Golf

10 Top Golfers Nurturing the Next Generation of Players

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Nov 18, 2024 / 3939 Views

Evan Walker

Former world No. 1 Jason Day of Australia and India’s Anirban Lahiri are united in the way they made the top echelons of professional golf. Finances weren’t the only roadblock in their junior days, circumstances often played out in a way that made the road ahead seemingly insurmountable, casting a shadow on their dreams.

Their triumph is an ode to the human spirit, and now Day, Lahiri, and many other top pros are giving back to golf through foundations and charity to ensure that the next generation doesn’t endure what they went through. We’ve compiled a list of the top golfers nurturing the next generation of pro players.

The top golfers nurturing the next generation of players

Dustin Johnson

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Former World No. 1 and two-time Major champion Dustin Johnson is admired for his generosity in supporting multiple causes. He has always recognized the value of golf in his life and is dedicated to promoting the game in the hope that young children can pick up the sport and compete at the highest levels. As one of the many golfers nurturing next-generation players, Johnson’s efforts make a lasting impact.

In 2007, he founded the Dustin Johnson Foundation, a non-profit-organization, which provides opportunities for young people in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to develop golf skills, engage in athletic activities and remain competitive, eventually giving them an edge over others. This initiative shows how Johnson is among the golfers nurturing next-generation players, providing critical support to young talents.

Johnson, or DJ as he is known, also founded the Dustin Johnson World Junior (DJWJ) in 2016, aimed at providing junior Golfers with professional-style Golf exposure. Participants in the DJWJ have gone on to play in several PGA Tour events, Walker Cups, and U.S. Women’s Opens, as well as win some of the sport’s most prized junior honors. DJ’s foundation also provides juniors with scholarships to comPete in regional, national, and global events, continuing to demonstrate Johnson’s commitment as one of the Golfers nurturing next-generation players. The recently concluded 9th annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship tournament at TPC Myrtle Beach in March 2024 featured 90 junior Golfers from around the world.

In addition to the foundation and junior golf tournaments, DJ launched the Dustin Johnson Golf School in collaboration with renowned instructor Allen Terrell. The school offers top-notch coaching to golfers of all ages and ability levels. With the most recent instructional resources and advancements in technology at its disposal, the DJ Golf School is better equipped than a lot of other institutions to help players improve and is a further reflection of Johnson’s dedication to golfers nurturing next-generation players.

Patrick Cantlay

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With eight official PGA Tour wins, Patrick Cantlay is a regular in the top-10 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). In 2019, he established the Patrick Cantlay Foundation, which focuses on programs that promote junior golf as well as other charitable endeavors. His efforts reflect how golfers nurturing next-generation players can create tangible benefits within their communities. The Patrick Cantlay Foundation collaborates with efforts that benefit junior golf, and the organization’s focus is the contribution of financial resources to the Southern California PGA Foundation, making him one of the golfers nurturing next-generation players.

The primary intent of the donation is to promote golf among students through community events, physical education programs, and after-school enrichment. One of the outcomes of the partnership was the establishment of the Patrick Cantlay Series, featuring the best junior players in Southern California and around. The golf tournament witnesses fierce competition and is a unique and enjoyable experience for participants on some of the region’s best courses, further advancing the mission of golfers and nurturing next-generation players.

Scottie Scheffler

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Current world No 1 Scottie Scheffler has teamed up with the Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) Foundation to support and promote junior golf. This collaboration is an example of golfers nurturing next-generation players in the Northern Texas area. The initiative assists in identifying young golfers who lack the financial means to compete on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and All-American Tour.

The Scottie Scheffler Grant offers monetary assistance to junior Golfers to cover the costs of tournament fees on the All-American Tour and membership fees on the Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour. Scheffler has a personal connection with the NTPGA’s junior Golf initiatives, as he was a member of the tour from 2002 to 2010, and he remains committed to Golfers nurturing next-generation players.

Patrick Reed

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Nicknamed “Captain America” for his dominating Ryder Cup record, Patrick Reed established the Team Reed Foundation in Texas in 2016 and provides support to junior Golf and a variety of other causes. As one of the dedicated Golfers nurturing next-generation players, Reed has been the host of an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) summer tournament at The Woodlands Country Club in Texas since 2014. He endows a US$ 100,000 ACE Grant as part of the tournament he helps sponsor, which reimburses families for costs to enable financially disadvantaged youth to comPete in national junior Golf events and earn a college scholarship.

Additionally, Reed personally finances the full cost of the AJGA bag tag program, a vital part of college recruiting. This gesture highlights his position among golfers nurturing next-generation players by helping young athletes pursue their dreams in the sport.

Jordan Spieth

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Three-time Major winner and 2015 FedEx Cup champion Jordan Spieth started putting together the Spieth Family Foundation in 2013 after being picked for the Presidents Cup team. His younger sister Ellie, a special needs teenager, was the original inspiration behind his decision to launch his humanitarian ventures. The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides a platform for people to contribute their time, raise awareness, and provide financial backing for four humanitarian causes, with junior golf being one of its pillars. Spieth’s commitment to golfers nurturing next-generation players is evident through his efforts to make a difference.

Furthermore, his charity collaborated with the AJGA to establish the Jordan Spieth Family Charity Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant endowment. Through the endowment, junior golfers in Texas have the chance to participate in national golf events, reinforcing Spieth’s place among golfers nurturing next-generation players.

Anirban Lahiri

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After years of deliberation, former PGA Tour player Anirban Lahiri, who is now India’s sole representative on LIV Golf, started the Baan Foundation in January 2024 with a pilot project in the western Indian city of Baroda. His foundation is a testament to how golfers nurturing next-generation players can impact underprivileged communities by bringing golf to areas where it has not yet taken root.

Terming himself “a product of charity” in his junior and amateur days, Lahiri understands the need to nurture junior golf. The initiative aims to steer clear of Tier 1 cities in India, where the sport is developed, and focus on Tier 2 and 3 centres, where golf is yet to take root, and access to the sport is tough for juniors, especially those from the underprivileged sections. Lahiri’s approach exemplifies golfers nurturing next-generation players through strategic community focus.

The foundation provides equipment and golf balls to students for free, and the children train under the watchful eyes of experienced coaches, driving home the goal of golfers nurturing next-generation players.

Karrie Webb

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Iconic Australian golfer Karrie Webb, who is a proud member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a 41-time winner on the LPGA Tour, partnered with Golf Australia in 2007 to announce the launch of the Karrie Webb Series, and introduction of a scholarship program for aspiring Australian women golfers. As one of the golfers nurturing next generation players, Webb’s initiative gives young women access to a highly competitive playing field.

The 12 events that make up the series each year are included in the Golf Australia National Ranking System. Webb herself funds a scholarship program that runs concurrently with the Karrie Webb Series. Recipients of the scholarship have access to increased playing opportunities, overseas travel aid, and Karrie Webb’s coaching and mentoring support, showing how golfers nurturing next-generation players can create lasting legacies.

Annika Sorenstam

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Widely regarded as the best female golfer of the present era, Annika Sorenstam is acclaimed for being one of the most charitable golfers. The Swedish sports legend founded the ANNIKA Foundation in 2007 to provide junior, collegiate, and professional golf opportunities while also educating the next generation about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Her dedication makes her one of the prominent golfers nurturing next-generation players.

In 2008, she founded the ANNIKA Academy golf school, a boutique-style golf school that offers customized golf instruction and unique fitness and nutrition programs, further demonstrating her commitment as one of the golfers nurturing next-generation players.

Jennifer Kupcho

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A Major champion and member of the 2021 and 2023 Solheim Cup teams, Jennifer Kupcho became a national ambassador for Youth on Course in 2021. It is an organization that is not-for-profit and committed to creating opportunities, fostering dreams, and changing the lives of young people through golf. Her work stands as an example of golfers nurturing next-generation players, giving young golfers access to affordable golf and experiences that change their lives.

Kupcho supports the organization’s objective of giving young golfers access to affordable golf and experiences that change their lives, and which will help build a more diverse and inclusive golf industry in the long run. Members of Youth on Course can play golf at courses across the US, Canada, and Australia for US$5 or less per round. Kupcho is also providing financial support for YOC rounds for members in the state through her affiliation with the Colorado Golf Association, reinforcing her role among golfers nurturing next-generation players.

Jason Day

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The 2015 PGA Championship winner and former World No 1, Jason Day was announced as the official ambassador of Australia’s national junior golf program, MyGolf, in 2015. As a face of MyGolf, he plays a crucial role in golfers nurturing next-generation players by inspiring and introducing the sport to children.

The MyGolf program, a 10-week introductory course for kids aged 5 to 12, is the main force behind junior golf participation in Australia. As one of the golfers nurturing next-generation players, Day has helped youth golf gain popularity in Australia, actively endorsing MyGolf during the Australian summer golf season and appearing in special digital content promoting the program.

(Main and Featured Image credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)