LeBron James, fresh off the debut of his new YouTube channel–a scramble with his 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavalier teammates–has taken yet another step into the golfing world. It was announced on Tuesday that LeBron’s non-profit charity, the LeBron James Family Foundation, entered into a partnership with the PGA TOUR, centering on a new, two-day event at Firestone Country Club.
The Lebron James Family Foundation Invitational, set to premiere July 6-7, 2027, will feature the PGA TOUR Pathway to Progression, which was established in 2024 with the intention of providing access to resources, development opportunities and competitive experiences from junior golfers to professionals.
At the first iteration of the event, this will look like mentorship opportunities, connecting students from the Foundation’s I PROMISE program with professional golfers who had been through the Pathway to Progression Pro-Bound Five program, which is built to elevate and support standout collegiate golfers from historically underrepresented golfers.
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The I PROMISE program has served students and families in Akron, OH–LeBron’s birthplace and home to Firestone Country Club–through various programs and resources for school and beyond. The partnership with the PGA TOUR allows for the incorporation of more community programming, as well as greater opportunities for students with aspirations in golf.
“The PGA TOUR believes golf can create opportunity, change lives and bring communities together,” said PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp in a press release on Tuesday. “LeBron and the LeBron James Family Foundation have shown what is possible when that commitment is backed by action, and this partnership brings that shared vision to life. By connecting young people in Akron with our sport and supporting talented, up-and-coming athletes pursuing their dreams through our Pathway to Progression program, we are creating an event that honors Firestone’s history and legacy while helping shape golf’s future.”
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The competition itself will feature amateur and professional golfers who are alumni of the Pathway to Progression Pro-Bound Five, which provides a player development stipend and supplemental resources to support its members, in a two-day event on Firestone Country Club’s South course. Akron has long maintained a presence on the PGA TOUR, with Firestone hosting several TOUR events including three PGA Championships, highlighted by Jack Nicklaus’s 14th major victory.
“For many years, PGA TOUR events at Firestone have been a staple of our community, benefiting our hometown and bringing people together. The LeBron James Family Foundation is very proud to be part of preserving the PGA TOUR’s presence in our community,” said Michele Campbell, executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation. “With this event, we’re excited to not only support more diverse golfers getting into the game, but to also expose our I PROMISE students and more youth in Akron to the world of possibilities that golf opens up. With the intentional programming we’re building, we’re looking forward to the opportunities this event will bring for young people and the entire community.”
More detail surrounding the event’s participants and programming are expected to come at a later date. One thing, though, is for certain: LeBron James cannot get enough of golf (and he's actually getting pretty good).
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