USC coach, LPGA vet Tiffany Joh named newest USGA national coach

Team USA just got a whole lot more fun. Tiffany Joh, a former LPGA player who lifted the spirits of countless players during her 11-year stint on tour, has accepted a new role with the U.S. National Development Program as a coach. She’ll work alongside head coach Chris Zambri on both the men’s and women’s side to help identify and support American golf talent.

Joh, who currently works as an associate head coach at USC, will move from her native California to Pinehurst, North Carolina, following the completion of the Trojans’ spring season. A two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion, Joh is the first USGA champion to be hired by the USGA in the organization’s 130-year history.

Known for her music-making videos, her many onesies and self-deprecating humor, Joh was the first four-time All-American at UCLA who joined the LPGA in 2011. The ultimate team player, Joh had a knack for bringing the tour together when it mattered most.

Last week, the USGA announced the inaugural U.S. National Junior Team, comprised of 10 girls and eight boys. Two of those players – Asterisk Talley and Gianna Clemente – are in the field at this week’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The USGA plans to grow the National Junior Team to 30 boys and 30 girls over the next three years. The U.S. Amateur Team will be announced in 2025, with the Young Professional Team to follow in 2026.

Golfweek caught up with Joh to talk about her new role with the USGA:

Tiffany Joh of the United States prepares to play at the 1st hole during the final day of the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open at Gullane Golf Course on July 29, 2018 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

A lot of it was just pure fascination and curiosity about it. Growing up, my parents didn’t really play golf, and the only reason we were able to navigate junior golf and getting recruited by colleges was just because we were able to make some really great relationships and got tons of advice along the way. I was really fortunate that way.

But then once I got to be a little bit better of a player and competed in Curtis Cups and World Ams and Spirit Internationals and stuff, I got to make friends from a lot of countries and hearing about their development systems, I remember thinking wow, that would be awesome if the U.S. did that. I think it would bring U.S. golf to a whole other level.

Jennie Lee and tiffany Joh (USA) give Alison…