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James Piot
James Piot
from Wikipedia

James Piot (born October 14, 1998) is an American professional golfer from Canton, Michigan. In 2021, he won the U.S. Amateur.

Key Information

Amateur career

[edit]

Piot was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan. In high school, he led Detroit Catholic Central to three consecutive state championships and won the Michigan junior amateur championship in 2015.[1][2]

Piot enrolled at Michigan State in 2017, majoring in finance. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2018.[3] As a fifth-year senior in 2021, he was named an All-Big Ten First Team selection, an All-American Honorable Mention, and set a school record for lowest scoring average.[4][5]

At the 2020 U.S. Amateur, Piot was the No. 2 seed in stroke-play before losing in the second round.[6] He advanced to the final in 2021 at Oakmont Country Club, winning four consecutive holes on the back-nine to defeat Austin Greaser of North Carolina, 2 and 1. Piot became the first U.S. Amateur champion from Michigan.[7][8]

Professional career

[edit]

Piot turned professional in May 2022.

In May 2022, Piot was announced as one of the participants for the inaugural LIV Golf event to be played June 9–11 at Centurion Club in London, England.[9]

Piot continued with LIV Golf in 2023, appearing in all 14 events. His season high finish of T18 came at LIV Golf Greenbrier.[10] After finishing 47th in 2023 LIV Golf League standings, Piot was relegated.[11]

In 2024, Piot played in a handful of Asian Tour events,[12] as well as various mini-tour events in the United States.[13][14][15]

Personal life

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Piot is a close friend of professional football player Bryce Baringer, who was also his roommate at Michigan State.[16]

Amateur wins

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  • 2019 Island Resort Intercollegiate, Inverness Intercollegiate
  • 2021 Hoosier Collegiate Invite, Golf Association of Michigan Championship, U.S. Amateur, Island Resort Intercollegiate
  • 2022 Georgia Cup

Source:[17]

Results in major championships

[edit]
Tournament 2022
Masters Tournament CUT
PGA Championship
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut

U.S. national team appearances

[edit]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
James Piot (born October 14, 1998) is an American professional golfer from who achieved prominence by winning the 2021 U.S. Amateur Championship, becoming the first man from his state to claim the title. A native of , Piot honed his skills through junior successes, including victories in the Michigan Junior PGA Championship in 2016 and 2017, before starring at , where he captured the Island Resort Intercollegiate and competed in NCAA events. Turning professional in 2022 following his U.S. Amateur triumph—which earned him starts in the Masters and U.S. Open—he initially joined the series, debuting that year and recording a top-10 finish in Bangkok. By 2025, after a from LIV's main roster, Piot transitioned to PGA Tour-sanctioned events, making the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and marking a potential pathway back to established professional circuits amid golf's evolving competitive landscape.

Early Life and Background

Family and Upbringing

James Piot was born on October 14, 1998, in , and raised in nearby Canton. His parents are Glenn Piot Sr. and Judy Piot, with his father actively encouraging his early interest in . Piot has one older brother, Glenn Jr., who also competed in collegiate at alongside him. Piot took up at age four under his father's guidance, fostering a family-oriented environment centered on the sport. He attended in , where he honed his skills alongside his brother, contributing to the school's golf team successes. This upbringing in a golf-involved household in suburban laid the foundation for his competitive development from a young age.

Introduction to Golf and Early Development

James Piot was introduced to golf at the age of four by his father, Glenn, an avid player who took him to local driving ranges in the Canton, Michigan area. Piot quickly developed a passion for the sport, spending time at public courses such as Fox Hills, where he played casually with his older brother Glenn and friends, often wagering small bets like golf balls or hot dogs. This early exposure on public facilities fostered a grounded approach, contrasting with more privileged club environments, and emphasized practical play over formal instruction initially. By age seven, Piot began entering competitive tournaments, marking the start of his structured development. At ten, he started formal coaching with Brian Cairns, a Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member at Fox Hills Learning Center in , who focused on building feel-based skills through on-course practice and video analysis rather than over-technical fixes. This partnership helped refine his game, with Piot setting personal goals like matching his coach's performance from the same tees, which accelerated his progress toward collegiate-level competition. Piot's junior career featured notable achievements, including becoming the youngest player in Michigan Amateur history to qualify for match play in 2013 at age 14. He finished runner-up in the Michigan Junior Amateur in 2014, won it in 2015, and captured the Michigan Junior PGA Championship in both 2016 and 2017, alongside the AJGA Randy Wise Open. Additionally, he earned top-10 finishes in six American Junior Golf Association events and led to three state championships from 2015 to 2017, demonstrating consistent improvement through competition against older peers.

College and Amateur Career

Michigan State University Achievements

During his tenure at Michigan State University from 2017 to 2022, James Piot established himself as one of the program's most accomplished golfers, culminating in a standout fifth-year senior season in 2020-21. He set the Spartans' single-season scoring average record at 71.22 strokes, surpassing the previous mark, while recording multiple top-10 finishes, including a victory at the Island Resort Intercollegiate. In the 2021 Big Ten Championship, Piot claimed the individual title, contributing to his selection as an All-Big Ten First Team honoree. Piot's amateur success extended to the national level in 2021, when he won the U.S. Amateur Championship on August 15 at , defeating Austin Greaser 2-and-1 in the 36-hole final after rallying from a three-hole deficit. This marked the first U.S. Amateur victory by a native and the first by an active Big Ten golfer since John Cook of Ohio State in 1978; Piot was also the first such champion to return to college since in 2018. In NCAA postseason play that year, Piot advanced to the Championships by posting a 5-under-par total of 208 (72-68-68) at the Kingston Springs Regional on May 19, securing an individual berth as the first Spartan to reach as an individual qualifier in over a . He earned honorable mention recognition for his efforts, capping a season with two collegiate wins and six top-10 finishes.

Major Amateur Victories

Piot's most prominent amateur achievement came in 2021 when he captured the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship at in . In the 36-hole final on August 15, the 22-year-old Michigan State senior defeated Austin Greaser of , 2 and 1, rallying from a three-hole deficit midway through the afternoon 18 with three birdies over the final eight holes. This victory marked the first time a Michigan native had won the event, earning Piot exemptions into the , U.S. Open, and . Earlier that summer, on August 3, 2021, Piot won the 100th Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Championship at Franklin Hills Country Club, securing the state amateur title. This regional victory preceded his U.S. Amateur success and highlighted his strong form in match-play formats during his senior year. No other national-level amateur titles are recorded in his pre-professional record, underscoring the U.S. Amateur as his pinnacle accomplishment in the amateur ranks.

U.S. National Team Appearances

James Piot represented the United States as a member of Team USA at the 2021 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, held November 4–7 at The Woodlands Country Club in Trinity, Texas. The event pits national teams of top male and female amateurs against one another in stroke-play formats for individual, mixed-team, and overall team competitions. Selected shortly after his victory in the 2021 U.S. Amateur, Piot joined teammates including Rose Zhang, Rachel Heck, and Sam Bennett. He and Zhang paced Team USA during early rounds, helping the squad compete closely with leading teams like Canada. In the mixed-team competition, Piot partnered with Bennett to secure a silver medal. This marked his sole appearance for a U.S. national amateur team before turning professional in 2022.

Professional Career

Turning Professional

Piot turned professional in May 2022, shortly after completing his fifth-year eligibility at Michigan State University and retaining amateur status for the 2022 Masters Tournament, where he finished tied for 54th at 7-over par. His decision followed plans outlined earlier in the year to forgo further amateur competitions and pursue a professional career upon wrapping up the college season. He made his professional debut at the Charles Schwab Challenge, held May 26–29, 2022, at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, entering via exemption as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. In the event, Piot opened with a 1-under 69 but followed with a 5-over 76, finishing at 9-over par and missing the cut by nine strokes. This marked his sole PGA Tour start as a newly minted professional before committing to the rival LIV Golf series. The rapid transition to professionalism, bypassing traditional qualification routes such as Q-School or developmental tours, aligned with an emerging landscape of alternative league opportunities offering guaranteed contracts over merit-based access. Piot's move drew early scrutiny for prioritizing financial incentives from , which he joined for its inaugural event the following week, over grinding through PGA Tour feeder circuits.

LIV Golf Tenure

James Piot turned professional in May 2022 and joined shortly thereafter as part of the league's inaugural season, signing with the HyFlyers GC team captained by . He debuted in the series' first event in June 2022 at Golf Club in . In the 2022 season, Piot competed across the eight-event schedule, posting a top-10 finish at the tournament and concluding 36th in the individual points standings. His performance secured retention for the following year under LIV's structure, which at the time lacked but emphasized individual and team competition formats. Piot returned for the expanded 2023 season with HyFlyers GC, participating in all 14 individual stroke-play events plus team playoffs where applicable. His strongest result was a tied-18th at LIV Golf Greenbrier, but inconsistent scoring led to a 47th-place finish in the individual standings. This placed him below the retention threshold, resulting in relegation from after his final event on October 15, 2023, at LIV Golf Miami.

Relegation and Korn Ferry Tour Efforts

Piot was relegated from following the 2023 season after finishing 57th in the individual standings with the HyFlyers GC team, concluding his participation with a final round on October 15, 2023. To reestablish himself on the pathway, he targeted status through and developmental play. In May 2024, Piot expressed plans to attend that fall specifically to earn membership and advance toward the . Piot's 2024 Korn Ferry Tour participation was limited, with records indicating one official event entry and no cuts made, resulting in zero earnings. He competed in the , finishing at +5, which aligned with broader struggles to post competitive scores amid efforts on parallel circuits like the and minor professional tours. These outings reflected challenges in transitioning from LIV's limited schedule to the grind of weekly developmental competition, where he supplemented with events on the GPro Tour and PGA Section tours for additional experience and points. Despite the modest Korn Ferry results, Piot's broader qualifying pursuits, including participation in First Stage of Q-School sites, positioned him for conditional opportunities, though advancement to full exempt status remained elusive in 2024. His efforts underscored the rigorous re-entry process post-LIV, requiring consistent performance across multiple stages and tours to rebuild momentum.

2025 Return to PGA Tour Pathway

James Piot regained eligibility for events on October 15, 2024, after serving a one-year suspension imposed for his participation in tournaments, which the classified as unauthorized events. Lacking conditional or full playing status upon reinstatement, Piot pursued entry through sponsor exemptions and open qualifiers, marking the initial steps in his pathway back to regular competition. In June 2025, Piot received a sponsor exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic, held June 26–29 at , becoming the first former player to secure such an invitation post-suspension. He opened with a 2-under 70 in the first round, followed by a 4-under 68 to reach 6-under and comfortably make the cut. An even-par 72 in the third round preceded a 1-under 71 in the final, finishing at 7-under par for a tie for 73rd place and earning $18,720 in prize money—his sole cut made across seven starts that season. To bolster his prospects for future status, Piot competed in developmental circuits, including a missed cut at the Tour's in April 2025 (+5 through the cut line) and advancement to tied for second at minus-4 in the first stage of in . These efforts, combined with prior international play and recovery from shoulder surgery in 2024, positioned him to accumulate points (ending the season at 668th) while demonstrating a viable route for ex-LIV players to reintegrate without full tour cards. By late 2025, his limited earnings reflected the challenges of re-establishing momentum, yet the appearance highlighted potential for further exemptions based on local ties and past amateur success.

Controversies and Public Reception

Decision to Join LIV Golf

James Piot, fresh off his 2021 U.S. Amateur victory, turned professional in early 2022 but faced immediate challenges securing consistent playing opportunities and sponsorships after completing his at . With limited starts and missed cuts in his initial professional outings, Piot lacked a clear pathway to compete regularly, prompting him to evaluate alternative tours. In June 2022, Piot accepted an offer to join LIV Golf, signing a two-year contract that guaranteed participation in the league's full schedule, beginning with its inaugural event that month and extending through October. Reports on the financial terms varied, with estimates ranging from a $1 million signing bonus plus guaranteed prize money to a multi-year package potentially worth up to $6 million, providing financial stability absent from traditional tours' qualification-based model. Piot described the deal as "phenomenal," emphasizing it as a practical step for a young professional needing competitive experience and income without the uncertainty of Monday qualifiers or minor league circuits. Piot publicly framed his decision as centered on the "journey of playing ," acknowledging the surrounding but prioritizing the opportunity to compete at a high level as an unestablished pro. He explicitly separated the choice from political considerations, noting it was fundamentally a -related evaluation rather than an endorsement of LIV's Saudi backing or disruptive format. The move resulted in an immediate suspension from events, closing doors to majors and traditional circuits temporarily, though Piot expressed hope it would not permanently derail a potential trajectory.

Criticisms from PGA Loyalists and Media

Media outlets sympathetic to the PGA Tour portrayed James Piot's June 2022 decision to join as a career misstep for the then-23-year-old reigning U.S. Amateur champion, who had already earned exemptions to five PGA Tour events. Carlos Monarrez of the , writing in Golfweek, labeled the move a "blunder," contending that Piot was opting for an "easier road" with guaranteed payouts—including a reported $1 million and at least $840,000 in event earnings—rather than competing on merit in PGA Tour qualifiers or developmental circuits. Monarrez argued this choice risked long-term PGA Tour eligibility, especially given Piot's youth and unproven professional record, which included missed cuts in his initial PGA appearances. Critics emphasized moral qualms tied to LIV's Saudi Arabian backing via the , framing Piot's acceptance of funds as indefensible amid documented issues, such as the 2018 murder of and Saudi involvement in Yemen's conflict, which has resulted in over 15,000 civilian deaths since 2015. Monarrez stated, "It’s indefensible for any player to join this tour when they know exactly where their paychecks are coming from," positioning the decision as in sportswashing rather than a neutral career choice. Similar sentiments appeared in , which highlighted social media backlash and contrasted Piot's path with PGA loyalists like , who rejected massive LIV offers, underscoring a perceived betrayal of 's meritocratic traditions. PGA Tour loyalists enforced institutional pushback through policy, suspending Piot indefinitely shortly after his LIV announcement on June 1, 2022, a measure applied uniformly to defectors to preserve the tour's schedule integrity and competitive field. This suspension, lasting until his eligibility restoration in October 2024 following LIV relegation, reflected broader leadership views—echoed by players like —that early joiners like Piot undermined the tour's 100-year history and pathway system, prioritizing short-term gains over sustained excellence. While specific public rebukes from individual PGA players targeting Piot were scarce, the tour's disciplinary stance signaled collective disapproval from an establishment protective of its merit-based model against LIV's fixed-field, no-cut format.

Player Autonomy and LIV Defenses

James Piot, as a recent U.S. Amateur champion without established professional status or sponsorships, exemplified player autonomy by independently selecting as his entry point into pro competition in June 2022, unbound by affiliations or penalties that affected established players. He described the decision as a straightforward career move, stating, "For a guy about to finish school with no sponsors who wasn’t among the top-ranked college golfers and had just missed two cuts, the LIV offer sounded phenomenal." This choice underscored the argument that golfers, particularly emerging talents, should retain freedom to pursue competitive opportunities across tours without institutional restrictions, a principle LIV proponents advanced against exclusivity. Piot defended his affiliation by prioritizing professional development over external narratives, emphasizing the tour's team format and access to elite as key benefits for a novice pro. "To be part of a team with a big-name pro mentoring me sounded like the right way to start my ," he noted, contrasting it with the PGA Tour's individualistic structure. He further highlighted learning opportunities, saying, "Playing with elite players in a team setting... you can pick their brains," and affirmed LIV's reliability: "From what I’ve heard, LIV has stayed true to the contracts we’ve signed." These elements, including guaranteed earnings from an $840,000 minimum across seven events, provided absent in traditional pathways, which he viewed as essential for sustaining a focused on "the journey of playing ." In response to backlash, Piot rejected characterizations of his motives as solely financial, asserting, "People say we’re in it only for the money, but that’s not true," and reframed the choice as apolitical: "As I thought about the political side, I realized it’s a decision." He dismissed public criticisms, particularly on , as irrelevant, stating, "I’ll get chirps from random people on , but I only care about what my inner circle thinks," and upheld personal agency: "Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I want to be who I am." This stance aligned with broader LIV defenses positing that players' contractual freedoms and competitive aspirations should supersede tour loyalties or judgments on sources, especially for unaffiliated athletes like Piot who faced no bans upon later exploring PGA events post-relegation in 2023. Piot's experience post-LIV, including eligibility restoration after a one-year PGA ban for non-members and sponsor exemptions in 2025, further illustrated the practical limits of autonomy under competing tour rules, yet reinforced his defense that individual choices—driven by opportunity rather than allegiance—enable career adaptability in a fragmented professional landscape.

Career Records and Results

Amateur Wins

Piot's crowning amateur achievement came on August 15, 2021, when he won the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship at in . As a 22-year-old senior from , he rallied from a three-hole deficit midway through the 36-hole final match, making three birdies over the final eight holes to defeat Austin Greaser of the 2-up. This victory marked the first U.S. Amateur title for an active golfer since John Cook in 1978 and the first for any native. Earlier in his amateur career, Piot claimed the 2015 Michigan Junior Amateur Championship after finishing as runner-up the previous year. At age 14 in 2013, he became the youngest player ever to qualify for in the Michigan Amateur. In 2018, he won the Golf Association of Michigan Championship, his first such state title since the junior event. Leading into the U.S. Amateur, Piot opened the 2021 summer season by winning the Medal Play Championship at , posting a 10-under-par total of 270 across four rounds. During his collegiate tenure at State from 2017 to 2021, he secured two tournament victories in 2020, contributing to his development as a competitive . In high school at Detroit Catholic Central, he helped secure three consecutive High School Athletic Association state team championships from 2013 to 2015 while earning all-state honors each year.

Major Championship Performances

Piot qualified for three major championships following his 2021 U.S. Amateur victory: the , the 2022 U.S. Open, and the 2025 U.S. Open (via a 10-year exemption). He did not participate in the or despite potential eligibility pathways. At the , held April 7–10 at , Piot shot rounds of 81 and 74 for a total of 155 (+11), missing the cut by nine strokes. In the 2022 U.S. Open at (June 16–19), he opened with a 69 (-1) featuring three birdies and two bogeys but followed with scores that resulted in missing the cut. Piot returned to the U.S. Open in 2025 at (June 12–15), posting a two-round total of +4 to miss the cut.
TournamentYearRoundsTotalFinish
202281-74+11CUT
U.S. Open2022--CUT
U.S. Open2025-+4CUT

Professional Statistics and Highlights

Piot turned professional in May 2022 following his U.S. Amateur victory. Over two seasons with LIV Golf's HyFlyers GC (2022–2023), he participated in 22 events, accumulating $4,163,500 in earnings, which included individual and team contributions, though specific per-event breakdowns reflect no individual wins and a 57th-place finish in the 2023 individual standings leading to relegation. In developmental and pathway tours post-relegation, Piot recorded top finishes including third place at the 2025 Fortinet Cup Championship on Americas (0.90 Data Golf points) and tied for fourth at the 2025 CRMC Championship (0.51 Data Golf points). He also secured fifth place at the 2022 International Series on the . On the , his 2025 appearance ended with a missed cut after an opening 70. Piot's lone PGA Tour start came at the 2025 Rocket Mortgage Classic, where he qualified and finished tied for 73rd at 7-under-par (70-68-72-71), earning $18,720 as a non-member. Across seven pathway events in 2025, he made 1 of 7 cuts with total earnings of $18,720 and holds the 668th position in the Official World Golf Ranking. No professional wins have been recorded on major tours, with career strokes gained metrics from his Rocket Mortgage appearance showing deficits off-the-tee (-0.43) and on approach (-0.57), offset slightly by putting (+0.36).
Tour/SeasonEvents PlayedCuts MadeTop 10 FinishesEarnings
(2022–2023)22N/A (no-cut format)0$4,163,500
(2025)11/10$18,720
Pathway Tours (2025)71/72$18,720 (PGA Tour portion)

Personal Life and Legacy

Off-Course Interests and

Piot has supported youth development through golf-related . In September 2022, at the event held at , he and fellow player hosted a clinic for dozens of local youth affiliated with the Kids Golf Foundation of , offering on-course instruction and interactive sessions to promote the sport among children. He has also participated in fundraising for Youth On Course, a nonprofit that provides subsidized access to courses for young players from diverse backgrounds. Piot completed the organization's "100 Hole Hike" challenge, involving walking and playing 100 holes in a single day to generate donations, with public announcements of his involvement appearing on his account in multiple years, including efforts to exceed prior fundraising totals. Public details on Piot's non-golf interests remain limited, reflecting his relatively private personal life centered on family in , where he was raised by parents Glenn and Judy Piot.

Impact on Michigan Golf

James Piot's high school tenure at Detroit Catholic Central marked a pinnacle for boys' , as he helped secure three consecutive Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 1 state team championships from 2015 to 2017, establishing what has been described as the program's most dominant era. A four-year all-state Super Team selection, Piot posted consistent individual results in MHSAA Finals: tied for sixth as a freshman in 2014, eighth in 2015, fifth in 2016, and fourth in 2017, while his senior-year teammates earned multiple all-state honors, underscoring the depth he fostered within the squad. At , Piot's collegiate performance elevated the Spartans' profile in Big Ten competition, culminating in his 2021 U.S. victory—the first by any Michigan-born player and the first for an MSU golfer—which drew national attention to the state's talent pipeline. He also captured the Play Championship with a 10-under-par score of 270, reinforcing his dominance in state-level events and serving as a benchmark for local competitors. Piot's achievements have positioned him as a motivational figure for juniors, with observers noting his resilience and "spunk" as qualities that inspire emerging players amid the challenges of competitive . His 2025 sponsor's exemption and first PGA Tour cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in further highlighted 's capacity to produce professionals capable of navigating elite circuits, potentially spurring participation and development in regional programs.

References

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