At six years old, Willy’s life changed forever. After repeated violence and threats from his stepfather, he left home and spent much of his childhood surviving on the streets. He worked caring for other people’s animals to earn enough money for food and attended school only when he could afford to. For years, survival, not golf, was his daily focus.
But everything changed unexpectedly. At 13 years old, while working as a ball boy for a family whose daughters played tennis, Willy wandered next door to a golf course. There he met a caddie, picked up a golf club for the first time, and discovered what happiness is.
As a young caddie, he often spent the little money he earned for the chance to borrow one of the three available golf clubs to compete against the other caddies on the green after hours. For the first time in his life, Willy finally felt safe. Having a club in his hand changed everything. And golf has continued to be his safe space ever since.
Within just a few years, Willy progressed from an unknown caddie to captain of Uganda’s National Team, eventually becoming one of the country’s most accomplished golfers. Before turning professional, he won 22 amateur tournaments, including the Uganda Open and Burundi Open, and represented Uganda internationally.
Throughout his career, financial limitations, not talent, have often determined which tournaments he could enter and which opportunities he had to leave behind. He has frequently qualified for the DP Tour or been one shot away from PGA qualifiers but had to stop due to not being able to afford tournament entrance fees and travel expenses. The average professional golfer spends between $120-200K per year just to stay competitive on development tours, with PGA Tour base expenses between $200-300k and top-tier PGA Tour stars spending upwards of $1.5 million.
Willy has never had this kind of money and has often caddied to bootstrap his own golf expenses. Yet his determination has never changed.
Today, Willy is pursuing one final opportunity to compete at golf’s highest levels while building a platform that extends beyond the game through executive relationships, youth inspiration, corporate partnerships, speaking, and storytelling. When asked why he continues chasing the dream, his answer has little to do with golf.
“What drives me today isn’t just golf. It’s the children who know my story. If I quit now, I feel like I’d be giving up on them too.”
For sponsors, partnering with Willy is more than supporting a professional athlete. It is joining one of the most compelling, and still largely untold, stories in professional golf.
WillyDeus
Professional Golfer • Competing Worldwide
Born in Uganda • Based in Palm Beach, FL
Contact: (918) 231-6837
willydeuskitata@gmail.com