From humble beginnings, List prepares for PGA Tour debut

When Danny List harboured PGA Tour dreams as a child in Ghana, he reckons it was fortunate he did not know how tough he had it.

Back then, the Achimota Golf Club in Accra had no driving range, chopped-up fairways and sand greens.

List was hooked though, memories of Tiger Woods’s 2008 US Open win at Torrey Pines among his fondest.

Fast forward to 2025 and an unknown number is calling.

“Anyone that knows me knows I never pick those up,” said List, a fledgling European Tour member after qualifying last year.

“But for some reason something told me I should answer this one.

“Just hearing the words, ‘Tiger’s chosen you to play’, was the pinch-yourself moment.”

List will make his PGA Tour debut at Torrey Pines from Friday (AEST), in the US$20 million ($A32m) tournament now commercially known as the Genesis Invitational (formerly the Los Angeles Open).

The event shifted from its usual Riviera Country Club home because of last month’s Californian fires.

In a neat, full-circle moment, the 26-year-old was invited by Woods, who hands out the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption every year.

Named after the first African-American PGA Tour player, the exemption is gifted to a player who represents the advancement of golf’s diversity.

Born in the US state of Georgia to an Australian father and Ghanaian mother, List developed his game in Perth where he befriended Min Woo Lee, and plays under the Australian flag.

There is an English twang to his Australian accent though. List won a high-school scholarship to Surrey’s Wellington College thanks to a clutch round, then spent a year at the University of Washington before turning pro in 2017.

He played sporadically on the Canadian, Latin American and Korn Ferry Tours and missed most of 2023 with a stress fracture before it all clicked last year.

A California Open title was followed by progression through all three stages of European Tour qualifying school, List backing that up with third at South Africa’s Pecanwood Estate earlier this month.

He has not forgotten where it started though, the Danny List Foundation offering about 40 children on the West African coast the chance to follow in his footsteps.

“Looking back on it, it seems a bit more unrealistic than it did to me back then,” he said of his rustic beginnings.

“When I see the facilities I grew up on … not conducive to excelling.

“It was probably a case of ignorance is bliss, me thinking I could make something in the game of golf, coming from there.

“I stuck with it, got opportunities further down the line where I could really develop and like to think for the most part I took advantage.”

List visits Ghana every couple of months to offer coaching, golf and school equipment, and to improve facilities.

He said there are some young golfers expected to be scouted by American colleges, while others have already flown to the UK for coaching.

This weekend presents a chance for those kids to watch List, like he had watched Woods at the iconic course 17 years ago.

“When you tie all those things together, it’s pretty incredible,” he said.

“This place has a lot of history … especially (for) Tiger.”

Woods was a late withdrawal in what would have been his first appearance this year after the recent death of his mother, but still could make an appearance later in the tournament.

Forty-six of the top 50-ranked players in the world will tee it up, List joined by compatriots Adam Scott, Jason Day, Lee and the in-form Cameron Davis.

“I’m still getting my footing in this whole [European] Tour life,” he said of his whirlwind, global schedule.

“But (my) confidence is good.

“I’ve not had the chance to stack my game up against some of these guys, but I like to tell myself I am a tour player.

“I’ve earned my spot and manage the nerves by telling myself I belong here.”

AAP