Exclusive collector experience supports the Liberty National ACE Grant Program, helping junior golfers overcome financial barriers to competitive play
BRASELTON, Ga. – Internationally exhibited golf landscape artist Hudson Shaoxia Zhang is bringing together fine art, golf history and a personal collector experience in support of the next generation of golfers through the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Foundation Auction.
Opening Monday, October 26, at 6 a.m. EDT, the auction features an exclusive offering centered on Zhang’s original painting, Tribute to Rory McIlroy II, inspired by Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York.
The featured lot includes three elements:
- An original Hudson Zhang painting: Tribute to Rory McIlroy II (2026), an oil-on-linen work measuring 25 5/8 × 47 1/4 inches (65 × 120 cm), depicting one of golf’s most recognizable championship venues.
- A signed copy of Master of Golf Course Landscapes: Zhang’s 2026 monograph documenting his artistic exploration of golf landscapes, accompanied by his writings and reflections on the game’s history, architecture and sense of place.
- A private studio visit: An opportunity to visit Zhang’s Midtown Manhattan studio and gain a firsthand perspective on the artist’s creative process and decades-long relationship with golf.
With a starting bid of $5,000, the offering presents collectors and golf enthusiasts with an opportunity to acquire an original work of art while directly supporting the development of young golfers.
Where Golf, Art and Opportunity Intersect
For more than 35 years, Zhang has dedicated much of his artistic practice to interpreting golf landscapes across the United States and around the world. His work explores courses not simply as sporting venues, but as places shaped by architecture, nature, history and the memories of those who experience them.
Tribute to Rory McIlroy II was conceived following Zhang’s visit to Bethpage Black in anticipation of the 2025 Ryder Cup. Rather than depicting the spectacle of competition, Zhang captures the landscape itself, reflecting his belief that golf courses preserve a history that extends beyond any individual tournament or player.
The painting is part of a larger artistic legacy Zhang continues to build around the game.
“Golf has given me friends, taken me to beautiful places, and given me a new way to see the world,” Zhang previously shared during his September exhibition at the Harvard Club of New York. “Through my paintings, I hope to give something back, to build a small bridge between art and golf, and between our generation and the next.”
That philosophy now takes on a tangible purpose through the AJGA Foundation Auction.
Supporting Golf’s Next Generation
Proceeds from the AJGA Foundation Online Auction support the organization’s Foundation initiatives, specifically the Liberty National Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant Program.
The program provides financial assistance to eligible junior golfers, helping reduce the costs associated with participating in competitive junior golf and pursuing opportunities that might otherwise be financially out of reach.
“Hudson’s contribution is a great example of the golf community using its talents and resources to support the next generation. Unique items like this help us engage supporters in a meaningful way, expand the reach of our mission and generate critical funding for the Liberty National ACE Grant, which gives deserving junior golfers greater access to competitive opportunities.”
The auction includes more than 100 donated items and experiences, bringing together supporters from across the golf community.
For Zhang, contributing his work represents an opportunity to connect his artistic legacy with the future of the game.
“When I first visited Bethpage Black, I was struck by the beauty of the course and the challenges it presents. I wanted this painting to honor not only Rory McIlroy’s achievements, but also the perseverance and passion that make golf so special. It means a great deal to me to know that this painting will find a place in someone’s home and, in doing so, help young golfers have the opportunity to pursue their own dreams.”
Building on a Growing Relationship
The auction follows Hole-in-One: Hudson Zhang Special Exhibition, held September 18 at the Harvard Club of New York, where Zhang presented 24 works exploring some of golf’s most recognizable landscapes.
Representatives of the AJGA participated in the exhibition, highlighting the growing relationship between Zhang’s artistic work and the organization’s mission.
Another of Zhang’s paintings, A Round with Friends, depicting TPC Sawgrass, is displayed at AJGA Headquarters.
The October auction advances that relationship beyond the exhibition setting, creating an opportunity for collectors and supporters to participate directly in expanding access to the game.
Auction Details and How to Bid
Featured lot: Hudson Zhang – Tribute to Rory McIlroy II, signed monograph and private studio visit
Starting bid: $5,000
Auction preview: October 23, 2026
Bidding opens: Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6 a.m. EDT
Scheduled close: Friday, October 30, 2026, at 9 p.m. EDT
Extended bidding may apply under the auction platform’s rules.
View Hudson Zhang’s auction lot and register to bid:
https://ajga.winningbidder.com/Item/76755
Explore the full AJGA Foundation Online Auction:
https://ajga.winningbidder.com/event/4572
About Hudson Shaoxia Zhang
Hudson Shaoxia Zhang is an internationally exhibited artist, scholar and author whose work has explored golf landscapes for more than three decades. Drawing from Western painting traditions and the principles of traditional Chinese landscape painting, Zhang examines golf courses through color, perspective, memory, movement and atmosphere.
His paintings have been exhibited internationally, including in Belgium, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. His 2026 book, Master of Golf Course Landscapes: The Oil Paintings of Hudson Shaoxia Zhang, documents his artistic exploration of the places, experiences and history that define golf.
About the American Junior Golf Association
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
Through national tournament opportunities and Foundation initiatives, including the Liberty National ACE Grant Program, the AJGA works to expand access, develop leadership and support the next generation of golfers.
About the Liberty National ACE Grant Program
The Liberty National ACE Grant program (formerly the AJGA ACE Grant) provides financial assistance to junior golfers with financial need who are pursuing college golf scholarships. Funded in partnership with Liberty National Golf Club and the Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, it reimburses tournament fees, travel, housing, and equipment.
Media contact:
Meredith Otero
Founder, MET Marketing & Media
meredith@metmarketingllc.com
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