Keep a tissue handy when you watch this Drive, Chip and Putt champ’s reaction after making both putts on Augusta’s 18th

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Drive, Chip and Putt National Final rarely fails to deliver its share of emotional moments, and one of them on this Sunday came just before noon on the 18th green at Augusta National. Hudson Justus, a 13-year-old from not too far away in Gainesville, Ga., had just gotten a loud roar after sinking his first putt from 30 feet. He followed it up by holing his second from 15 feet, just the eighth competitor to make both since the event’s inception in 2013.

After a Tiger Woods-esque fist pump, Justus approached his father, Scott, standing beside the green. Both held their arms wide open en route to a long embrace. When Hudson pulled away, he wiped tears from his eyes.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him cry, honesty,” Scott said afterward.

Justus’ clutch putting allowed him to claim the title in the Boys 12-14 age division, passing Nicklaus Miller, grandson of golf legend Johnny Miller, who was leading entering the putting portion of the event.

“It’s kind of unreal,” said Hudson, poised as he stood behind the microphone, the only thing giving away his age being his braces. “I couldn’t believe it. …To be able to say you’ve won at Augusta National is just great.”

Going on 12 years since Augusta National, the USGA and the PGA of America joined forces to create the event, the DCP has a bit of sameness to it each year. The finalists—80 boys and girls ages 7 to 15—are still broken down into four age divisions, eight groups total. They continue to wear the same color-coordinated shirts and hats. The same trophy presentation is held at the end of the festivities, the juniors raising their new hardware aloft.

That said, if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it. The DCP continues to deliver on its original mission to inspire young players to consider taking up the game of golf.

“Yes, it feels amazing,” Alexandra Phung said, winner of the girls 12-13 age division. “I'm so proud to be able to play at Augusta National and also win. It's such an accomplishment for me, and I'm looking forward to maybe coming back in the future for maybe the next two years for DCP and potentially for the ANWA.”

For the Justus family, it was the second time they’ve enjoyed the opportunity to compete in the DCP, Hudson qualifying previously in 2022. Admittedly, he was less star struck this time around, but the moment was no less special.

“The ambiance of Augusta, there are no words for it,” Scott said. “It’s a special moment, and to have that with your child, it’s hard to express what that means.”

And that, ultimately, remains the event’s true payoff. Maybe there’s a groundhog day feel to what goes on here, but with participants aging in and out, the moments and experiences of a lifetime are new and fresh and exciting.

The DCP has proved to be a springboard for some participants. Megha Ganne competed in it four times before then playing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur five times. Alexa Pano was a four-time DCP participant before becoming a winner on the LPGA Tour in 2023. Similarly, Akshay Bhatia was the first DCP participant to win a PGA Tour event. After missing the cut on Friday at the Valero Texas Open, he was already at Augusta, getting in practice for this week’s Masters but also watching the DCP on Sunday morning.

Hudson Justus has similar pro aspirations. He’s a four-time U.S. Kids Junior national champion and has a plus-1 handicap. He’s also still a 13-year-old. Asked to describe himself on the DCP website, he noted: “I am outgoing, focused, and competitive. I try not to aggravate my sister, but sometimes it's just too tempting.”

Where this year’s DCP takes on new meaning is when it becomes an inflection point between the past and the future. Abigail Henriksen, winner of the girls 14-15 age division noted that she has watched this event in the past and looked up those competing as players to aspire to be like. The fact that she is now might serve as inspiration to others is heady stuff.

“I think it's really cool because I know when I was younger, I definitely looked up to a lot of the older girls,” Henriksen said. “And, you know, someday I want to be like them. So, I think it's really cool just to be on the other side of that now and to be a role model for the younger generation coming up.

Phung echoed those sentiments: “Oh, I'm just so proud. And honestly, I hope I can maybe, uh, be a little bit of inspiration and maybe enlighten some girls to maybe really push for their dreams and golf and everything. … I'm just really proud to be where I am and, I hope I can be a little bit of an inspiration for these girls.”

Emotional moments like the one Hudson and Scott Justus shared on Sunday can’t help but be inspirational too.

• • •

2025 Drive, Chip and Putt Winners

Girls 7-9: Ellie Kim, Danville, Calif.
Girls 10-11: Belia Simoes, Lake Worth, Fla.
Girls 12-13: Alexandra Phung, Forest Hills, N.Y.
Girls 14-15: Abigail Henriksen, DeForest, Wis.
Boys 7-9: Joshua Hooper, Wildwood, Mo.
Boys 10-11: Dawson Dial, Cedar Park, Texas
Boys 12-13: Husdson Justus, Gainesville, Ga.
Boys 14-15: Anthony Wu, Mission Viejo, Calif.