SWINGING INTO THE OPEN
Priddis Greens set to host LPGA stars
Jaclyn Lee emerged from the 18th green with a big smile on her face.
Perhaps a harbinger of things to come?
The 19-year-old Lee is one of two Calgarians who earned an exemption into the 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, the other being her close friend and fellow Glencoe competitor Jennifer Ha, 22.
On Monday, as players flocked all day long to the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, the latest stop on the LPGA Tour, Lee took her third try at the course on a day that turned more blustery by the hour.
“I really do like the course,’’ the graduate of Central Memorial admitted. “It played a little bit more difficult this afternoon with the wind picking up. And then for sure, the fairways are a premium this week because the rough can get pretty thick. So (the key is) just being mindful of where you want to be on the golf course.’’
This week is bound to be a real eye-opener for the diminutive
It’ll definitely be hard to block that all out. But that’s what it comes with, that’s what this whole experience will be about.
teenager, who is preparing to head to Ohio State for her sophomore year — and as much as she tries to think of it as just another tournament, she knows the butterflies will be in full flight come opening round.
“It’s definitely going to be hard,’’ she admitted. “I mean, it’s the Canadian Open. It’s a huge tournament, so it’ll definitely be hard to block that all out. But that’s what it comes with, that’s what this whole experience will be about, dealing with all those nerves. You see this tournament on TV growing up and now it’s here. It’s actually going to be a good experience.
“Patrick Murphy is going to be caddying for me,’’ she continued, “so I think he’ll keep things light. He’s got a lot of experience to give me as well. Just play my own game and have fun with all these pros out here.’’
And what are the odds that Lee’s inaugural major event would be held in her hometown, with a ready-made gallery, to boot?
“It’s such a coincidence that my first LPGA event — and (the) Canadian Open — is in Calgary,” she concurred.
“It’s nice to have that home support as well. Everyone who’s been supporting me these past few years and realizing how important golf is to me, they’re going to come out and watch and see what I can do on the golf course.’’
And all she has to do this week is hang with the top guns.
Many of the tour’s stars who competed at the Rio Olympics — including Canada’s Brooke Henderson, who finished tied for seventh, and silver medallist Lydia Ko of New Zealand — have been trickling into town and should be around the course on Tuesday. Henderson was there on Monday, making good use of the driving range.
One of the biggest names in the game — American Michelle Wie — spent more than an hour on the practice green, under the watchful eye of her parents. Wie’s one visit to this course, at the 2009 Canadian Open, wasn’t a memorable one as she missed the cut. At that time, she was a teen phenom, the youthful face of women’s golf.
“It was my rookie year here, so that was exciting,’’ the angular Wie recalled, striding purposefully toward the practice range.
“I loved the town. I remember my friends always telling me about the Stampede, which is pretty cool.
“It’s always pretty difficult being in the public eye, but you don’t let that get to you. I feel I’ve always had a lot of support from the Canadian fans and I’ve been very grateful for that.’’
NOTE: At the last-ditch qualifier at a soggy Hamptons Golf Club on Monday, four individuals also secured a spot in the Open starting lineup: Californians Briana Mao (75), Christine Song (78) and Angel Yin (79), as well as Quebec amateur Brigitte Thibault (77).