Justin Thomas and Cameron Young fund new PGA junior event

Justin Thomas and Cameron Young are funding a new junior golf event in South Florida.

The two PGA Tour players donated a portion of their Ryder Cup charity stipend to the South Florida PGA.

The money will support the inaugural Cameron Young/Justin Thomas South Florida PGA Junior Tour Challenge Cup.

The event is scheduled for Dec. 12-14 at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

Thomas and Young were Ryder Cup teammates last year at Bethpage.

The pair defeated Europe's Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard 6-and-5 in their opening match.

They lost their second match but each won his singles match as the U.S. nearly rallied to win.

Young tied for the U.S. lead with three points in the competition.

Now they are using their Ryder Cup experience to create a similar format for juniors.

The South Florida PGA will run the event for the next five years with the funding.

Both players have deep roots in the PGA of America.

Young's father, David Young, was a PGA professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in New York.

Thomas's father, Mike Thomas, was a longtime PGA professional at Harmony Landing Country Club in Kentucky.

Both players competed in the Junior Ryder Cup when they were young.

"We both grew up playing in section PGA events and saw what our families gave for the game of golf," Young said Sunday at the SoFi Center.

"My father worked sunup to sundown, basically all year round."

"And I'm sure Justin's did the same."

"We've seen what it takes behind the scenes, and it's cool just to be a part of something these players can be excited about."

Thomas echoed the sentiment.

"Cameron and I had such a great partnership at the Ryder Cup, and we wanted to do something with this incredible opportunity through the PGA of America," Thomas said.

"With both of us having family associated with the PGA of America, this runs in our blood."

Young and Thomas will serve as captains for the two-day competition.

They will be hands-on throughout the event.

Young introduced the players at SoFi Center, where the juniors learned which team they would play for after hitting a shot.

"We're excited about it," Young said.

"We only play one team event a year, but we all spend those two years thinking about whichever winner it is."

"It's always beautiful to make those teams, and I think the players feel the same way about this tournament."

Twenty-four players qualified based on their results on the South Florida PGA junior tours during 2026.

The field includes Petra Compton, daughter of former PGA Tour player and two-time heart-transplant recipient Erik Compton.

Matthew Stigliano, son of 2025 South Florida PGA Teacher of the Year Kellie Stenzel, also qualified.

"The South Florida PGA is thrilled to announce this exciting new event and our partnership with Cameron Young and Justin Thomas," said Eric Veilleux, President of the South Florida PGA and director of Golf at The Bear's Club.

"This provides another competitive opportunity for the most talented junior players in our Section."

Emerald Dunes Golf Club agreed to host the inaugural event.

The course was designed by Hall of Fame architect Tom Fazio of Jupiter in 1990.

Fazio completed a renovation of the course in 2012.

"We don't really host many outside events at Emerald Dunes," said Lee Stroever, Director of Golf at Emerald Dunes and an officer on the South Florida PGA Foundation.

"To be in a position to be able to host what we think is probably going to be the best junior event in the entire country with Cameron and JT and their families involved, we had to step up and do it."

"We are beyond honored and proud to be part of this."

The event will begin with a pro-am on Dec. 12 with Emerald Dunes members.

The Challenge Cup competition will be held Dec. 13-14 in various formats.

Thomas and Young donated a portion of their $300,000 Ryder Cup charity stipend to fund the event.

Each player on the U.S. Ryder Cup team received a $300,000 charity stipend from the PGA of America.

The stipend is intended to be donated to causes the players choose.

Thomas and Young decided to combine their donations to support junior golf in their home section.

Both players live in Palm Beach County.

Thomas owns a $13.5 million waterfront home in the Jupiter-Tequesta area.

The estate sits on the Loxahatchee River with about 100 feet of riverfront and a private boat dock.

Young also resides in Palm Beach County.

The proximity to the South Florida PGA section made the partnership a natural fit.

The event is expected to become a fixture on the South Florida junior golf calendar.