PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.,
Nov. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- Golden State Warriors All-Star and two-time NBA MVP Steph
Curry and Olympic Gold Medalist and FIFA Women's World Cup Champion
Alex Morgan have been named the
newest PGA Jr. League Ambassadors. Curry's and Morgan's new status
was announced today at the 2018 PGA Jr. League Championship
presented by National Car Rental at Grayhawk Golf Club in
Scottsdale, Ariz., Nov. 16-19.
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Steph Curry and Alex Morgan:
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As the first non-professional-golfer Ambassadors for PGA Jr.
League, Curry and Morgan will leverage their widespread fan bases
to promote the program to an audience that may not be familiar with
the sport of golf. They join Ambassadors Rory McIlroy, Michelle
Wie, Rickie Fowler and
Lexi Thompson, all of whom are
committed to growing youth golf.
"Steph and Alex are incredibly popular, world-class athletes
recognized well beyond their sports of basketball and soccer who
love the game of golf," said Jeff Price, Chief Commercial
Officer for the PGA of America. "We are thrilled to welcome
both of them to the PGA Jr. League team, where they will help us
grow the sport with kids and families that might not be considering
golf today."
As Ambassadors, Curry and Morgan will be featured in national
television ads as well as in collateral material supporting PGA Jr.
League. They will also share their participation to their millions
of followers on social media.
"There's no better enjoyment than playing for a team and
playing with a team," Curry said. "You have that sense of
accountability, that sense of fun, you're meeting new people from
all different walks of life and going towards one common goal.
That's what you can find when it comes to PGA Jr. League!"
"I know that as a little girl, I always wanted to be a part of a
team and feel encouraged by my teammates and coaches," Morgan said.
"Being a part of PGA Jr. League gives girls and boys the
opportunity to do what they love and be part of a team."
PGA Jr. League has changed golf by bringing friends and families
together around a fun and engaging co-ed team format. Boys and
girls of all backgrounds and skill levels learn and play together
with expert instruction and coaching from PGA and LPGA
Professionals. Kids wear numbered jerseys and play on teams with
friends, competing in a two-person scramble format that
accommodates players of all skill levels. PGA Jr. League is now
offered in two divisions: 13-and-under and 17-and-under.
This year, a record of more than 50,000 boys and girls
played on 4,200 teams nationwide, up from 42,000 kids on 3,400
teams in 2017. Of those players, 81 percent were beginner or
recreational golfers, demonstrating the developmental nature of the
program and its inclusivity to youth of all skill levels.
In addition to his role as PGA Jr. League Ambassador, Curry will
also partner with PGA REACH on an
annual fundraising tournament. Proceeds from the event will benefit
PGA REACH, the 501 (c)(3) foundation
of the PGA of America, and the Stephen and Ayesha Curry Family
Foundation. PGA Jr. League is the flagship youth pillar program of
PGA REACH, with the goal of making the program accessible to all
interested kids in the United States and around the world.
Through PGA REACH's partnership
with DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation and its Sports Matter grant,
scholarships are available to players who meet financial need
requirements or are from military families and apply for assistance
through their Captains. The scholarship program launched in 2017
and more than 1,600 scholarships were awarded to players during the
2018 season.
PGA Jr. League teams for 2019 will be forming soon at golf
facilities across the country. For more information about joining a
team or finding a local participating facility, visit
PGAJrLeague.com.
PHOTO/VIDEO USE:
Photos/Video must carry the credit Courtesy of the PGA of
America. All photographs contained herein are the property
of the PGA of America and are to be used solely for the
purpose they were requested. They are not to be used in
any other way unless express written permission is granted.
Caption information can be found in the File Info field
in Photoshop. If you have any questions please do not hesitate
to contact Carly Grenfell, the PGA
of America photography contact at cgrenfell@pgahq.com or
at 561.568.8430
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SOURCE PGA of America