via Imago
Credits: Lucy Li, Instagram
via Imago
Credits: Lucy Li, Instagram
The golf world witnesses something special every day, but everyone was left in a chokehold when an 11-year-old broke an unbreakable record. At just 11 years old, Lucy Li made golf history by becoming the youngest player to qualify for the US Women’s Open in 2014, breaking Lexi Thompson’s record of qualifying for the US Open at 12 years old.
Born in Stanford, California, on October 1, 2002, Li has made quite the name in the golf world at such a young age. Her remarkable achievements also include the time when she went on to qualify for the US Women’s Amateur Public Links Qualifier in May 2013 and became the second-youngest player in tournament history. And if that wasn’t already enough, Li advanced to the match play in June 2013, which made her the youngest ever player to do so.
Her talent earned her a win in the girls’ 10-11 division at the inaugural Drive, Chip, and Putt challenge at Augusta National in 2014, where she defeated her closest competitors by seven strokes. And now that she is 21 years old, she is still shining through her exceptional skills and gameplay. Take Lucy Li’s jaw-dropping run last year, for example; it’s the stuff golf dreams are made of!
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The talented young golfer’s string of amazing performances left everyone talking. Her 2023 season was a breakout success, and she was consistent with her top finishes and hefty earnings that cemented her status as a rising star. In just 21 events, Li made 13 cuts and earned a whopping $177,024 by ranking 104th. However, the standout moment that came at the LPGA Q-Series was just what her fans wanted. The young golfer finished an impressive T17 at the qualifying series, and now she’s out there still making a name for herself. The fans can’t help but cheer for Li’s infectious passion and solid dedication to the sport.
You will be surprised to know that the golfer knew what she wanted ever since she was a toddler.
Early Life of Lucy Li
Li has been making waves since she was a toddler. Before golf, Li was quite an interesting youngster; from diving 10 meters at age four to taking music and gymnastics classes and even attending Stanford University’s diving classes, Li did it all. But it was golf she settled for. There are two stories about how she started playing. Li loves to share the tale of watching her older brother Luke smash balls at the driving range at age seven, which sparked her interest. However, Joby Ross, Mariners Point Golf Center’s head pro, reveals that Li was hooked on golf even earlier, around age three or four.
When the golfer turned 7, Li’s parents, Warren Li, and Amy Zeng, arranged a meeting to meet renowned coach Jim McLean, who had worked with golf stars like Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr. McLean began mentoring Li in 2014, and San Jose’s Cinnabar Hills became her practice haven.
To support her golf dreams, Li decided to get homeschooled, again like Thompson which helped balance her studies with intense training, and now the rest is history. Apart from playing golf, Li seems to be quite a traveler by the looks of her Instagram. She went on a vacation in Hong Kong and China with her family in 2017 and took her first trip ever to Canada two years later. Her social media is full of little glimpses into her life, and fans are always ready to enjoy them.
She also seems like quite a foodie, and one of her posts just proves that. During Christmas in 2018, the golfer went on to her Instagram to post a stunning photo of herself with the caption, “All I want for Christmas is… #food.” So, are you a fan of the young golfer? Let us know in the comment section below!
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Lucy Li breaking Lexi Thompson's records—Is she the future face of women's golf?