15 year old, Miles Russell, the top ranked boy in the AJGA, signed a multi-year Name, Image, and Likeness contract with Transcend Capital Advisors on March 12th. Transcend Capital Advisors, an independent registered investment advisor offering wealth management services, promises to help young golf talent of the future build on their skills now to reach their dreams of playing professional golf.
2023 was the biggest year of Miles Russell’s career so far. He played in his first tournament in April 2023 and months later became the youngest ever to win the AJGA Junior Players Championship at 14 years old. The previous record holder was 16 year old, Khavish Varadan; a full two years older than Russell. Miles played in the tournament against boys 5 years his senior. He shot a 9 under par, boosting him to number 1 in the AJGA rankings. His second round 66 was the lowest round in the tournament.
Russell then won three more tournaments in 2023 and earned second and third place in two others. He made the first-team Rolex Junior All-American team in his first season and became the youngest person to ever receive AJGA’s Rolex Junior Player of the Year award; a title previously held by Tiger Woods for 32 years. Other notable moments in 2023 for Miles Russell are being a member of Team USA at the Junior Ryder Cup in Rome, Italy and winning the 2023 Junior PGA Championship with a -18 total over the course of 4 days, 7 strokes under the second place winner.
A Florida native and current resident of Jacksonville Beach, Miles Russell took up golf at the age of two. His father, Joe, could tell he was serious about his love for the sport when he would ask, at the age of three, to watch the Golf Channel over cartoons. Miles started to make a name for himself in 2018 when he entered the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals for the boys 7-9 category at the Augusta National Golf Club. There, he received first place in the driving competition, tied for second in putting, and tied for third in chipping. Russell’s driving is what distinguishes him as a young golfer, as he won the driving competition three times at 9 years old. Before his 10th birthday, Miles had racked up over 30 tournament wins on the U.S. Kids and Junior Hurricane tours and was shooting in the 70s.
Fast forward to today, Miles Russell’s contract with Transcend Capital Advisors can hopefully bring big things for his career. His talent will surely draw the attention of college scouts when competing at national level tournaments. And with his new NIL partner status, which aids in collegiate athletes receiving compensation for the use of their names, images, and likeness, he could be further boosted toward success. Transcend Capital Advisors already has NIL partnerships with several amateur golfers, some of whom being Yana Wilson, the #1-ranked junior girl in the Rolex AJGA rankings, 16 year old Blades Brown, the 2023 Tennessee Men’s and Junior Player of the Year, and previously, a multi-year NIL contract with Caleb Surratt who turned professional earlier this year. In 2021, it was made legal for athletes to receive compensation from their NILs, so Miles, if and when he attends college to play golf, will be able to receive profit from his school if they use his name and picture. This of course benefits him greatly, given he remains as talented as he is now and continues to rise in prominence in the world of junior golf. Currently, 53 past AJGA Juniors have gone on to play in the PGA Tour’s Players Championship. For the time being though, Miles is still 15 and a freshman in high school. There are big things on the horizon though for young Miles Russell.
Photo Credit: Getty Images by Valerio Pennicino
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