been subject to immense attention and media coverage. Apart from her golfing abilities, she also garnered attraction for her looks, sense of style, and bubbly personality.
Gulbis married Josh Rodarmel, founder of Vision Concepts, in December 2013. However, the pair broke up within a year of their marriage in 2014.
After her breakup with Josh, Natalie moved on and started dating baseball player Josh Scobee in 2016. They got engaged in 2017, but the wedding never occurred as the couple split in 2018, ending the two-year-long relationship.
As of 2023, the now 40-year-old Natalie is possibly single and focused on her business & endorsement ventures.
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Natalie Gulbis Measurements
Natalie has the perfect lean yet athletic frame for a professional golfer. She stands at 5 feet 9 inches(175 cm) and weighs around 145 lbs(66 kg). Her slim physique, blonde hair, and bright blue eyes give her a true model-like appearance, differentiating Natalie from most other LPGA golfers.
Natalie Gulbis Golfer
Despite never winning on the LPGA tour in nearly 300 appearances, one cannot deny Natalie’s talents as a golfer. She was a child prodigy in the sport, picking up the game at 4. Natalie made her mark by having a successful junior amateur golf career.
She consistently stayed in the top 30 rankings for most of her 14-year pro career. Natalie proved she could compete at the highest level, as evidenced by her runner-up finish in 2005. Natalie could have achieved even greater heights in the game if she had taken better care of her body and not suffered too many injuries.
But even with just 1 professional career victory in Europe, Natalie carved her niche in women’s golf as she brought a lot of new fans and media coverage to the sport in the 2000s. She shall always be known as one of the most fashionable, attractive, and recognizable female golfers in the game’s history.
A few Interesting facts about Natalie Gulbis
- After watching a 5-year-old Tiger Woods showcase immense talent on a popular television show, Natalie seriously took up golf.
- She loves playing basketball and claims it helps improve her golf skills.
- Natalie is an only child, and her parents own a jewelry design business based in Las Vegas.
- She runs a charity called the Natalie Gulbis Children’s Foundation, which aims to provide underprivileged children with education and healthcare opportunities.
- Natalie has graced the covers of popular magazines like Sports Illustrated, FHM, Vogue, etc, showcasing her modeling talents.
Conclusion
To summarize, Natalie Gulbis brought beauty, glamour, and global recognition to women’s golf during her career, which spanned from 2002 to 2019. She shall forever remain one of the most fashionable female athletes, breaking stereotypes surrounding the sport of golf. Even though she couldn’t achieve great professional success in wins, Natalie inspired thousands of young girls to pick up the sport through her flashy playing style and media presence.
FAQ’s?
What is Natalie Gulbis’s age?
Natalie Gulbis is currently 40 years old. She was born on January 7, 1983 in Sacramento, California. She will turn 41 in early 2024.
Who is Natalie Gulbis’s husband?
Natalie Gulbis married the founder of Vision Concepts, Josh Rodarmel, in December 2013. However, their marriage ended within a year in 2014. Natalie then dated baseball player Josh Scobee in 2016 and even got engaged to him in 2017. But that relationship also didn’t materialize into marriage as they split in 2018. As of 2023, Natalie does not have a husband, as she is possibly single.
What is Natalie Gulbis’s height?
Natalie Gulbis stands tall at 5 feet 9 inches, which is equal to 175 cm. She has the perfect height and physique for a professional golfer.
Is Natalie Gulbis still married?
No, Natalie Gulbis is not still married. Her first marriage with Josh Rodarmel ended a year back in 2014. She then got engaged to baseball player Josh Scobee in 2017, but they broke up in 2018, ending their two-year relationship. As of 2023, 40-year-old Natalie is not married to anyone.
What are Natalie Gulbis’s measurements?
Natalie Gulbis has ideal lean physique measurements for a golf athlete. She is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 145 lbs or 66 kg. Her slim frame, blonde hair, and bright blue eyes give Natalie a distinguished supermodel-like personality, setting her apart from other LPGA players.
What happened to Natalie Gulbis?
Natalie Gulbis enjoyed a moderately successful 14-year-long career as a professional golfer, playing on the LPGA tour from 2001 to 2019. She saw her peak form in 2005 and, despite her talent, could never win a single event during her time on the LPGA.
Struggling with recurring back injuries, inconsistent form, and personal relationship troubles, Natalie slowly faded out from the scene. She played her last professional tournament in November 2019, after which Natalie officially announced her retirement from pro golf in 2020 at the age of 37. She now focuses on off-course business opportunities and raising her charity foundation.
