Why the furore over Lucy?

LUCY LI, aged 11, is about to play in the US Women’s Open, and a lot of people are horrified.

Why? Lucy c a me through the qualification process, fair and square.

She won’t even be the youngest ever to play in the championship, that being Beverley Klass in 1967.

Morgan Pressel played in the US Open aged 12, Michelle Wie was the same age on her debut. Judy Rankin played when she was 14. I met them all at the British Women’s Open last year and none of them seems irrevocably scarred by their experiences.

Pe r h a p s Michelle hasn’t fulfilled everything expected of her, but now she’s got a degree from Stanford, one of the US’s top academic institutions, has become arguably the in-form player on the LPGA Tour of the moment, and seems a pleasant and well-rounded individual.

Lucy, despite the borderline racist murmurings of some, does not appear to be over-pressurised by pushy parents. No question her talent is being carefully nurtured, but what’s wrong with that? This is clearly a one-off event. She’s not going to be playing on any tour anywhere for some time.

It seems to me the worst that could happen to Lucy is that, with all this golf at such a young age, she might get disillusioned and give it up. But that wouldn’t be tragic or damaging, that would be… well, normal.

Getty. Lucy Li, 11, is to play in the US Women’s Open.