2023 Epson Tour Top 10 including Malaysia’s Natasha Oon (2nd from left)
For Malaysian professional Natasha Andrea Oon, the journey to the LPGA Tour has been anything but straightforward.
After earning her Tour card for the 2024 season, the 24-year-old is only now, in 2026, set to make her long-awaited debut at the Fortinet Founders Cup – a moment that once seemed uncertain.
Oon’s rise began with a standout 2023 season on the Epson Tour, where she recorded eight top-10 finishes, including a breakthrough victory at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout. Her consistent performances saw her finish inside the top 10 on the Race for the Card rankings, officially securing LPGA status for 2024.
Before turning professional, Oon had already built an impressive résumé. A graduate of San Jose State University, she enjoyed a decorated amateur career, highlighted by being named Mountain West Player of the Year and winning the prestigious Inkster Award in the 2021–2022 season. She also earned First-Team All-America honours and finished runner-up in individual stroke play at the NCAA Championships, firmly establishing herself as one of the brightest young talents in women’s golf.
But just as momentum was building, her career was derailed.
Shortly after earning her LPGA card, Oon suffered a sesamoid injury in her foot, an issue that sidelined her for nearly two full seasons. The injury not only kept her away from competition but also made even basic training difficult, forcing her into a long and often frustrating recovery process.
By late 2025, Oon was still fighting her way back. In her own words, it was a period filled with pain and doubt, as she struggled to regain rhythm and confidence. Yet, determined to move forward, she committed to rehabilitation and gradually worked her way back into competitive shape.
Her return begins on familiar ground.
Natasha Andrea Oon. Photo: Epson Tour
Oon kicked off her 2026 season with two starts on the Epson Tour, using them as a platform to rebuild competitive sharpness. She finished tied 29th at the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf before showing a significant step forward with a tied fifth result at the IOA Golf Classic.
Encouragingly, her game quickly shows signs of life. In one of her early rounds back, she fired a three-under 68, a performance that reflected both her resilience and underlying quality. Despite limited time back with a driver in hand, Oon demonstrates that her ability has not faded.
Now, with those warm-up events behind her, she steps onto the biggest stage in women’s golf.
The Fortinet Founders Cup marks not just her LPGA debut, but the continuation of a journey that was put on hold. For Oon, the goal is simple: to embrace the moment she worked so hard to reach.
After years of promise, setbacks, and recovery, Natasha Andrea Oon is finally ready to begin her rookie season.
