\n\t\t Entrepreneur \t<\/p>\n
It might sound crazy now, but for much of his early basketball career, Stephen Curry was overlooked. Coming out of high school, he carried no major accolades and only a three-star recruiting rank. Two MVPs, four NBA championships and an Olympic gold later, that chip on his shoulder is still there \u2014 and now he\u2019s using it for something bigger.<\/p>\n
With Underrated Golf, Curry has turned his underdog story into a purpose-driven business built on equity, access and opportunity for student-athletes from every community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Underrated brand started as a badge of honor,\u201d Curry says. \u201cIt was about creating a platform to find the underrated, the undervalued, the overlooked. Leveraging my story, I knew there were so many kids in that same position \u2014 full of talent but without the right opportunity to reach their full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Related: Steph Curry Changed Basketball Forever With His Shot \u2014 Now He\u2019s Teaming Up With De\u2019Aaron Fox to Transform the Sneaker Game<\/b><\/p>\nElevating talent on and off the court<\/h2>\n
On the court, Steph Curry is known for making the game easier for those around him \u2014 whether it\u2019s through dazzling assists or his signature off-ball voodoo that opens up the floor. He brings that same mindset to his off-court ventures, especially Underrated Golf.<\/p>\n
Underrated initially focused on basketball, but it didn\u2019t take long for Curry to set his sights on another passion: golf.<\/p>\n
The Underrated Golf tour hosts junior tournaments on championship courses, giving overlooked junior golfers the chance to compete at a high level and experience the sport at its best.<\/p>\n
\u201cGolf brings people together from all walks of life,\u201d Curry says. \u201cUnderrated Golf is about making the game a vehicle for equity, access and opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Image credit: Underrated Golf<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Curry was introduced to golf by his father at 10, and was instantly hooked. But he never dreamed of being a part of the golf world beyond the green. It wasn\u2019t until later in his career that he realized the profound influence the sport had on his life.<\/p>\n \u201cI realized how much golf has given me \u2014 not just hitting the ball and playing, but the people I\u2019ve met, the conversations I\u2019ve had on the course, and the places it\u2019s allowed me to travel,\u201d Curry says. \u201cSeeing the common ground you can find with others through the game, that\u2019s what I wanted to bring into my own space in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: McDonald\u2019s France Jokes About Dropping Curry Sauce<\/b><\/p>\n The tour capped its fourth season with the Curry Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really aligns with our mission at Liberty National \u2014 promoting diversity, inclusion and reflecting the spirit of the Statue of Liberty, which is central to our vision,\u201d says Dan Fireman, co-founder of Liberty National.<\/p>\n But the Underrated experience extends beyond the course. The day after the Curry Cup, title sponsor KPMG hosted its Leadership Development Day, transforming competitors into classmates. Inside NBC\u2019s iconic 30 Rock studio, the golfers met with C-suite executives and worked through a curriculum covering everything from public speaking and personal branding to business networking and emerging technologies like AI.<\/p>\n \u201cThe soft skills are so important, and those don\u2019t change. But giving these athletes exposure to what\u2019s happening in the business world is invaluable,\u201d said Melissa Taylor, Vice Chair, Client & Markets for KPMG U.S. \u201cIf we can help contribute to their readiness for life after golf, it feels like the perfect match.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: What are Soft Skills and Which Do You Need For Success<\/b><\/p>\n With KPMG anchoring the business element, Curry leans into what excites him most: the golf itself.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to have fun with everything I do,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s always a lot going on, on and off the court, but I try to stay real, honest and authentic in how I show up and who I partner with. It\u2019s about working with like-minded people who want to have fun too, but also recognize the meaningful opportunity to, as we say, \u2018elevate the under.’\u201d<\/p>\n Legacy might not be Curry\u2019s priority, but he has nonetheless built a bulletproof one. Curry Brand is only five years old, and Underrated just four, yet both already feel like institutions. Steph may call them \u201cbabies,\u201d but if there\u2019s one thing we\u2019ve learned from the player once dubbed the Baby-Faced Assassin, it\u2019s that a youthful appearance doesn\u2019t preclude a lasting impact.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nFutures beyond the fairway<\/h2>\n
From long-range shots to long-term impact<\/h2>\n