Meet the Top Contenders at the 10th Annual Dustin Johnson World Junior
The 10th annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, one of America’s top 5 junior events, is upon us, so it’s time to take a closer look at the 90-player field and bring you up to speed on the golfers most likely to emerge victorious at TPC Myrtle Beach.
The only certainty at the 54-hole event is that fans will get to enjoy the game’s next generation of PGA and LPGA Tour players at a young age. Two DJ World Junior winners – Akshay Bhatia and Nick Dunlap – have already won PGA Tour events, while the tournament’s only two-time champ, Alexa Pano, has an LPGA victory to her credit.
As you make plans to attend the tournament, here are the pre-tournament favorites.
Before anyone asks, Charlie Woods is the biggest name in the field, but on paper, he isn’t expected to contend. However, these boys and girls are expected to be in the mix come Sunday afternoon. {Click Here to View The Entire 2025 Field}
Boys
Tyler Watts – The fourth-ranked junior in America, according to the AJGA, Watts is the pre-tournament favorite. The Huntsville, Ala., resident finished third in last year’s event, and he followed that up with a third-place finish in The Q at Myrtle Beach, also played at TPC. He was the runner-up in the U.S. Junior Am and finished fourth in the Rolex Tournament of Champions last fall.
Bowen Mauss – This future Arizona State Sun Devil finished 5th at last year’s DJ World Junior, and he is making the trek from Draper, Utah in hopes of winning in 2025. The nation’s 20th-ranked junior finished at 1-under, just three strokes off the lead in 2024.
Mason Howell – A University of Georgia commit, Howell is America’s 13th-ranked junior, and he finished T9 at last year’s DJ World Junior. He had four top 5 finishes playing a national event schedule in 2024, including a fifth-place showing at the Junior Players Championship.
Hamilton Coleman – Another future Georgia Bulldog, Coleman is ranked 25th and he won the Junior Players last year, establishing himself on the national scene. After a 28th-place finish at last year’s DJ, Coleman is looking to stand atop the leaderboard this March.
Sterling Hurd – This Texas Longhorn commitment is ranked No. 21 and finished T6 at last year’s DJ, so he has the game to claim the crown.
Girls
Ryleigh Knaub – After winning the DJ World Junior in 2023 and finishing T2 last year, Knaub is one of the favorites on the girls’ side. The LSU signee is America’s 26th-ranked junior girl and is trying to join LPGA Tour player Pano as the DJ’s only two-time winner.
Brynn Kort – A Texas A&M signee, Kort was also part of a three-way tie for second at last year’s event, and she can take the next step. The Henderson, Nev., resident had six top 10s in 2024, including a runner-up finish at the Justin Thomas Junior Championship.
Mia Hammond – Rounding out the trio of players who returned after finishing tied for second last year is Hammond. This future Duke Blue Devil won the AJGA Junior at Canebrake Club in 2024, an effort highlighted by a stunning first round 63.
Amelie Zalsman – Just a sophomore, Zalsman is America’s 11th-ranked junior after bursting onto the national scene a year ago. After finishing 7th at the DJ, Zalsman went on to win the AJGA Junior Championship and the Rolex Tournament of Champions.
Elizabeth Rudisill – The highest ranked player in the field, Rudisill is America’s No. 6 junior, and she is looking to add a victory at the DJ World Junior to a resume that includes a win at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship last June.
In a tournament as deep and talented as the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, there is no shortage of players capable of winning, but these 10 players are top of the list of favorites.
Click Here to View All The Players in the 2025 Dustin Johnson World Junior Championship
