Blair O’Neal is a multifaceted American professional golfer, model, and television personality renowned for blending elite athleticism with mainstream media appeal. She gained widespread recognition as the MVP and champion of Golf Channel’s Big Break: Dominican Republic, and has appeared in major publications including Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest.
Beyond competitive play, O’Neal is a respected co-host on Golf Channel’s School of Golf, where she shares her expertise with a broad audience. Her public profile reflects a rare combination of sports achievement, media presence, and lifestyle influence in the golf world.
Early Life
Blair Alana O’Neal was born on May 14, 1981, in Macomb, Illinois. She is the daughter of Robert O’Neal and Londa Cunningham and has two brothers (Tyler and Bryce) and a sister (Brooke). Shortly after her birth, her family relocated to Arizona, where she spent her childhood. From the age of 11, O’Neal’s father involved her in golf training: she and her brother were enrolled in a local junior golf clinic, and she often practiced on the range at Dobson Ranch Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.
O’Neal grew up in Arizona and graduated from Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona in 1999. Publicly available information about Blair O’Neal’s early life is limited; records indicate that she was born in Illinois, moved to Arizona early in childhood, and attended Corona del Sol High School in Tempe.
| Fact Category | Verified & Important Fact |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Blair Alana O’Neal |
| Date of Birth | Born on May 14, 1981 |
| Age | 44 years old (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Professional golfer and television host |
| Major Achievement | Winner of Big Break: Dominican Republic |
| Television Career | Co-host of Golf Channel’s School of Golf |
| College Background | Studied at Arizona State University |
| Brand Endorsements | Long-term ambassador for Cobra-Puma Golf |
| Net Worth | Estimated between $1M and $10M (2026) |
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Professional Beginnings
Blair O’Neal was a standout collegiate golfer at Arizona State University before turning professional in 2004. After college she played in Asia and earned status on the LPGA Symetra Tour (then called the Futures Tour).
Early in her pro career she also launched a modeling business, booking runway shows and shoots; her portfolio grew to include features in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Maxim, Golf Digest and Men’s Health.
O’Neal competed in mini-tours and regional events, then in 2009 was invited to join Golf Channel’s reality series Big Break. In spring 2009 she appeared on Big Break: Prince Edward Island (season 11), and the following year she played on Big Break: Dominican Republic (season 14). These television appearances revived her competitive golf career and raised her profile in the golf community.
Role Progression & Industry Contributions
Around 2012 O’Neal began focusing on golf broadcasting and instruction content. After five years of competitive touring (2012–2014 on the Symetra Tour), she transitioned into television, building on her Big Break exposure.
She quickly became a regular on Golf Channel. For nearly a decade she has co-hosted School of Golf with veteran instructor Martin Hall, guiding viewers through drills and techniques.
O’Neal has also appeared on other Golf Channel programs including Best Lessons Ever, Como Concepts, Playing Lessons and Morning Drive and she continues to serve as an ambassador for women’s golf.
In addition to on-camera roles, O’Neal has leveraged her experience as a player and model to mentor others: she speaks at golf clinics and events, and she has helped grow grassroots women’s golf initiatives.
Notably, she has maintained a long-term equipment sponsorship with Cobra-Puma (a partner for over 15 years), and she used her media platform to pioneer the “golf influencer” model.
As she puts it, she was “one of the first girls really doing [Instagram]” for golf by blending tournament coverage with lifestyle content.
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Notable Career Milestones
- Golf Channel Big Break: Winner of Big Break: Dominican Republic (2010) and runner-up on Big Break: Prince Edward Island (2009). These results gave O’Neal financial support to pursue her golf career at higher levels.
- NCAA Long-Drive Champion: Two-time NCAA women’s long-drive champion (1999 and 2002) during her tenure at Arizona State.
- Major Publications: Featured in national publications including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Maxim, Golf Digest, and Men’s Health, reflecting her crossover appeal in sports and lifestyle media.
- Golf Channel Instruction: Co-host of Golf Channel’s instructional series School of Golf (since around 2014), marking a sustained run as a broadcast personality.
- GolfPass/Glam Golf: Launched the streaming series Glam Golf with Blair O’Neal in March 2025, a creative format show where she competes in teams with influencers and celebrities.
- Equipment Partnerships: Longstanding equipment deal with Cobra-Puma (now Cobra Golf), serving as a company ambassador and demonstrating brand loyalty over many years.
- Big Break Invitational: Competed in the inaugural Big Break Invitational (2015), a celebrity tournament broadcast on Golf Channel.
Current Position & Ongoing Initiatives
As of late 2025, Blair O’Neal remains a prominent Golf Channel and GolfPass on-air talent. She continues as co-host of School of Golf with Martin Hall and has recently branched into entertainment-style golf programming.
In March 2025 she debuted Glam Golf with Blair O’Neal, a GolfPass original series that pits teams of golfers, celebrities and social media influencers against each other in fun 9-hole matches.
Looking ahead to 2026, Golf Channel announced in October 2025 that O’Neal will co-host the revived Big Break series (titled “Big Break x Good Good”) alongside influencer Matt Scharff.
This return of Big Break is scheduled for August 2026 and will feature O’Neal as one of the lead hosts. In her current role O’Neal balances these media projects with partnership appearances and event hosting, solidifying her reputation as a seasoned golf broadcaster and brand ambassador.
Blair O’Neal Net Worth
As of 2026, Blair O’Neal’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $10 million. She has built her wealth through her long career as a professional golfer, model, and television personality, including co-hosting Golf Channel programs like School of Golf. She also earns income from brand endorsements, sponsorships, and leveraging her large social media following. These figures come from online entertainment/finance sites and have not been confirmed by major financial outlets, so they should be treated as approximate.
