Holly Sonders: From Fairways to the Spotlight – The Journey of a Former Golfer Turned Media Icon
Holly Sonders is one of the most interesting and admired names in the world of sports broadcasting. Holly Niederkohr was born on March 3, 1987, in Marysville, Ohio. She grew up in a family that loved sports, especially golf. Her mother, Sandy Niederkohr, used to be a golf champion, and her father, Dan Niederkohr, was an optometrist. Sonders was interested in golf from a young age. She won her first organized tournament when she was only seven years old. She had already won the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and the UTC National Championship by the time she was 14, showing that she was a very talented golfer.
However, a devastating knee injury at age 20 derailed her dreams of a professional golf career, leading her to pivot toward journalism and broadcasting – a decision that would catapult her into the national spotlight. But when she hurt her knee badly at the age of 20, her dreams of becoming a professional golfer were dashed. She then turned to journalism and broadcasting, which would make her famous across the country.
Life as a child and a college golfer
Sonders’ serious athletic career started when she was in high school at Marysville High School in Ohio. She was great at golf, basketball, and baseball. In fact, she played on boys’ teams before switching to the girls’ basketball team at Marysville Excessive College, where she was a four-year starting point guard. Golf was still her true calling, though, and her mother’s successes had a big impact on her. Sonders did very well in junior tournaments, making it to the round of 16 in the 2007 Women’s Western Amateur and playing in the 2006 United States Women’s Amateur Championship.
Sonders started college at Michigan State University in 2005, where she balanced her love of golf with her studies by majoring in journalism. She was a four-year starter for the Michigan State Spartans women’s golf team and was named Academic All-Big Ten in her second and third years. Her work was a big part of the team’s 2007 Big Ten Conference championship win and two trips to the NCAA Championship tournament. Sonders graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, which set the stage for her next chapter. She had knee surgery that kept her from playing during her junior year and left her unable to walk for months, which ended her dreams of becoming a pro.
Sonders said in a 2013 Golf Digest interview, “That was a sad time, to be 20, 21 years old and know your dream of playing professionally is over.” But her strength shone through, turning personal problems into professional chances.
Transition to Broadcasting: The Growth of Sports Media Sonders’ transition to broadcasting was smooth because of her golf knowledge and journalism degree. After she graduated, she got her first job as an on-air reporter at WBNS-10TV in Columbus, Ohio. Then she worked for the Big Ten Network. She worked as a field reporter for KATV for a short time before getting her big break in 2011 when she joined NBC’s Golf Channel.
Sonders quickly became a fan favorite at the Golf Channel, where she hosted popular shows like Morning Drive, School of Golf, and Playing Lessons with the Pros. Her ability to be on camera and her deep knowledge of the game made her a regular on golf shows. She even collaborated with her then-husband, radio host Erik Kuselias, on segments. Sonders made news in 2014, for better or worse, at the U.S. Open when she asked Jordan Spieth lighthearted, flirtatious questions to “lighten the mood.” This led to both criticism and clarification from the broadcaster herself.
That same year, she transitioned to FOX Sports, where she served as a primary on-air talent for United States Golf Association (USGA) events, including the U.S. Open, and as an NFL sideline reporter. Her versatility also included studio shows on FOX Sports 1, which made her one of the most well-known female voices in sports media. Sonders did well on national TV for more than ten years, from the ages of 21 to 31, covering big events and getting praise for how calm she was under pressure.
Relationships, marriages, and changes in personal life
Sonders’ personal life has often intersected with her professional one, drawing media scrutiny. In 2014, she married Erik Kuselias, a fellow broadcaster she met at the Golf Channel. However, they divorced by 2016. After her divorce, she briefly dated Kliff Kingsbury, the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, in 2019. She called him “the best human being I know” on Instagram. She was also engaged to gambler “Vegas Dave” Oancea, but that relationship ended quickly.
Sonders fell in love with boxing great Oscar De La Hoya in 2021. The couple met during an interview at a Bally’s Fight Night event, and their relationship went viral when she revealed a large tattoo on her back depicting De La Hoya’s 1992 Olympic gold medal victory – inked by his brother-in-law. Sonders stood by De La Hoya during his 2022 sexual assault lawsuit, which he called “malicious accusations.” They went to court dates and fights together. De La Hoya has said that she is “the most caring, sweetest person I’ve ever known.” On Thanksgiving 2023, the couple moved into a $14.6 million mansion in Henderson, Nevada.
Sonders has been open about getting cosmetic work done, like Botox and fillers, and she has talked about it on social media to show off her “youthful and glamorous appearance.” In August 2025, she posted selfies showing bruises from dissolving facial fillers. She wanted to go back to her “younger self,” which made fans feel better after they were worried about the pictures at first. Earlier in June 2025, she turned heads at UFC 317 in a form-fitting red gown, stealing the spotlight from the fighters who were with De La Hoya.
Career Changes: From Broadcasting to Starting a Business
After five years at FOX Sports, Sonders left traditional broadcasting in 2019 to become independent. She started her own website, hollysonders.com, to share exclusive content. She told Golf Digest in 2023 that she was burned out and wanted to be her own boss. “I spent 10 years on national TV… but at some point, you kind of want to work for yourself.” This change led her to become a model, an influencer on social media, and a business owner.
Sonders announced the launch of “Exposed Sports” in 2023. It was first teased as a “Topless Sports League” and features Instagram influencers in competitive, oiled-up sports challenges. This is a bold, NSFW return to athletics that uses her brand. She is in charge of operations to make sure the safety and quality of the participants, using her experience in broadcasting. Her net worth is thought to be about $6.5 million as of 2025, thanks to her work as a journalist, endorsements, and new business ventures.
Sonders is still active on social media, where she has more than 281,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter) under the name @holly_sonders. Her bio says, “former NBC and FOX Sports broadcaster.” Living my life and loving my Golden Boy. (See: The X user search result.) Her Instagram posts often mix fitness tips, updates on her life, and behind-the-scenes looks at her life with De La Hoya. Some of these posts have gone viral, like their 2024 raunchy dance video that became a health checkup PSA.
What Will Happen in the Future
The story of Holly Sonders is one of being flexible and never apologizing for wanting to succeed. She has always changed herself, going from a promising junior golfer who was hurt to a pioneering broadcaster and now a self-made businesswoman. It’s clear that she has had a big impact on women’s roles in sports media. Her willingness to try new things, like making explicit content and having high-profile relationships, keeps her relevant in 2025.
Sonders is still going strong at 38. She still draws crowds, whether she’s promoting her Exposed Sports league or De La Hoya’s boxing events. She once said, “I was dying inside” in the structured world of TV, but now she’s doing great on her own terms. Holly Sonders is more than just a former golfer; she’s proof that you can turn failures into great comebacks.