Discovering Ryggs Johnston: A Golfer's Rise to Stardom

Have you heard of Ryggs Johnston? He's not your average 20-year-old. Growing up in Libby, Montana, he started swinging a plastic golf club at just two years old. That early start has definitely paid off! Ryggs was born on May 21, 2000. His dad, Doug Johnston, was a college athlete and has been a big influence on Ryggs' career. While we don't know much about his mom, she's clearly been a supportive figure too. Ryggs has had some amazing mentors. In fact, he Looked up to golf legend Tiger Woods as his hero. This inspiration surely helped him shine in college. He studied at Arizona State University and earned a management degree and a sports business certificate in May 2023. In college, Ryggs showed his true talent. He won the PAC-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2022-23. Not only that, but he finished his college career with four straight top-10 finishes and even helped his team, the Arizona State Sun Devils, win the Pac-12 title. Wow, that's some impressive stuff! After college, Ryggs turned pro in 2024. He made his debut on the PGA Tour Americas. Although he didn't quite make it to the top 10, he still showed great skill. Later, he managed to earn a full-time card for the DP World Tour. Talk about turning things around! Ryggs' first tournament on the DP World Tour was the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship. He tied for 43rd, which is pretty good for a first try. His next tournament, the Australian Open, was even more exciting. He tied for the lead going into the final round! Incredible, right?