When Morgan Pressel became the youngest to qualify for a U.S. Women’s Open in 2001 at the age of 12, four teenagers were in the field with her at Pine Needles: Natalie Gulbis (19), Leigh Anne Hardin (19), Diana Ramage (18) and Christina Kim (17).
Pressel’s feat ignited a trend among junior golfers who thought, why not give qualifying a shot? Five years later, 25 teens comprised 16 percent of the field at Newport Country Club. Four of them were 15-year-olds.
This week the Women’s Open returns to Pine Needles for a fourth time. There are 22 teenagers in the field.
In 2007 Pressel, fresh off her historic victory at what’s now the Chevron Championship, returned to Pine Needles and played her way into the final group on Sunday. Cristie Kerr ultimately won.
Pressel is back this year in a different role as lead analyst for Golf Channel/NBC, having shifted gears away from a competitive career.
Golfweek recently caught up with the 34-year-old, who won twice on the LPGA, to talk about Pine Needles, her switch to TV and who she likes for the 77th staging of the biggest championship in women’s golf.