While there are many common threads between the players representing the United States at the Ryder Cup, the 12-man team shares a similar junior golf background: all members of the U.S. team played in AJGA events as juniors.
TEAM USA
Keegan Bradley
Bradley played in 11 AJGA events from 2002-04 and claimed a victory at the 2004 Lessing’s AJGA Classic. He went on to be named an honorable mention Rolex Junior All-American later that year and continued his golf career at St. John’s University.
Rickie Fowler
Before turning professional in 2009, Fowler had a successful AJGA career as a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. From 2004-06 Fowler amassed 11 top-10 finishes at AJGA events, including wins at the 2004 Nike Golf Junior at Louisville and the 2006 CB&I Boys Championship held at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Fowler played college golf at Oklahoma State University.
Jim Furyk
During his three-year AJGA career, Furyk played in 26 events, including the Rolex Tournament of Champions in back-to-back years. He was named to the 1987 Rolex Junior All-America First Team after winning the Ben Hogan Boys Junior Championship and finishing in the top 10 five additional times.
Zach Johnson
Johnson competed in two AJGA events during his junior career, including the 1993 Randy Wise Junior Open and the 1993 Wakonda Junior Classic where he finished in the top 20. He continued his golf career at Drake University.
Matt Kuchar
Kuchar played with the AJGA from 1993-96. During his AJGA career, Kuchar had five top-three finishes, was a second-team Rolex Junior All-American in 1994, and third-team Rolex Junior All-American in 1995. His best showing came at the 1994 Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior when he finished runner-up. Kuchar was also named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American in 1994 for excellence on the golf course and in the classroom.
Hunter Mahan
Mahan played AJGA golf from 1997-2000, with a breakout year in 1999 where he won two AJGA events, the Polo Golf Junior Classic and the Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic. He was a three-time Rolex Junior All-American from 1998-2000 and was also named Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 1999. Mahan went on to play college golf at Oklahoma State.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson participated in 26 AJGA events from 1985-89, boasting 12 victories – the most individual career titles ever held by an AJGA boy. He was a three-time champion at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, earning him the coveted Rolex Junior Player of the Year honor for a record three years (1986-88).
Patrick Reed
Reed claimed one AJGA victory and seven top-six finishes from 2004-08 including a tie for third at the 2007 CB&I Boys Championship held at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge. He also claimed Rolex Junior All-America honors from 2005-07. Reed attended the University of Georgia for a season before transferring to Augusta State University, where he led the team to back-to-back NCAA Championships.
Webb Simpson
Before turning professional in 2008, Simpson recorded 15 top-five finishes in AJGA competition. Simpson’s AJGA career was highlighted by a win at the 2001 Rolex Tournament of Champions and three appearances on the Wyndham Cup East Team. A four-time Rolex Junior All-American, Simpson continued his amateur career at Wake Forest University.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth, the 2009 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, recorded five AJGA victories, including wins at The PING Invitational in 2008 and 2010 and the 2011 CB&I Boys Championship at Carlton Woods. He was named a three-time Rolex Junior All-American and claimed victories at the 2009 and 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Spieth went on to play college golf at the University of Texas.
Jimmy Walker
Before his college career at Baylor University, Walker recorded four top-15 finishes as a junior. His standout AJGA season came in 1996 when he followed a runner-up appearance at the Tom Kite Chrysler Junior Classic with his lone victory at the Genesis Shootout presented by the Valero Texas Open.
Bubba Watson
Watson played in AJGA events for six years, from 1992-97. He competed in events including the Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior, the Rolex Tournament of Champions and the Polo Golf Junior Classic, compiling more than 14 top-10 AJGA finishes. Watson was victorious twice in his junior career with wins at the 1993 ICS Gateway Junior Classic and the 1993 Port Armour Junior. He earned Rolex Junior All-America honors in 1995, 1996 and 1997.
TEAM EUROPE
Victor Dubuisson
Dubuisson played in one AJGA event as a junior golfer, the 2007 Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf. He played his college golf in France before turning professional in 2010.
Sergio Garcia
Garcia played in two AJGA events and was named an honorable mention Rolex Junior All-American in 1998 after winning the Marsh Junior at Apawamis.