36-year-old Eric Cole opens up on his plan to get first win on the PGA Tour

Eric Cole won the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year title, popularly known as the Arnold Palmer Award in 2023. The then-35-year-old golfer became the second-oldest player to win the award since Todd Hamilton in 2004. A year later, the experienced golfer is still eyeing his first win on the circuit.

Cole, who earned his PGA Tour card in 2022, is currently teeing up at the Sony Open in Hawaii 2025. The American registered an explosive start in the competition as he carded a bogey-free 64, matching his low round, at the Waiʻalae Country Club in Honolulu. He shared the top of the table position at the end of round 1.

Following the round, the golfer revealed that he is eyeing his maiden win on the PGA Tour and is a “little more oriented” to take the W this year.

Eric Cole said after round 1 of the Sony Open in Hawaii 2025, as quoted by ASAP Sports:

“I'd like to think if I just keep doing what I'm doing and don't try and change too much, then hopefully I'll be in position to win a little bit more often. If I do that, I think by the more times you put yourself there, I think eventually you're going to be able to get over that hurdle.”

Furthermore, replying to a media query on whether winning was his ‘No.1 goal for the season,’ Cole added:

“Yeah, winning is definitely one of them, but I'm a little more oriented. I just want to be in contention a little bit more this year than I was last year. I think if I do that, then it kind of accomplishes the winning goal.”

It is pertinent to note that Eric Cole turned pro in 2009 but only managed to earn his first Korn Ferry Tour card a decade later. He moved up to the PGA Tour in 2022 and has made 37 starts on the circuit since. His best finish came in 2023 when he finished runner-up at the Zozo Championship in Japan.

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Eric Cole’s 2024 PGA Tour season explored

Eric Cole started his 2025 schedule with a forgettable 52nd-place finish at The Sentry last weekend. He carded in rounds of 74-68-68-73 to take the position at Kapalua Resort (Plantation Course) and bagged $53,000. Interestingly, he’d finished T14 in the competition last year and added $320,250 to his bank.

Apart from the top 15 finish at The Sentry, Cole managed some standout performances in 2023. He sat T6 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the ZOZO Championship, earning $300,150 and $266,050, respectively. His T14 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and T7 finish at the Wyndham Championship were among his best outings.

However, he also missed cuts on nine occasions, including at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open.

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Listed below is Eric Cole’s 2024 PGA Tour season with earnings:

• The Sentry - T14 - $320,250
• Sony Open in Hawaii - T13 - $153,135
• The American Express - T21 - $99,120
• Farmers Insurance Open - Missed Cut
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - T14 - $322,500
• WM Phoenix Open - T49 - $22,396
• The Genesis Invitational - T10 - $455,000
• Cognizant Classic - Missed Cut
• Arnold Palmer Invitational - T21 - $224,750
• THE PLAYERS Championship - Missed Cut
• Valspar Championship - T33 - $39,410
• Valero Texas Open - Missed Cut
• Masters Tournament - 52 - $48,000
• RBC Heritage - T33 - $106,167
• Wells Fargo Championship - 68 - $41,400
• PGA Championship - Missed Cut
• Charles Schwab Challenge - Missed Cut
• RBC Canadian Open - Missed Cut
• the Memorial Tournament - T45 - $60,500
• U.S. Open - Missed Cut
• Travelers Championship - T48 - $49,286
• Rocket Mortgage Classic - T6 - $300,150
• John Deere Classic - T7 - $252,400
• Genesis Scottish Open - T46 - $31,369
• The Open - T31 - $90,220
• Wyndham Championship - T7 - $249,245
• FedEx St. Jude Championship - T18 - $270,000
• BMW Championship - T46 - $74,000
• Procore Championship - Missed Cut
• Sanderson Farms Championship - T16 - $108,300
• Shriners Children's Open - Missed Cut
• ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP - T6 - $266,050
• The RSM Classic - T15 - $142,500

It’ll be interesting to see how Eric Cole finishes in Hawaii this weekend.