Tour News
11-year-old qualifies for the U.S. Women’s Open
It would be simple to begin with the words “Most eleven-year olds are” or “When I was eleven, one thing I wasn’t doing was…” Consider that temptation resisted.
Lucy Li, born little more than a decade ago, lowered the age bar for U.S. Open qualifiers by nine months on Tuesday, May 19th. The Redwood Shores, Calif., native toured the Half Moon Bay Old Course (California) in rounds of 74 and 68 to win the site qualifying medal by seven strokes. Li now advances to an historic playing of the national championship, to be contested June 19-22 for the first time over the #2 course at the Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club.
Last June, at the ripe, young age of 10, Li advanced to match play at the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links and came within two strokes of a repeat performance at the U.S. Women’s Amateur later that summer. Prior to her precocious achievements, current LPGA professionals Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie held the youngest-ever qualifying records for the Open and Amateur Public Links, respectively. This year’s achievement completes a trifecta for Li, who also became the youngest participant in the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship last year. The previous holder of that distinction was Latanna Stone, who advanced to that national championship in 2012 at a wee 28 days older than Lucy Li.
If you were wondering, Lucy wears braces, smiles perpetually and plays in what look like sneakers (but is probably high-tech golf footwear.) As happened with women’s professional tennis in the 1970s, female golfers (think the aforementioned Thompson, Wie, Morgan Pressel and Lydia Ko) are becoming newsworthy at younger ages. Let’s hope that all young athletes receive proper guidance about their sports and life.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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roland
Jun 22, 2014 at 12:51 am
Can you investigate her birth certificate? Also mention she trains at a Florida golf school 4 months out of the year. She no prodigy just a work horse without parental contact. Why not ask for proof of birth and why her parents answer no questions. In addition they have her dressing like a 5 year old with ice cream to poke our eyes but the facial hair give her away.
I hope they investigate and find out its fraud and all her trophies are disqualified.
Jeremy Beale
May 21, 2014 at 6:37 am
People often forget what a young sport golf actually is and just because a young girl such as Li makes her grand opening at a major doesn’t change that fact.
A person could say the trend started with 20-year-old Francis Ouimet and after his U.S. Open appearance they only got younger from there.
I mean let’s look at the list:
Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, recently Jordan Speith,last year at the Master’s Guan Tianlang and the list goes on.
Then for the women:
Lexi Thompson who won her first major before she even went to prom, Morgan Pressel, Jessica Korda and before Lucy Li there have been a few others as Ron mentioned who were 11-year-olds such as Michell Wie and last year’s phenom Latanna Stone.
All-in-all whether Lucy Li is the youngest this year and another golfer is younger the next, this sport is built of the younger generations. As long as their are junior programs nurturing new talent each year, there will always be a young prodigy lurking, waiting to break this barrier. That can be guaranteed.
Ronald Montesano
May 21, 2014 at 8:50 am
Jeremy,
Lexi Thompson won her first major this year, at the Kraft Nabisco. Since she is 19 and was home-schooled, I suspect that she either went to prom or has no plans to ever go.
Now that that’s out of the way, this is a very cogent reply. The unknown “what’s ahead” always lurks. I remember making a case for Yani Tseng over Michelle Wie, dating back to Tseng’s victory over Wie at the USWAPL in 2004. For years, Wie struggled while Tseng tsoared. Now, Tseng seems burnt out while Wie seems to improve each year.
I know that we can’t image a 10-year old qualifying for the amateur or professional major championships, but who knows where science and the goofy foods we eat today and tomorrow will take us!
Jeremy Beale
May 29, 2014 at 5:01 pm
I apologize for the miss information Ronald. I was trying to refer to when Lexi won her first event becoming the youngest to ever win on the LPGA Tour–which was a major victory in itself. Haha.
A short time after, she led a Support the Troop Campaign where she tried to find a Prom date. He ended up being a young Marianne from our armed forces.
Jeremy Beale
May 29, 2014 at 5:02 pm
**Marine
Ronald Montesano
Jun 1, 2014 at 8:52 am
Jeremy,
I suspected you meant that, but wanted to clarify before anyone else with less patience did so.
Ram
May 21, 2014 at 3:57 am
How does an 11 year old hit it far enough to break 100 on a USGA qualifying set-up? I’ve got a 9 year old that is the best 9 year old in town, but she can’t hit her driver more than a buck 50!
Frederik
May 21, 2014 at 4:58 am
An 11 year old could easily hit it 150 yards with a driver, and from the womens tees. it’s not that far in to the hole. Because if u play as good as she does, you’re probably a beast around the green, and can’t hit a ball OB. So she probably makes par on most holes, because of her being as straight as she might be.
Ronald Montesano
May 21, 2014 at 7:34 am
Frederik,
If Lucy Li learned the game backward, from hole to tee deck, she has precisely what you describe as being “a beast around the green.”
Ronald Montesano
May 21, 2014 at 7:33 am
We’ll find out next month, won’t we? If a course is running fast and firm, as Pinehurst is expected to be, any distance variable will be minimized. I haven’t had the chance to see her play, but if you watch this video, you’ll get a sense of a swing in all the right places, at the proper times: http://nslog.com/2013/05/30/lucy_lis_golf_swing
Ronald Montesano
Jun 1, 2014 at 8:51 am
Ram,
Imagine that you had a 9-year old back in 1984 in Cypress, California. He or she might have been pretty awesome, but there was also this kid named Tiger Woods. We might be privy to the development of one of the most unique female golfers of the new century (or not…doesn’t matter.) To compare “best in town” to “potential best of a generation” is unfair to both parties.
Trevor K
May 20, 2014 at 10:24 pm
Ecko went out of style before she was born.
Ronald Montesano
May 21, 2014 at 2:23 am
Thanks for the comment, Trevor. What is in style is her terrific course management and fearless ability to make birdies. I hope that she is parented well and given an opportunity to continue to balance her life.