Danny List, the latest recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption, has taken an extraordinary path to professional golf. Unlike his predecessors, List’s story is one of global roots, perseverance, and a relentless passion for the game.
Born in Macon, Georgia, to an Australian father and Ghanaian mother, List was raised in Accra, Ghana, where golf was an uncommon pursuit for children. Despite this, he developed a deep obsession with the sport, often competing—and winning—against adult players at the age of eight. His local course, Achimota Golf Club, had no driving range and featured sand greens that had to be smoothed with a carpet after each round. Yet, List thrived in this rugged environment.
List’s talent earned him a scholarship to Wellington College in the UK, a prestigious boarding school with its own golf course. In a high-pressure one-round competition, he shot even par for the first time in his life, securing his place. By 14, he won the European Junior Championship and later became National High School Champion in 2015 and 2016.
For college, List chose the University of Washington, but after struggling academically, he left to pursue professional golf. With no guaranteed tour status, he played under the Australian flag and took occasional starts on PGA Tour Latinoamérica and PGA Tour Canada, though he made few cuts. He also had two Korn Ferry Tour starts, failing to make the weekend both times. In 2024, he secured a third-place finish on the Challenge Tour in South Africa, though he missed the cut in a DP World Tour event in Qatar before making a 13,000-mile journey to San Diego for the Genesis Invitational.
Back home in Ghana, List’s success is celebrated by his community and the 40 junior golfers supported by the Danny List Foundation, which he founded to nurture young talent. Understanding the challenges of golf accessibility in Ghana, he is committed to providing equipment, resources, and inspiration for the next generation.
List’s journey, from Ghana’s underdeveloped courses to competing on golf’s biggest stages, embodies the spirit of perseverance and opportunity—values at the heart of the Charlie Sifford Exemption. The Genesis Invitational will take place from February 13–16, 2025, at Torrey Pines South Course, La Jolla, California with a total purse of $20,000,000.
