Steph Curry's four-year-old Underrated Golf Tour has been hugely successful, with 84 percent of its graduates playing college golf.
Julia Herzberg had the perfect lie on the meticulously well-manicured 18th fairway at Liberty National Golf Club.
With her ball 173 yards from the pin, she took out her 5-iron seemingly knowing that a Curry Cup Tour championship was a fait accompli.
With the Statue of Liberty to her right and the New York skyline engulfed in blue skies and sunshine straight ahead, the high school senior bound for Clemson took a deep breath and knocked her shot onto the fringe, pin high.
A successful shot made all the more stressful by the fact that NBA icon and scratch golfer Steph Curry was standing just a few yards to her right – focused on the soon-to-be winner of his tour, which is designed to provide equity, access and opportunity to youth in underserved communities.
Herzberg’s round, like those of the 30 other golfers began with a photo alongside the four-time NBA champ, and two simple words from Curry, “Have fun!”
“It’s a very simple message but it’s something that hopefully reminds them about being present in the moment (and) enjoying the process,” said Curry.
But having fun was not the easiest of tasks considering all that was at stake.
Besides playing for the coveted title, the field looked to perform in front of one of sports’ most impressive stars, as well as college scouts.
Add in the presence of titans of industry – business leaders who just may present participants with life-shaping career opportunities down the road, and you have what could be an extremely stressful environment.
But it’s all part of the mission.
On the course, the four-year-old Tour has been hugely successful, with 84 percent of its graduates playing college golf. And off it, the Underrated Golf Tour continues to provide invaluable connections; a unique benefit this group of precocious, mainly high school aged kids, is extremely grateful for.
“They just give you so many opportunities and access to be able to give you the best chance of succeeding,” said 15-year-old golfer Jaden Soong. “(Steph is) helping you build connections.”
And those connections, gatekeepers at some of the country’s most prestigious organizations have taken notice.
“They’re poised, they’re resilient, they’re disciplined,” said Marsha Oliver, the PGA Tour’s Senior Vice President of Community and Public Engagement. “They get an entire suite of skills by participating. I have been impressed with all of them.”
The U.S. Deputy Chair of KPMG, Atif Zaim is equally impressed.
“At KPMG, we hire the best and brightest talent that exhibit a commitment to excellence, continued growth and strong collaboration skills. The student-athletes from Underrated Golf truly excel in these areas,” said Zaim.
Created by KPMG, which is the Tour’s title sponsor, panel discussions which were presented at each of this year’s five tournaments, were a key reason for the marketable skillset instilled in the golfers.
Subjects included resume building, ways to maximize Linkedin, networking, public speaking, and a trademark of Curry and his iconic career, leadership.
Sharing his network of contacts and advice, and providing equipment and access to the greatest golf courses in the nation – all at no cost to the student-athlete, is a passion project for the two-time NBA MVP, and a much-needed gift to children who otherwise couldn’t afford to compete in the sport.
“Steph has completely removed that barrier by providing every resource you could possibly need as a junior golfer - with the free tournaments, paying for flights, paying for all the merch, and everything you may need from golf bags to clubs,” said Morgan Horrell, an alum of Underrated, who is currently competing for the Howard University golf team. “I don’t think he even realizes, I would not be anywhere in my golf career without him.”
As the son of an NBA player, Curry remains grateful for the special opportunities he was afforded as a youngster, including the ability to “rub shoulders with NBA pros”.
He is now thrilled to leverage his iconic status to open doors for an appreciative group of youngsters also striving to achieve greatness.
“He makes it a point to make each child, each family feel important,” said Ashley Shaw, a current Tour competitor who won the inaugural Curry Cup. “I absolutely love him.”
It’s this type of reaction that Curry is looking to evoke as he ensures each of his golfers know that he is an ally – not just now, but forever.
“Hopefully, they feel seen and loved on and cared for – not just them, but their families,” said Curry. “This is a family that we are building.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Curry Cup captures spirit of Steph Curry's Underrated Golf Tour
Category: General Sports
