Becoming a professional golfer is extremely hard to achieve, but some of the stars on the PGA Tour started playing the sport at an early age and growing confidence even as toddlers.
In this article, we’ll highlight some child prodigies who have a bright future and can become stars in the making.
Four young golfers to keep an eye on
The four youngsters mentioned below have shown great potential and won numerous trophies.
Patton Green
Many young golfers are recruited out of high school to play college golf, where some eventually sign image and likeness deals (NIL) which bring them revenue.
Patton Green is making waves and doing things no one has ever done, including signing an NIL deal at just six years old.
Sunday Golf, a golf gear company, signed the young golfer to a deal, making it the youngest partnership in sports history.
Although he’s only six, Patton has earned accolades such as the 2022 Southern California State Championship (age six and under) and collected nine pieces of silverware for finishing first at other events.
The following video posted on YouTube by Sunday Golf showcases Green’s story and shows a press conference with Green and his dad signing the deal.
Lincoln Rubis
The 11-year-old prodigy did something many golfers fail to do over the course of their lifetime: make a hole-in-one. Rubis went miles beyond that and has made five aces since age six.
He even managed to make three in a mind-blowing 22 days.
The Dallas native’s most recent ace came on Feb. 25 from 101 yards out on a par 3. Rubis hit a six iron onto a green surrounded by water, and it trickled into the cup.
Rubis shares the same childhood coach as Jordan Spieth and already has a similar winning percentage as PGA Tour superstar Scottie Scheffler, also from Dallas.
In his Northern Texas PGA career, Lincoln has amassed a 57.4% win percentage, including top two finishes in each event aside from on five occasions.
The youngster has an incredible scoring average of 69.67 in 2023.
Joey Anders, Spieth’s coach as a child, has been giving lessons to Rubis at the same age as when he did to the three-time major winner.
It’s hard to fathom being sponsored at such a young age, but like Spieth, Rubis is sponsored by Titleist.
He has also checked off a bucket list item for many golfers and fans: Qualify to play at Augusta National. He’s qualified for next year’s Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at the Masters’ host course.
Bella Simoes
At nine years old, most children play tag or other youth games in their neighborhoods. During the same age, Bella Simoes attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open. Yes, that U.S. Open not a junior version.
The child prodigy is amassing thousands of followers on social media while defeating girls two to three years older at competitive events while earning sponsorship deals.
Simoes picked up the game at two years old after seeing her father, Rodrigo, hit balls on the driving range.
She’s won two consecutive titles at the U.S. Kids World Championships and has three wins at the historic Pinehurst golf course, which will host the 2024 men’s U.S. Open.
Simoes has also earned the accolade of Florida State Champion three different times and has won the Jekyll Island regional twice in a row.
Aside from those triumphs, she’s claimed first place at the PGA Invitational, UA Regional Championship, the Texas Open and the Georgia Invitational.
Renowned golf company TaylorMade even sponsors the inspirational future star.
The video below by The Junior Tour (sponsored by Under Armour) deeply examines her accomplishments and provides interviews.
Charlie Woods
Being the son of arguably the greatest golfer of all time can add a ton of pressure when you play the same sport.
Charlie Woods is performing well under it, having earned many victories at just 14 years old.
Last year, in June, Woods won the ages 11 to 13 boys division of the Major Championship at Village Golf Course.
He also triumphed at the 9 to 11 age division by three strokes when he played in the PGA South Florida Sectional Tournament.
His dad, Tiger, recently even said that Charlie, born in 2009, outdrove him for the first time ever.
While on the South Florida Junior Tour, Woods won two events. At the Hammock Creek Golf Club, he recently shot 33 in the nine hole-competition with three birdies and no bogeys.
Woods Senior has won the Grand Slam, and Charlie has won the Grand Slam award for juniors on three occasions. He’s the second player ever to secure the rare feat.
The youngster’s handicap isn’t publicly known, but he’s rumored to be a scratch golfer by others who have seen him on the junior circuit with a 0.0 handicap.
In September 2022, he shot his lowest round ever at the time, a 68, confirmed by his father.
The following video showcases highlights of Woods while playing at the PNC Championship.
