Haley Moore planned to leave her home in Escondido, California, around 5:30 p.m. last Friday to catch a redeye out of LAX. To make her LPGA debut, Moore traveled solo on a 16-hour direct flight to Melbourne and then caught a shuttle to 13th Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads, Victoria.
“She’s not going to drive,” said Haley’s mother, Michele. “She’s petrified.”
And who can blame her? There’s enough for a rookie to worry about without having to drive on the other side of the road.
Haley, 21, will begin her 2020 LPGA season roughly 8,000 miles away and 19 hours ahead of those she loves. But while she won’t have an entourage, Moore will have some familiar faces in the crowd at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. For two years she competed in the Australian Master of the Amateurs event and her host family, the Sephtons, hope to make the drive over from Melbourne for Thursday’s round.
The third LPGA event of 2020 will feature a second round of rookies making their first appearance. In addition to Moore, newbies Andrea Lee, Jiwon Jeon, Maia Schechter, Matilda Castren and Linnea Johansson are also in the field. Eight rookies played in the new Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.
The Vic Open is unlike any other event on tour in that men are in the field competing on the same course for equal prize money. Last year marked the first year the tournament was sanctioned by both the LPGA and European Tour. The LPGA purse remains small at $1.1 million, but it’s a blockbuster of a concept. The field on the women’s side is much stronger this year, with major winners Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Cristie Kerr, Jiyai Shin, So Yeon Ryu, Laura Davies and Hannah Green joining Australia’s most decorated player, Karrie Webb.
“They don’t have any ropes,” Haley said of the tournament’s unique atmosphere. “Spectators can stand right behind you.”
It will be an intimate feel for Moore, who has been under the bright lights plenty of times. She’s prepared for the entire year to be one giant learning curve and her goals reflect as much.
“Just trying to keep my card,” she said, “keep it in the top 100.”
Last month Moore flew to south Florida for rookie orientation in Boca Raton. She tried to Monday qualify for Boca Rio but came up short. She’s excited about her rookie pod, which includes Andrea Lee, Esther Lee and Kyung Kim. Each pod is assigned an LPGA staff member and veteran pro. Haley drew Morgan Pressel, who has already sent a welcome note to the team.
Moore signed with PXG over the offseason and has the logos of her alma mater, Arizona, and the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, where the members threw her party after Q-Series, on her bag.
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Pauma Valley Country Club made Haley an honorary member after she earned her card. She’s also been doing her homework at Aviara Golf Club, site of the upcoming Kia Classic. It’s 25 minutes down the road, so she hopes to take advantage of the home turf.
Christina Kim helped Haley secure an Aussie caddie for the Vic Open. She’s currently the second alternate for the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and will most likely have to play in the Tuesday qualifier. The top three finishers from the qualifier will get into the Australian Open. After that, the original alternate list will be dissolved and the field will be filled based on qualifying results. There’s also a spot left open for the winner of the Vic Open.
Haley has a flight booked to Adelaide for next Monday but no hotel. She’ll have a host family at the Vic Open, and they have offered to show her around.
“Right now, she’s got so many unknowns,” said Michele. “That’s probably my biggest concern.”
The Moores bought planners and a white board for Christmas. The board is color-coded and hangs in Michele’s office. With a son, Tyler, who’s a senior on the golf team at UC-Riverside, there’s a lot to keep up with, including Michele’s paid-time off.
“I’m definitely nervous,” said Haley, “just because my first tournament is pretty far away.”
A faraway dream that’s finally within reach.
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