By Alex Wood, AJGA Communications
The beginning of October brought with it exciting news for the junior golf realm, as the AJGA and PGA TOUR announced a partnership to host the first annual Junior Presidents Cup. Held in conjunction with the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club, the event will feature a team match play format similar to the AJGA's signature Wyndham Cup event. Two teams comprised of 24 of the top male juniors ages 19 and younger both from the United States and internationally (excluding Europe) will take to the greens of Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, Monday September 25-26.
The event will be set up similar to the Presidents Cup, with each team being led by both a Captain and Honorary Captain. The United States team will be led by four-time U.S. Presidents Cup team member, three-time U.S. Ryder Cup Team member and AJGA tournament host David Toms, with World Golf Hall of Fame member and Leadership Links supporter Jack Nicklaus serving as Honorary Captain. The duo will be joined by past International Presidents Cup player Trevor Immelman and World Golf Hall of Fame member Gary Player, who will seve as captain and Honorary Captain, respectively, for the International Team.
Though the partnership ushers in a new era for the AJGA and the Presidents Cup, the two have long since been interconnected. The 2015 Presidents Cup featured a U.S. Team that consisted purely of AJGA alumni, with seven of the 12 members also having served as tournament hosts. Immelman and Toms are also both AJGA alumni.
More information on the selection process, as well as event specifics, can be found in the event's press release.
Current and past players, as well as avid golf fans and industry members, took to social media upon announcement of the inaugural event to celebrate the new addition to Presidents Cup week. With all of the excitement brought by this year's Junior Ryder Cup, the 2017 Junior Presidents Cup is sure to become a new can't-miss tradition.
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