If you’d told Justin Hastings 15 years ago that he’d one day compete with legends like Tiger Woods at the US Masters, he probably would’ve laughed. Yet here he is, a 21-year-old Caymanian, after an incredible performance that earned him the 2025 Latin America Amateur Golf Championship title. Hastings’s love for golf started at just 7 years old, the first time he picked up a club. By the age of 9, he was playing for Cayman’s national team at the North Sound Golf Club, where his competitive fire took off.

“I’ve been flying our flag since I was 9,” Hastings shared with the Compass. “To now bring recognition to our island is something I’m truly proud of.” Growing up, he looked up to Phil Mickelson, but it was his local peers who fueled his passion for the game. Though he loves golf, he’ll always have a special place in his heart for hockey.

For Justin Hastings, golf comes naturally. The real challenge? Juggling his studies at San Diego State while seizing every opportunity in the golf world. Hastings, a senior for the Aztecs, shot a 6-under 65 at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld on Saturday, putting a top-10 finish well within reach. But making the most of these chances means missing classes—just like he did when he won last month’s Latin American Amateur Championship, earning him a spot in this year’s Masters, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Oh, and he’s also playing in the Puerto Rico Open in March.

“At three and a half years, let’s finish it, obviously,” he said, determined to graduate despite the full calendar. This is only Hastings’ second PGA Tour start. Hailing from the Cayman Islands, he came close to making the cut at last year’s Puerto Rico Open, narrowly missing out after a missed 5-foot putt on the 18th hole. Reflecting on that experience, he said, “The biggest lesson I took away from Puerto Rico was to stay more even-keeled. I tend to get very passionate and emotional, and sometimes it gets the better of me down the stretch.”

As for his hectic schedule, Hastings knows the real test is graduation. “I’ll be home for about three days after this and need to take three or four exams. I only have three classes, but it’s going to be tough the last couple of months. I’ll do my best, though,” he said. Through it all, he’s making it work—balancing his passion for golf with his drive to finish school.

Justin Hastings goes golfing through life

Justin Hastings hails from Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, where the island only has 27 golf holes. His golf career took off when he made the cut at the Latin America Amateur Championship in Santiago, Chile, at just 14 years old—the same year Joaquin Niemann won the event. In 2020, Hastings helped lead the Cayman Islands to their first-ever Hoerman Cup victory at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships, overcoming a five-stroke deficit on the final day to win by five.

That same year, Hastings committed to play golf for San Diego State University, where he has flourished. He holds the best career scoring average in the program’s history at 71.48, slightly ahead of Xander Schauffele’s 71.50. Hastings won twice during his college career, first at the UC San Diego Invitational and then at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate, where he set the school’s records for the lowest 18, 36, and 54-hole scores. He’s also had two top-10 finishes at the Mountain West Championships, and in 2022, he was part of the team that won the conference’s team event.

In 2024, Hastings made his PGA Tour debut at the Puerto Rico Open, where he narrowly missed the cut. His perseverance paid off when he ranked 36th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. However, his biggest breakthrough came in January 2025, when he won the Latin America Amateur Championship, earning him a spot at The Masters, as well as exemptions for both The Open Championship and the U.S. Open. Hastings became just the second player from the Cayman Islands to win the LAAC, following Aaron Jarvis. Reflecting on his victory, Hastings shared how excited he was to finally compete at Augusta National, having grown up skipping school to watch the Masters. His journey proves that passion, dedication, and a love for the game can break any barriers.

What are your thoughts about the PGA Tour prodigy? Let us know in the comments section below!