Though Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) was once a promising professional golfer and high in the social circles of Savannah, Georgia, his time spent fighting in World War I leave him a traumatized outsider. In the early 1930s Junuh's estranged wife Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron) is trying to salvage her family's fortune by opening a fancy golf resort. In order to generate interest she stages an exhibition match between Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, two of the top professional golfers of the day. Trying to draw local interest in the event and the resort she asks Junuh to participate in the match as well. As Junuh tries to prepare for the match he is approached by a mysterious stranger calling himself Bagger Vance (Will Smith). With the help and wisdom of Bagger Vance, Junuh begins to recover some of his lost ability and sensibility as well as restore his relationship with his wife. In the end Bagger Vance leaves when he sees that Junuh no longer needs his wisdom and his help in not only golf, but life.