Fujikura Composites America – the global leader in high-performance golf shaft innovation – has signed a multi-year deal with the UNDERRATED Golf Tour – a tour founded by basketball two-time MVP and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry to help create more opportunities in competitive golf for young players from diverse communities.
The new partnership will run for the next two years through to and including 2027. In 2025, Fujikura’s support centred around the Tour’s US events, but this year will extend to its European leg, taking in an extended global schedule.
The 2026 UNDERRATED Tour will commence on May 25-27, with an international field lining up at The Belfry – an iconic venue in European golf as a four-time host venue of the Ryder Cup.
Fujikura will provide the same driver and wood shaft-fitting service for the Tour’s student-athlete participants as it does on professional circuits for the world’s elite players, with a fitting team on the ground at select events, starting at the Belfry next week. Throughout last year’s UNDERRATED Tour, Fujikura fitted over 80 competitors with their shafts, educating and supporting a future generation of talent.
A POWERFUL MESSAGE
Diverse communities remain significantly underrepresented in golf. Less than 2% of all golfers are Black or LatinX, and the UNDERRATED Golf Tour is aiming to change this statistic with a commitment to providing equity, access and opportunity to student athletes from every community by balancing participation in the sport to truly reflect society.
David Schnider, President and CEO of Fujikura, said: “We want to give as many players as possible the best opportunities to play to their very best – and to help spread the message that everybody can grow through golf.
“By providing aspiring professionals and these elite players access to all the equipment and custom-fitting benefits trusted by the world’s finest players, we can elevate talent and help to accelerate growth.
“Having partnered with the UNDERRATED Golf Tour last year, we saw firsthand just how inspiring and impactful the Tour can be. We’re extremely excited to continue our work together, and we look forward to being on hand to support the players throughout what promises to be another very competitive season.”
Jason Richards, Athletic Director of UNDERRATED Golf, said: “Fujikura has been an incredible partner because they understand that access is about more than simply getting young players on a golf course.
“It is about making sure they have the same level of resources, support and belief that the best players in the world receive. By bringing custom-fitting and Tour-level expertise directly to our junior-athletes, Fujikura is helping us create an environment where these young golfers can compete, grow and see what is possible for themselves in this game. That is exactly what UNDERRATED Golf is built to do.”
“By partnering with Fujikura, not only are we giving our young players the professional treatment, we’re sending an important message: everyone should have access to the best opportunities, no matter where you’re from or what your background is.”UNDERRATED Golf is open to boys and girls aged 12-18. Now in its fifth season, the Tour will visit some of the most famed layouts in the United States in 2026, including Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, Seaview Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey, and Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, California.
Two European tournaments were added to the schedule last year, with Foxhills Golf Club in Surrey, England, and Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland, forming the UNDERRATED Golf European Tour. This season, the European leg will be held at The Belfry in the West Midlands, host venue of the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002, giving participants an incredible opportunity to play one of the most famous venues in UK golf as well as qualification for the Curry Cup, where the Tour’s top 28 boys and girls will contest the season-ending Tour Championship.
2025 REVIEW – GLORY FOR LIZAMA AND HERZBERG
Last season, Morgan Riley and Gianna Singh came out on top at the first US regional event at Eisenhower Golf Club in Colorado Springs. Roman Solomon and Hazel Hooper were triumphant at French Lick in Indiana, and Jayden Lizama and Ashley Shaw tasted glory at PGA West in California. Shaw won again at TPC Sawgrass in Florida the following month, and Gabriel Holtz also got himself into the winner’s circle at the world-famous Stadium Course.
In Europe, Evan Pena and Myla Robinson prevailed at Foxhills, before Aayan Dadabhoy and Arianna Virik won at Fairmont St Andrews, victories which also secured coveted spots in the 36-hole Curry Cup season-finale. After three months of competition, and performing in front of NBA icon, Curry, it was California native, Lizama, and Arizona’s Julia Herzberg who were crowned champions. Such was the standard of play that many of last year’s competitors have advanced their careers to Division One College Teams, such as Lizama (Gonzaga University) and Riley (Harvard University), with a number of others committed to future teams.
As well as offering talented young players a pathway into the sport, UNDERRATED Golf also provides important education and networking opportunities, further helping participants to grow in confidence and develop key life skills.
