With one PGA Tour America win under his belt, J.M. Butler has been dominating the initial rounds at the Bahamas Golf Classic. But as he rises through the OWGR list, let's take a look at his backstory. 

Life Before J.M. Butler Turned Professional

Born and brought up in Louisville, USA, John Marshall Butler enrolled at Auburn University after graduating from Trinity High School. At the university, he played for the Auburn Tigers men’s golf team while studying psychology. 

As a freshman in 2020, Butler entered the SEC All-Freshman Team and was voted the SEC Freshman of the Week three times. During this time, he became the only collegiate golfer to start in all eight season tournaments and averaged 72.33 strokes a round. But his stance improved in his sophomore year as he logged top-15 finishes in nine events and averaged 70.56 shots per round. 

His time as a junior witnessed him becoming the Tiger Invitational Individual Champion in 2024. At the 2024 NCAA Championship, he was the Tigers’ #2 scorer. Yet, he finished the event at T40. For his strong stance, Butler was voted the All-Southeast Region and Honorable Mention All-American. 

But did he manage a similar feat as a professional?

How Did He Fare as a Professional Golfer?

Butler turned professional right after graduating from college in 2024. He began his journey on the PGA Tour Americas and Korn Ferry Tour events. And his first professional win?

It came at the 2025 Bupa Championship, where he finished at 19-under par. Additionally, he made 16 cuts out of 25 events, won one, finished in 3rd spot in one, and secured seven top 25 finishes within the last two seasons. 

In 2026, Butler debuted on the Korn Ferry Tour and became the sole leader in the Bahamas Golf Classic with a score of 10-under 62. But becoming the first-round leader demanded one thing, according to the 24-year-old. And that’s having one’s wife as the caddie.

Who Caddied for J.M. Butler?

“It’s the best thing ever.” That’s how Butler described having his wife, Demi Hester, as his caddie. J.M. Butler addressed the arrangement as a functional choice, built on trust and clarity. In a system where decision quality often determines advancement, Butler relied on familiarity and direct feedback instead of convention.

When Korn Ferry Tour shared Butler’s thoughts on the choice of caddie, Hester took to the comments and shared her views. 

She wrote, “It really is the best! Blessed we are able to do this together. Super proud of him,” followed by a red heart emoji. 

But can Butler continue with this trend? Can he claim a win with his wife caddying for him in the 2026 season? That remains to be seen. 

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Joyita Das