Josiah Gilbert: How COVID could cost Australia promising golfer as USA’s Ryder Cup dream beckons

Rising talent Josiah Gilbert could be lost to Australian golf, with the budding superstar at the centre of an international tug-of-war with the USA. And West Australia’s brutal COVID lockdowns are at the heart of it.

Auburn Tigers Josiah Gilbert during day two of the 2024 East Lake Cup on October 29, 2024 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

An Australian golfing prodigy who helped his college win a historic American national championship will weigh up whether to keep playing under the Southern Cross or switch his allegiance to the United States and pursue a Ryder Cup dream.

Josiah Gilbert, whose family emigrated to the United States early during the COVID pandemic to dodge the lockdowns in Western Australia, will play his first major tournament on home soil in the Australian Open.

Golf Australia extended the 20-year-old an invite after starring for his college, Auburn, which won the men’s national championship for the first time in the school’s history this year.

He will tee up alongside the likes of Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee and defending Joaquin Niemann at Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club from Thursday.

It’s a calculated move from Golf Australia with Gilbert, a dual Australian-United States citizen given his parents Jeremy and Erika were both born in America, knowing a decision on his allegiance will likely need to be made before he turns professional.

Josiah Gilbert and his family emigrated to the United States from Western Australia early during the COVID pandemic. Picture: Getty Images

And he acknowledged the lure of playing in the biennial Ryder Cup for the United States could be a big motivator one day.

“The team aspect of it gives it such a different appeal in a really, really good way,” he said.

“It’s something I’d love to play, but I’d also love to play the Presidents Cup and represent Australia, or play the Olympics for Australia. I’ve got that [Brisbane 2032] circled. I’m looking at all that then deciding what I want to do.

“I’ll make that decision when I get forced to, I guess. Until then, I’ll play some good golf and enjoy it. It’s a good problem to have, but my heart is always with Australia.

“That’s why the flag is there next to my name right now and hopefully that continues for a long time.”

Josiah Gilbert starred for his college, Auburn, which won the men’s national championship for the first time in the school’s history this year. Picture: Getty Images

Gilbert’s path to golfing stardom took a different turn when his family opted to leave Australia and relocate to America to help Josiah further his sporting ambition.

A top level baseballer as a kid, Gilbert only seriously started focusing on golf at age 15, but there were fears his progress would stall living in Western Australia, which had some of the harshest border and stay-at-home controls in the world.

“It was a sacrifice on their part to move the whole family over there and help me live my golf dreams,” Gilbert said.

“It’s kind of worked out well. My sister is doing the same now and my brother is playing a lot of sports too. It was a big sacrifice on their part to help me pursue my dream.”

It’s paid off so far with Josiah quickly rising to 24 in the world men’s amateur rankings, the lone Australian in the top 200.

Josiah Gilbert will one day have to choose between Australia and the United States. Picture: Getty Images

His three brothers – Judah, Jireh and Jezrah – also have biblical names starting with ‘J’, similar to Australian pro golfer Aaron Baddeley, whose six children are named Jewell, Jolee, Jeremiah, Josiah, Jaddex and Jedidiah.

Gilbert is looking forward to having family watching him on the Melbourne sandbelt as he takes another step to his aim of becoming the world’s best amateur.

“If you look at the guys who are No. 1 in the world, that’s the level of players we’re going up against every single week,” he said. “If I can pit my game against those guys and become the best at that, I’ve set myself up really well for giving the pros a run.

“My game is at a point where my best golf is up there with some of the best in the world. It’s a matter of going out there and staying disciplined and staying patient.

“It kind of smelt like home [when I stepped off the plane], as weird as that sounds. That experience of coming back was pretty sweet. I’ve missed it a lot and it’s always a place I consider home.

“I’ve always dreamed of being able to come home and play a pro tournament and it has become a reality this week.”