11-year old Lucy Li doesn’t seem fazed by all the attention she’s receiving at the US Women’s Open in Pinehurst, NC, reports Ron Kroichick of SF Gate. (USGA photo)
The attention comes with being the youngest player ever to qualify for the prestigious golf tournament.
“I like crowds. They don’t bother me,” Li said. “I play better when more people come to watch me. So I’m really excited.”
The San Francisco Bay Area native just completed sixth grade and now she’s competing against the best women golf professionals in the world.
“You could tell she wasn’t fooling around,” said Joby Ross who recalls seeing Li play when she was just 3 or 4 . “She concentrated hard and tried to hit all kinds of different shots in the short-game area. Even at that age, you could tell she had something special.”
The only time she seemed to act her age on the course was when she would throw a tantrum because her parents told her it was time to go home.
For Li, despite the success, fun is still at the core of her golf game.
“I like golf because it’s different from other sports,” she said. “Anybody can play it – if you’re tall or short, fast or slow. That’s what I like about it.”
But how will she handle the pressure of her biggest event ever? You can read more about that in SF Gate.