NBA star LeBron James and the PGA Tour are partnering to bring a golf event back to his hometown of Akron, Ohio, starting in 2027, his foundation announced Tuesday.
The LeBron James Family Foundation Invitational, which will be played July 6-7 at the South Course at Firestone Country Club, will feature amateurs and pros from the tour's Pathway to Progression Pro-Bound Five program.
The Pro-Bound Five program creates pathways for the top five players in the final Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Collegiate Ranking each season to gain membership on the APGA Tour.
"Golf has become a passion of mine, and I've seen firsthand how the game can open doors, build relationships and create opportunities that many kids don't even know exist," James said in a statement. "This partnership with the PGA Tour gives my foundation a chance to introduce my I Promise students and more people to the game at a young age, support talented athletes chasing their dreams, and continue investing in the city of Akron that means everything to me."
The two-day event will include off-course mentorship programs that will connect students in the LeBron James Family Foundation's I Promise program with pro golfers who have advanced through the Pro-Bound Five program.
"The PGA Tour believes golf can create opportunity, change lives and bring communities together," PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said in a statement. "LeBron and the LeBron James Family Foundation have shown what is possible when that commitment is backed by action, and this partnership brings that shared vision to life. By connecting young people in Akron with our sport and supporting talented, up-and-coming athletes pursuing their dreams through our Pathway to Progression program, we are creating an event that honors Firestone's history and legacy while helping shape golf's future."
James' I Promise program serves students and their families in the Akron area with programs, support and resources to succeed in school.
James, who signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in July, has become an avid golfer. He launched a YouTube channel devoted to golf earlier this month. His first video featured a reunion of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team that ended the city's 52-year title drought for major sports franchises.