‘Extraordinary talent’: Young Irish golf ‘prodigy’ turns heads in Californian world championship

Eilgin Michael, a 12-year-old golfer from Dublin, has captured attention at the prestigious Future Champions Golf (FCG) World Championship Tournament in Palm Desert, California.

The young Irish sportsman is competing in the youth tournament where he was chosen from over 24,000 applicants to be among the 750 junior golfers competing in the US.

The FCG Callaway World Junior Golf Championship, held across Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, California, gathers junior golfers aged 7-18 from over 50 countries each year, making it one of the most globally significant junior golf events.

Demonstrating exceptional skill, Eilgin shot an impressive three under par this Monday, July 15, securing a tie for 7th place – just four shots from the lead.

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Eilgin’s outstanding opening round featured a birdie on the 4th hole and a single bogey on the 7th. As the sole Irish competitor in his category, he is poised to tee off again this Tuesday afternoon.

Beginning his golfing journey at the tender age of two, Eilgin is said to have ‘consistently demonstrated his prodigious abilities’.

Despite his youth, he competes for Golf Ireland’s Under 14 Leinster team and achieved his first hole-in-one at Corballis Links Donabate at 12.