An elite international field of junior golfers will gather this week along the South Carolina coast for the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, one of the premier events in junior golf. The 11th edition of the championship will be played March 6–8 at TPC Myrtle Beach, where many of the game’s top rising stars will compete over three rounds for the title.

Founded in 2016 and supported by two-time major champion Dustin Johnson, the championship has quickly developed into one of the strongest junior tournaments in the world. The event features approximately 90 players ages 13–18 from around the globe, offering competitors a professional-style tournament experience while testing themselves against many of the best juniors in the game.

Players will compete over 54 holes of stroke play, with the lowest total score across three rounds earning the title.

Championship Venue

This week’s competition takes place at TPC Myrtle Beach, a championship-caliber course designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio. The par-72 layout is widely regarded as one of the top courses along the Grand Strand and has hosted major amateur events including the 2019 NCAA Men’s Regional Championship.

The course presents a strong test for the field, featuring tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering and challenging greens that demand precision and patience. The layout was originally built with the intention of hosting professional-level events, making it an ideal stage for one of the world’s top junior championships.

Past Champions and Notable Alumni

Since its inception, the Dustin Johnson World Junior has produced an impressive list of champions and alumni who have gone on to success in collegiate and professional golf.

Defending champions entering the week are Aarav Shah, who captured the boys title in 2025, and Kayla Bryant, who won the girls division last year. Shah returns to the field in 2026.

Shah made history with his victory, becoming the first international champion in the boys division, highlighting the increasingly global nature of the tournament field.

Past champions and alumni include rising stars who have continued their careers at the highest levels of the sport. Players such as Akshay Bhatia and Alexa Pano have gone on to compete professionally, reinforcing the event’s reputation as a launching pad for future stars.

Tournament scoring history also illustrates the challenge of the championship setup. In 2025, Shah captured the title at 3-under par (213) over three rounds, with the tournament averaging more than four strokes over par, showing just how demanding TPC Myrtle Beach can be even for elite junior players.

Round 1 Gets Underway Friday

Round 1 begins Friday morning with a full slate of tee times starting at 8:30 a.m. Players will begin from both the first and 10th tees in groups of three as they start their pursuit of the championship.

According to the official Round 1 tee sheet, the opening group off the first tee includes Dresden Bounds, Alisa Davidova and Cindy (Manni) Yang, while Tommy Kelley, Danny Wehle and Patrick Shawger will begin the day from the 10th tee.

The schedule continues with groups teeing off every 10 minutes throughout the morning. Among the notable pairings is the 10:30 a.m. group on the first tee, which includes defending champion Aarav Shah alongside Rory Asselta and Kailer Stone.

The final groups will begin at 10:50 a.m., with Sohan Patel, Jackson Ormond and Grayson Baucom starting from the first tee, while Andrew Sciortino, Luke Gossett and Clark Mason will tee off from the 10th.

A Global Showcase of Junior Talent

With players representing numerous states and countries, the Dustin Johnson World Junior continues to serve as a global showcase for the next generation of elite golfers. The tournament’s limited field and strong international representation create a highly competitive environment where many of the sport’s top junior prospects measure themselves against their peers.

As the championship begins Friday at TPC Myrtle Beach, the stage is set for three days of high-level competition and the emergence of the next champion in one of junior golf’s most prestigious events.