Justin Thomas personally commits $40K to make tournament more accessible

By Tim Jackman

The Justin Thomas Junior Championship is happening this weekend outside of Louisville, Kentucky, at Harmony Landing Country Club. Harmony Landing is the course Justin Thomas grew up playing and where his dad served as the head golf professional for many years.

Justin and his family spent many days on the road playing junior golf and know first-hand how expensive the sport can be. This year in an effort to remove barriers and make the tournament as accessible as possible, Thomas personally committed $40K to provide a $500 stipend to every player in the tournament field.

Justin Thomas personally commits $40K to make tournament more accessible

Thomas’ efforts join a growing list of commitments and initiatives by the AJGA and its partners to remove barriers and make junior golf more accessible to everyone.

In 2023, the AJGA has committed more than $1 million to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including:

• Continued ACE Grant funding for deserving junior golfers ($6 million reimbursed since 2003)
• Lowering tournament entry fees as part of a three-year effort to increase accessibility
• Adjusting qualifier fee structure to reduce costs for those who qualify into an event
• Holding seven events a week during the summer season to bring events closer to our members and reduce travel costs
• Introducing the International Pathway Series to bring tournaments closer to our international members
• Raising intern wages to attract a broader group and narrow the wealth gap
• Recruiting for our internship program through 15+ minority organizations
• Hiring the Association’s first DE&I Coordinator
• Exposing youth to the business side of golf through “Day in the Life” shadow program at 20+ tournaments
• Overall collaboration with 20+ minority golf organizations to help lead the golf industry toward a more diverse and inclusive future

For more information please visit the AJGA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page .