There has been a big question mark on the future of Dubai-born sensation Josh Hill in recent months – would he turn professional or make the trip to the States to play college golf? Today that question has finally been answered after the youngster signed with the University of Tennessee.
Tennessee men’s golf coach Brennan Webb announced Hill as the fourth member to the class of 2022, joining Caleb Surratt, Bruce Murphy and Evan Woosley-Reed as new recruits to Vols men’s golf squad.
“We are extremely excited to add one of the best young players in the world to our 2022 recruiting class,” said Webb. “Josh has demonstrated the ability to compete with the best in the world at the junior, amateur and professional levels all before his 18th birthday.
“His wealth of experience competing around the world will be a tremendous asset as he begins his career at the University of Tennessee this fall.”
As a 15-year-old in October 2019, Hill became the youngest player to ever win a professional golf tournament that awards Official World Golf Ranking points—claiming the title at the Al Ain Open on the MENA Tour. Earlier this year, Hill continued to bolster his amateur resume by becoming the first player born in the UAE to make the cut a DP World Tour event with an impressive finish to his second round at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship before playing the final 36 holes for a second consecutive week at the Dubai Desert Classic – both elevated Rolex Series status tournaments.
Hill finished the latter as Leading Amateur with champion Viktor Hovland personally congratulating him on his performance before both men picked up their trophies. Hovland, who played college golf at Oklahoma State, was overheard telling the youngster: “I’ve heard my college coach wants you to go to the school, but I heard you’re probably not going to go to college.” After Hill had told the Norwegian star that he was going to made a decision soon, Hovland replied: “You’ve got a bright future so keep going.”
That decision has now been made and he credited the likes of Hovland for helping him choose his path.
“A lot of the big players on Tour right now have been through the college system and developed their game that way, so I felt my game is in a place where it needs a bit more development to compete with those top guys on a regular basis,” said Hill.
“Everyone is individual and everyone takes their own path but I think you can learn a lot from the top guys out on Tour. Whenever I got a chance to talk to them I was able to pick their brains and I learnt a lot from them. They’re also another reason why I’ve chosen to come to Tennessee.”
Prior to the addition of Hill, who is currently ranked the No. 68 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Tennessee’s 2022 class was already ranked No. 5 in the nation by Golf Channel.
“I wanted to come to a team that is challenging and the recruitment that Tennessee have done has been really good and was a factor in wanting to join,” said Hill.
“The thing that sold Tennessee for me was the project that they want to build and the places they want to take it – they have the facilities where I feel we can go to those places. It was the ambition from Coach Bo and Coach Webb that I really liked.
“I’m looking forward to not only competing against other colleges but also my teammates. I think that the camaraderie between us all and how much we compete with each other will push us to another level. I’m really looking forward to that.”
