IMG Academy to Host NXXT Faldo IMG Academy Florida Challenge in December
IMG Academy
BRADENTON, Fla. (Nov.11, 2026) – IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, will host the NXXT Faldo IMG Academy Florida Challenge Dec. 11-13, 2026, at IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. Building on a championship IMG Academy has hosted since 2014, the event will continue its tradition of bringing together top junior golfers from across the United States and around the world, with a new relationship with NXXT Golf creating additional opportunities for competitors to advance to national and international championships.
Originally launched in 2014 as a sister event to the world-renowned Junior World Golf Championship, the Florida Challenge has established a history of international competition, with previous events featuring more than 200 players representing over 30 countries. As IMG Academy continues to look for ways to grow and strengthen the championship, its relationship with NXXT Golf introduces expanded qualifying opportunities and a connection to the NXXT Faldo Junior Tour and the Faldo Series’ international competition pathway.
The 54-hole, World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR)-ranked championship will feature four divisions: boys ages 11-14, boys ages 15-19, girls ages 11-14 and girls ages 15-19. IMG Academy student-athletes will compete alongside junior golfers from across the country and internationally, providing participants with the opportunity to test their skills against a competitive field and gain valuable tournament experience. As a WAGR-ranked event, the Florida Challenge will allow competitors to earn ranking points as they continue to build their competitive profiles and pursue collegiate and international opportunities. The championship will also offer qualifying opportunities for the NXXT Faldo North American Championship, scheduled for Dec. 29-31, 2026, at Streamsong Resort in Florida.
“At IMG Academy, we’re always looking for ways to build on what we’ve established and create even more meaningful opportunities for student-athletes,” said Brian Nash, SVP of Athletics at IMG Academy. “The Florida Challenge has a strong history of bringing together talented junior golfers from around the world, and our relationship with NXXT Golf is an opportunity to build on that foundation. By expanding the competitive and advancement opportunities available through the event, we can continue to grow the championship and support the next generation of golfers.”
“Bringing the NXXT Faldo Junior Tour to IMG Academy creates a December championship that top juniors everywhere will want to play, and one we intend to make a tradition for years to come,” said Stuart McKinnon, president and CEO of NXXT Golf. “We built the tour to give North America’s best young players a real pathway to the world stage, and this event is another important step in that effort.”
The Florida Challenge also will count toward the NXXT GolfJoy Player of the Year award, with the winner receiving a GolfJoy Spica 3 launch monitor. The championship builds on IMG Academy’s history of developing and hosting top junior golf talent, including recent Florida Challenge champions Xin Wang, who won the 2025 title with rounds of 73-68-68, and IMG Academy Junior Tour Florida Challenge winners Po Cheng Hsu and Chloe Chang. As IMG Academy continues to invest in the event’s growth, its relationship with NXXT Golf creates additional opportunities for junior golfers to compete at a high level and pursue advancement to national and international championships.
Founded by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo in 1996, the Faldo Series has supported the development of junior golfers for three decades. Its alumni include major champions Rory McIlroy, Yani Tseng and Danny Willett, as well as PGA Tour winner Joaquín Niemann. NXXT Golf serves as the Faldo Series’ official North American Tour Partner, operating the NXXT Faldo Junior Tour to connect junior golfers with ranked competition and international opportunities. Through this relationship, IMG Academy will continue building on the Florida Challenge’s established history while creating new pathways for the next generation of golfers.
IMG Academy is the world's leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:
Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
Online coaching via IMG Academy+, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
Online college recruiting, via NCSA and SportsRecruits, providing unmatched college recruiting education and services to student-athletes and their families, club coaches, and event operators, and is the premier service for college coaches.
To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.
About the Faldo Series
Founded in 1996 by six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo, the Faldo Series is widely recognized as the only global amateur series for junior boys and girls. Supported by The R&A, the Series has given more than 45,000 juniors the chance to compete in World Amateur Golf Ranking events, culminating in Grand Finals in Europe and Asia. Its alumni include Major champions Rory McIlroy, Yani Tseng and Danny Willett.
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