The United States Ryder Cup team led by AJGA alumnus and tournament host Davis Love III, is compiled of an all-AJGA alumni, 12-man roster. The Ryder Cup will be hosted by Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from September 27- October 2. Below, find out which tournaments the Ryder Cup participants competed in as juniors and how they began their golf careers:
RICKIE FOWLER
Fowler played in 13 AJGA events and was a two-time AJGA champion and two-time first team Rolex Junior All-American. Fowler was also a member of the West Team at the 2006 Wyndham Cup and went on to play college golf at Oklahoma State University. Fowler supports the AJGA Program leadership links
J.B. HOLMES
Holmes played in five AJGA events with a top finish of T4 at the 1999 Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior. Holmes went on to play at the University of Kentucky before turning pro in 2005. Holmes hosted his first AJGA event in 2016, the Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior hosted by J.B. Holmes.
DUSTIN JOHNSON
Johnson played in five AJGA tournaments with his best finish coming at the 2001 AJGA Greater Greensboro Chrysler Junior where he finished T10. He continued his golf career at Costal Carolina University. Johnson has 12 PGA TOUR wins including the 2016 U.S. Open.
PATRICK REED
Reed played in 27 AJGA events and won at the 2005 True Temper / David Gossett Junior Championship. Reed went on to win back-to-back NCAA Championships at Augusta State University. Reed hosted his AJGA event, The Insperity Invitational / Patrick Reed AJGA Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf for the fourth time this year.
PHIL MICKELSON
Mickelson played in 26 AJGA events and had 12 victories – the most individual career titles ever held by an AJGA boy. He was a three-time winner of the Rolex Tournament of Champions and won Rolex Junior Player of the Year honors three years in a row from 1986-1988, the only player to do so in history. Mickelson has supported the AJGA Thunderbird Invitational Junior through The Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation since 2001.
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 career-best runner-up finish was at the 1994 Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior.
ZACH JOHNSON
Johnson competed in two AJGA events 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 before turning professional in 1998. Johnson was the 2007 Masters Tournament champion.
BROOKS KOEPKA
Koepka played in 11 AJGA events, had six top-10 finishes and earned one victory at the 2005 Ashworth Junior at Highland Oaks. Koepka was a 2007 honorable mention Rolex Junior All-American and continued his golf career at Florida State University.
BRANDT SNEDEKER
Snedeker played in 16 AJGA events and won the 1998 AJGA Music City Junior Team Challenge. He continued his golf career at Vanderbilt University. Snedeker hosted the 2013 AJGA Bridgestone Golf / Brandt Snedeker Music City Junior presented by Toyota.
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 / Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods. He was 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. Spieth has hosted his own AJGA event, the Under Armour® / Jordan Spieth Championship presented by American Campus Communities since 2014.
JIMMY WALKER
Walker had four top-15 finishes in his AJGA career including a victory at the 1996 Valero Junior Texas Open. Walker was a Rolex Junior All-American in that same year and continued his golf career at Baylor University. Walker will host his first AJGA tournament, the Jimmy Walker Challenge in October at his home course, The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch, in San Antonio, Texas.
RYAN MOORE
Moore was a two-time Rolex Junior All-American and three-time AJGA champion. He won the Thunderbird International Junior in 2001 and was named a first-team Rolex Junior All American during the same year. Moore hosts two AJGA events, the Ryan Moore Junior Championship at Anthem since 2015 and the ACDS / Ryan Moore Junior at Oakbrook since 2013.