LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (June 11, 2026) – Continuing its mission to inspire and develop tomorrow’s leaders in golf and sports, the United States Golf Association has selected 25 undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the 2026 Pathways Discover Program during the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

From June 12-22, participants will gather in Southampton, N.Y., for an immersive internship experience designed to introduce students from a wide range of backgrounds to career opportunities across the golf industry through networking, mentorship, executive leadership sessions and hands-on operational learning experiences.

“Following this year's U.S. Open, more than 100 interns will have graduated from Pathways Discover — a milestone achievement for the program in only its fifth year of operation," said USGA Chief Legal and Administrative Officer Michael Lee. "As the Pathways program portfolio continues to grow, so does our responsibility to help ensure emerging talent can build meaningful careers in the game of golf and the broader sports industry for years to come.”

Pathways Discover programming will include department shadowing opportunities across championship operations, merchandise, communications, technology and player services and hospitality, as well as networking sessions with golf-industry executives and senior business leaders. Participants will also engage in a women’s panel, collaborate on capstone presentations and participate in a roundtable discussion attended by USGA employees and other professionals working in golf. 

During the 10-day program, students will visit New York City to meet with leaders at Deloitte, the program’s founding sponsor, and NBCUniversal, through the USGA’s relationship with NBC Sports and the NBCU Academy, for presentations and professional networking opportunities. Additional support of the Pathways Discover Program is provided by USGA partners Ally, American Express, Cisco, Lexus, Peter Millar, Sentry and Rolex.

The 2026 Pathways class was selected from the largest and most competitive applicant pool in the program’s history, with 782 applications submitted from candidates representing 44 states and nine countries. The final cohort includes four collegiate golfers and two First Tee alumni, reflecting the many unique paths that can lead to a future in golf.

Strengthening connections between current participants and alumni, Pathways Discover will continue the program’s one-on-one peer mentorship initiative, with 25 alumni volunteering to mentor members of the class of 2026. The mentors represent each previous class of the internship program that debuted in 2022 and will help advise this year’s interns on how to best leverage the experience. 

“The USGA Pathways Discover internship was a life-changing experience that helped shape both my career and who I am today. It allowed me to grow as an administrator, build meaningful connections throughout the golf industry and learn from mentors who continue to influence my journey,” said 2024 Pathways Discover Alumni and Player Development Manager for Sun Country PGA Taylor Harvey. “The experience reinforced the importance of serving as an advocate for the game by helping make golf more welcoming, accessible and sustainable for future generations. Most importantly, it introduced me to lifelong friends and mentors whose impact extends far beyond the internship itself.” 

The full list of 2026 Pathways Discover participants is below: