Stephen Curry. Image via: Ezra Shaw /Getty Images
In 2022, Stephen Curry took his mission to support overlooked talent beyond basketball by launching UNDERRATED Golf. The NBA superstar wanted to challenge the barriers that keep many young people from accessing the sport and its wider opportunities. His initiative aimed to give student-athletes from underserved communities a fair chance to compete, build connections and explore careers linked to golf. By including boys and girls from different backgrounds, Curry hoped to make the sport more inclusive while helping young players discover their potential both on and off the course.
In its first year, the UNDERRATED Golf Tour planned to select 24 standout boys and girls to compete for the Curry Cup at the season-ending championship.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Curry said, “I created UNDERRATED back in 2019 with the goal of celebrating the underdog,” said Stephen Curry. “We are dedicated to enacting real change by creating lanes for boys and girls from underserved communities to gain access to the sport,” said Will Lowery, UNDERRATED Golf Professional and Tour Ambassador. “UNDERRATED is a mindset, a motivation, a calling, a compliment. With this inspiration, I am excited to expand the brand into UNDERRATED Golf, which happens to be one of the most inaccessible sports for underrepresented individuals across the globe. “UNDERRATED Golf provides equity, access and opportunity, recognizing the instrumental role the sport plays as one of the greatest vehicles and connectors for life success—from relationship building to career endeavors. We are focused on equal representation of all genders, while being a force multiplier for them to realize their potential and positively impact the sport—from skill on the course to competing in major tournaments and pursuing leadership roles across industries. The initiative also aimed to expand its reach over time and identify promising talent from more communities. Curry’s approach reflects a broader goal: giving young people the resources and confidence to succeed, regardless of their starting point. Through UNDERRATED Golf, he sought to make opportunity a more important part of the sport’s future.