Ana Belac represented her native Slovenia in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Andrew Redington, Getty Images
Unlike up-and-coming players in professional team sports who draw a salary, most young professional golfers enjoy no comparable financial security.
Essentially, they become their own business, determining where and when to play, earning prize money based on performance and finding sponsorships on their own.
Most golf fans don’t understand how much time and money these fledgling touring pros, their coaches and family members sacrifice to succeed. Far too often, the expenses are just too high, leading many promising golfers to give up their dreams and pursue other careers.
“As someone who could not have afforded college without the G.I. Bill, and who still firmly believes in the American Dream, I hated that promising careers often get cut short, simply because professional golfers and their families don’t have the funds they need to train and compete the right way,” said Donnie Dotson, a former Marine with extensive experi...