Imago
Stephen Curry (Credit: BBC)
Imago
Stephen Curry (Credit: BBC)
Stephen Curry’s name echoes through the air, with layer after layer of fans straining their eyes, trying to get a clear glimpse of the man in the flesh. People of all ages show up, wearing Bay Area colors with Curry imprinted on the back. And as he takes a brief moment to channel his inner sharpshooter, we witness deafening silence take over. Then, bam, Curry pulls the trigger. Yeah, but actually, this isn’t basketball that we were teeing you up for…
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This one’s all about Curry’s interest in playing golf. But why is this suddenly relevant? That’s because he has achieved everything in basketball: four NBA titles, two consecutive MVPs, a Finals MVP, and an Olympic gold medal. Away from the hardwood, Steph is also an accomplished author and film producer. But now, there’s something that the 38-year-old star hasn’t done yet that he wants to do. Oh, and mind you, he’s damn sure about doing it.
Hoops phenom Azzi Fudd asked the Warriors legend about that one unfulfilled dream. “I’ve had such a blessed NBA experience that just obviously winning another championship is the only real motivator for anything,” Curry responded on Fudd Around And Find Out, announcing his goal soon after. “Outside of that, I’m gonna pivot to golf because that’s my other love. Eventually, we’re not going to talk basketball. Eventually, there’s a very niche community that understands what I’m saying, but I would want to qualify for a US Open as an amateur.”
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Now, can Curry qualify? According to the rules, any professional or amateur with a 0.4 handicap index or lower can sign up to compete for a spot at the US Open. The competition, though, is fierce here. In 2025, the championship accepted 10,202 entries. Qualifying requires advancing through two grueling stages: 18-hole Local Qualifying and 36-hole Final Qualifying, unless you earn an exemption through world rankings or specific amateur events, such as the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Curry has been playing golf since he was 10. And he is classified as a scratch golfer, meaning he typically shoots even par or better. For reference, only approximately 2% of golfers can say the same. Over the years, he has gradually improved on the greens alongside effortlessly sinking threes in the NBA. Across practice rounds at the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament (ACC), Curry was spotted walking alongside an entire team of golf coaches who were tasked with helping him read greens better and analyzing the mechanics of his swing.
Curry already swings a golf club like he’s chasing another NBA ring. In 2023, the Dubs icon electrified Lake Tahoe at the ACC and stole the show with a jaw-dropping walk-off eagle putt on the 18th hole. The moment instantly became sports internet gold. Even better, Curry became the first active professional athlete to win the celebrity tournament since 2000, proving his obsession with competition travels far beyond basketball courts.
Meanwhile, Curry’s impact on golf keeps growing in ways bigger than trophies. In 2024, the World Golf Hall of Fame honored him with the Charlie Sifford Award for pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the sport. His influence also reached college golf after he revived Howard University’s Division I men’s and women’s programs in 2019, pouring millions into scholarships, coaching, and equipment.
Curry couldn’t participate in the 2024 ACC Championship because of his preparations for the Paris Olympics. But when he came back the following year, the 2023 winner finished with a score of 58, good enough for only fifth place. San Jose Sharks legend Joe Pavelski was the victor, posting 73 for his first ACC win in nine tries. Still, Curry’s golfing grind appears to be far from over. In fact, it all started during an interview last year, when Steph shared his plans in detail.
Why golf might be the ultimate post-NBA plan for Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry’s basketball fate may still have plenty left in the tank, yet his golf obsession already feels like the beginning of an entirely different legacy. While continuing to dominate headlines with the Warriors, Curry has quietly poured energy into the UNDERRATED Golf Tour, a growing platform designed to open doors for young golfers from diverse communities. The initiative helps cover hotel stays, meals, and travel support for players and a parent or guardian, thanks to fresh backing from the R&A. Curry’s goal remains simple but powerful: create opportunities for talented kids who rarely get access to elite golf spaces.
Despite only playing a couple of times each month during the NBA off-season, Curry still carries an impressive +2 handicap. He has already tested himself twice on the Korn Ferry Tour and held his own despite missing both cuts. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth believes Curry’s famous clutch gene could someday make noise on the PGA Tour Champions circuit when he becomes eligible in 12 years (the tour’s professional senior league for golfers aged 50 and above).
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STATELINE, NEVADA – JULY 16: Stephen Curry of the NBA Golden State Warriors hits his tee on the 2nd hole on Day Three of the 2023 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 16, 2023 in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
While speaking with Bunkered last October, Curry admitted he is carefully keeping that dream in sight.
“It’s on the radar for sure,” Curry admitted. “I say that with all due respect to the level of golfer that’s on the Champions Tour. I know it’s not going to be easy. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, when you’re done playing, are you going to try to do Q School?’ There’s no way I’m doing that because I know what it would require of me to make that jump… The idea that golf is a sport for life, if I can stay healthy, stay limber, go out there and qualify, use a Monday to qualify for a Champions Tour event, that would be definitely a lofty goal. But it’s something that I think I’m going to try to go after for sure.”
Well, Curry is looking to win his fifth ring with the Warriors first. That’s a universal truth at this point. Especially now, with Steve Kerr back as coach for two more seasons, that title chase has direction. Meanwhile, his vision stretches far beyond personal ambition as he continues creating opportunities for young players. Whether it is chasing a dream qualifier or building a lasting impact off the course, Curry already seems locked into his next competitive chapter.
