Tee Sheet: Growing the Game Begins at the Ground Level

JERSEY CITY, N.J.— There's something in the air at the Mizuho Americas Open.

Like the magic of NYC trickles across the Hudson and over to Liberty National Golf Club—and everyone is just in a good mood. The vibes were heavy ahead of Thursday's opening round while I was out and about during the pro-am day.

It's a mixed bag at Mizuho. Tournament host Michelle Wie West works in a quick range sesh in between media obligations. World No.1 Nelly Korda and her team roll in deep. And the amateurs, they're littered across the practice facilities getting dialed.

It's like witnessing the past, present, and future of golf all in one—and it's special.

In just its third year as a tournament, Mizuho has become a can't-miss event, not just for the LPGA but it's also becoming an elite amateur stop as well, with 24 of the top-ranked AJGA players in the field playing alongside the world's best pros.

This special format, that engages the next generation of women's golf and pairing them up with a mentor of sorts for the week is one of the best newly founded traditions and shows an effort to grow the game, from the ground up.

The phrase "grow the game" has been thrown around haphazardly over the years that its meaning almost feels diluted. Creating multi-million dollar purses for one demographic of the game is fine, but what about the next ones up? Where are the efforts to not only introduce people to the game, but ensuring that they stay in it.

Growth means allowing for access and opportunity, in its truest form, it's as simple as providing a space for learning to take place.

Mizuho's Americas DrivHER Summit, an inspirational day of learning and activities for Girls Inc., is also a key component to the DNA of the tournament. It places these young girls in front of their peers who are competing in the AJGA field and young women they can aspire to be like in the pros.

It's representation taking shape in the best way and more and more are recognizing and understanding the importance of creating spaces where young talent can flourish.

World No.1 Nelly Korda is joining the wave. Just last week the 26-year-old hosted her second annual namesake AJGA event, The Nelly Invitational, at Korda's home course The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, FL.

For years, the AJGA has had PGA Tour and LPGA pros hosting its events from Billy Horschel to Annika Sorenstam, pros have played a strong role am tournaments. Today, there are 38 tour players' names attached to the AJGA’s 147 events and 110 qualifiers in 2025.

With her event, Korda wanted it to feel special. More than just cool swag bags (though the goodies for participants included TUMI backpacks and some Nike drip), it's about giving these players an experience to compete at the highest level.

In partnership with Chevron, The Nelly Invitational was able to give the highest travel stipends in tour history of $2,000 for U.S. players and $2,500 for international players. The year's field was bolstered by extending invitations to the top-10 eligible international players that may not be AJGA members and/or didn't previously qualify for the event through the Rolex AJGA Rankings. Oh, and the winner received an invite to the 2026 Chevron Championship.

Something that was important to Korda. She told Golfweek, "I could’ve played a million junior events, but there was some type of different feeling playing in a major championship. I was like, 'I want to feel this over and over and over again'.”

This is growing the game. Korda, who didn't participate in many of the top amateur events growing up, had forgone a collegiate golf career, and faced the grind of Epson Tour life to earn her LPGA status—she knows the direct impact of seeing the expansion and investment in women's golf. Without it she wouldn't be the star she is.

We've seen the success of ANWA, and the level of eyes that has brought to women's golf. It's success is a direct product of what happens when thought and intentionality are poured into an initiative. The exposure these young players are receiving, them having the ability to get reps on increasingly bigger stages is essential to their development.

If we want golf's longevity and growth to continue we have to do more to support the the next ones up. The next generation of golfers are talented, they're driven and they're competitors—given em the platform to showcase their talent. We're all hungry for not just better but more of better.