Meet Lev Grinberg: The Teen Making Golf History for Ukraine

Who Is Lev Grinberg?

Lev Grinberg is an 18-year-old amateur golfer. He was born in Ukraine and recently became the first Ukrainian-born player ever to play in a major golf tournament. He did this on Thursday at the Open Championship, held at Royal Birkdale.

• He is still an amateur, meaning he does not get paid to play yet.
• He played under the French flag this week because he now trains in France.
• Some of his family, including his grandfather, still live in Ukraine.

A Chance Meeting With a Golf Star

Earlier this week at Royal Birkdale, Lev saw Brooks Koepka—one of golf’s biggest major winners—walking down the 10th fairway. Lev decided to go for it and ask for a tip!

“He said, ‘When you’re in trouble, just get out as fast as you can and make bogey. Bogeys don’t hurt you but doubles really do.’” — Lev Grinberg

A bogey means one shot over the target score on a hole. A double bogey is two shots over. Koepka’s advice: if you hit a bad shot, just get back on track quickly—one bad hole is okay, but two is much worse!

After listening to that advice, Lev shot one over par on the day.

How Lev Grew Up With Golf

Lev’s story starts in Kyiv, Ukraine. Here is how he found golf:

• He and his dad liked to ride bikes on the edge of the city.
• One day, they saw two guys hitting golf balls and decided to try it.
• At age six, Lev started hitting balls at Kozyn Golf & Country Club, a small 9-hole course outside Kyiv.
• His dad was a former international badminton player and noticed Lev was talented.

To get better training, Lev:

1. Moved to Belgium at age 11.
2. Later moved to France and joined the French Golf Federation at Le Golf National.
3. Now plans to attend the University of Arkansas in the fall to chase his dream of reaching the PGA Tour (the top professional golf tour).

Important: Lev still talks to his grandfather in Ukraine every single day. After his first walk around Royal Birkdale on Monday, he called his grandpa to share the big moment.

Golf in Ukraine: A Hard Road

Ukraine does not have a big golf history. Here is why:

• When Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, golf was banned. It was seen as a game for wealthy Western people.
• After Ukraine became independent in 1991, the Ukraine Golf Federation formed in 1997.
• As of 2025, only 2,589 golfers live in the whole country.
• Before the war, only six golf courses had been built.

The war with Russia (which started in 2022) made things harder:

• Lev’s home course, Kozyn, is still open and helps wounded war veterans heal through the “Unite for Golf” program.
• Another course, Golf Stream, was destroyed and is now a dangerous minefield.

Callout: Lev’s rise in golf is amazing because his home country has almost no golf tradition and is at war.

Lev’s Big Day at Royal Birkdale

On Thursday, Lev made history. He played early with two other golfers, Francesco Molinari and Tom McKibbin.

Here is how his round went:

1. On the practice range, he hit the ball well and felt confident.
2. On the first tee shot, he was nervous but loved the feeling—“natural adrenaline.”
3. His first shot landed in a sand bunker, but he got out and made a par (the target score).
4. Using Koepka’s advice, he made six straight pars.
5. He had a double bogey at hole 7 but finished the front nine at two over.
6. After more steady play, he made two birdies (one shot under target) at holes 16 and 17.
7. He finished his round at one over par.

He said he was happy, felt less stressed than expected, and learned a lot for the future.

Important: As of the report, Lev was only five shots behind the early leaders. A good round on Friday could let him play the weekend!

Looking Ahead

Lev is hopeful and strong. He says:

• “We don’t think about the war that much. We just try to enjoy life.”
• He is sure he will play many more majors if his body stays healthy.
• He sees Friday not just as another round, but the start of something bigger for him, his family, and Ukraine.

His story teaches us that you do not have to be defined by things you cannot control. You can carve your own path.

Summary

Lev Grinberg, an 18-year-old from Ukraine, became the first Ukrainian-born player to tee off in a major golf tournament. He grew up by accident with golf, moved to Western Europe to train, and leaned on advice from Brooks Koepka to shoot one over par at Royal Birkdale. Despite Ukraine’s small golf scene and ongoing war, Lev stays positive, talks to his grandpa daily, and looks forward to a bright future in golf.

FAQ

1. What is a major golf tournament?
A major is one of the four biggest and most important golf events in the world. The Open Championship is one of them.

2. Why did Lev play under the French flag?
He moved to France to train and joined their golf federation, so he represents France in this event even though he was born in Ukraine.

3. What did Brooks Koepka tell Lev?
Koepka said that when you are in trouble, get out fast and make a bogey. Bogeys are okay, but double bogeys really hurt your score.

4. How many golfers are in Ukraine?
As of 2025, there are only 2,589 golfers in Ukraine.

5. What is Lev’s next step?
He will attend the University of Arkansas in the fall and hopes to join the PGA Tour one day.