Tag: Brittany Lincicome

Brittany Lincicome, 39, will step away from full-time competition on LPGA after hometown event

“All of it is really a dream come true, and I’ve been blessed to do it for so long.”

Everyone always said she’d know when the time was right.

When eldest daughter Emery started kindergarten in August, Brittany Lincicome volunteered during lunch the first two weeks of school and felt a shift in her heart.

It was time to stay home.

“Kindergarten came around and I was like, you know what,” Lincicome told Golfweek, “there’s more to life than chasing a dream.”

Lincicome, 39, poured her soul into a hand-written letter to the Doyle family asking for a sponsor exemption to The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, the penultimate event on the 2024 LPGA schedule. When the call came that she’d been given a spot, she broke down in tears. Having the opportunity to say goodbye so close to home is “the cherry on top.”

This isn’t a retirement announcement, exactly. She’d like to play in a handful of events each year going forward as well as the occasional pro-am. Going forward, golf will take a backseat to family. With daughters Emery now five and Sophia two, there are new dreams to chase.

“My dad said when I turned pro, ‘Give me 10 years, and then you can retire,’ ” she said. “Here we are, 20 years later.”

She loved it too much to leave.

Brittany Lincicome of Team United States arrives to the Opening Ceremony prior to the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on September 12, 2024 in Gainesville, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

As Lincicome winds down her competitive career, former Wake Forest standout Rachel Kuehn will play in her first LPGA event as a professional Nov. 14-17 in Belleair, Florida, on a sponsor exemption. Kuehn won eight titles in five years as a Demon Deacon.

Lincicome burst onto the LPGA scene as an amateur at the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open when she led Day 1 with a 6-under 66. She tied for 55th that week, but the experience helped cement the decision to skip college and turn professional.

The long-bombing Lincicome, who loves to fish more than practice, won her first of eight LPGA titles in 2006 and her most recent in 2018. She won what’s now known as the Chevron Championship in 2009 and 2015, hitting magnificent approach shots into the iconic 18th green both times to set up eagle putts of four and nine feet, respectively.

“Getting my first win with my dad on the bag,” she said, “my parents sacrificed everything to get me where I am today.

“Winning two majors – two school-teachers raising me to be a pro golfer – and to have eight wins is remarkable.”

Lincicome is exempt into the Chevron as a past champion and plans to play in the event next year along with a few more tournaments over the summer when Emery is out of school. There are host families and communities she’d love to stay connected with.

There will be faces Lincicome will miss on tour, but the reality is many of her peers have already retired or play sparingly these days. The rush of competition will be hard to replace.

After representing the U.S. six times as a player at the Solheim Cup, she was an assistant captain at this year’s event in Virginia. Team USA captain Stacy Lewis lauds the way Lincicome has gone about her business on tour, understanding that good golf isn’t all that’s important.

And she did it all with a smile on her face.

“She’s just great to have in a team room,” said Lewis. “She was great to be on a team with just for that reason. Whether we were winning or losing – she was going to act the same way.”

Brittany Lincicome (C) jumps in the water surrounding the 18th green after winning with an eagle on the final hole with caddie Tara Bateman and father Tom Lincicome during the final round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club on April 5, 2009 in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Growing up, Lincicome’s best friend called her “Snacks” because the contents of her golf bag resembled a small 7-11. On tour, she’s known as “Bam Bam” for her natural power. As a kid, she played a number of junior events at what was then known as Belleview Biltmore Golf Club, now the Pelican. While the private club and course are vastly different these days, it’s a fitting place for the pro who has done so much for her community to say a partial goodbye.

For more than 15 years, Lincicome has hosted the Brittany & Friends Celebrity Pro-Am benefitting her local First Tee chapter in St. Petersburg. LPGA players, PGA Tour pros and professional baseball and hockey players have donated their time over the years to help Lincicome give back to kids, raising $2 million. Daughter Emery now takes part in the First Tee program on Saturday mornings.

Today, Lincicome is one of the few players on the LPGA still running a charity event.

“All of it is really a dream come true,” she said, “and I’ve been blessed to do it for so long.”

Can a mom win on the LPGA for the first time since 2020? A local mom is in position at the Ford Championship

The last mom to win on the LPGA was Stacy Lewis at the 2020 Scottish Open.

GILBERT, Ariz. — The last mom to win on the LPGA was Stacy Lewis at the 2020 Scottish Open. This week, there are 10 mothers teeing it up in the Ford Championship, the seventh tournament on the LPGA’s 2024 schedule.

That includes Lindsey Weaver-Wright, who played high school golf in Cave Creek, Arizona, and completed her college career at the University of Arizona.

Weaver-Wright is playing in her first LPGA event since she became a mom to son Crew on Dec. 17. She opened her week with a bogey-free, 4-under 68 at Seville Golf and Country Club, which is hosting the inaugural Ford Championship

“I didn’t really know what to expect, so I just went into the whole week with very little expectation,” she said. “Got a lot going on in my mind right now. Yeah, Crew was just, it’s so funny just getting his texts from daycare, updates after the round. I just love it. My husband is updating me and he gets all the notifications, too.”

Her last shot in her last tournament before taking leave last October was a hole-out eagle.

PHOTOS: Ford Championship

Weaver-Wright trails co-leader Azahara Munoz of Spain, one of three to shoot an 8-under 64 on Thursday, along with Gabi Ruffels and Isi Gabsa.

Other moms playing this week include Sophia Popov and Caroline Masson, who played as a parent for the first time a week ago as well as Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Mel Reid and Hee Young Park.

Photos: Brittany Lincicome through the years

An eight-time winner on the LPGA, Brittany Lincicome has been one of the longest hitters on tour for years.

An eight-time winner on the LPGA, including two majors, Brittany Lincicome has been one of the longest hitters on tour for years.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Lincicome turned pro before her 20th birthday, earning her tour card for the 2005 season.

Her first win came at the 2006 HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship, when she went on a fantastic run, edging stars Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa, and Juli Inkster in the final three matches.

She has played in six Solheim Cups and was added as an assistant captain for the 2024 event under captain Stacy Lewis.

Lincicome, who has two children, has a dozen top 10 finishes in majors and won the same event twice, referred to as the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2009 and then the ANA Inspiration in 2015. She’s earned nearly $9.7 million in her playing career.

Here’s a look at the golf career of Lincicome in photos.

Here are seven U.S. players primed to be future Solheim Cup captains

When it comes to future U.S. Solheim Cup captains, Team USA has a deep pool of candidates.

When it comes to future U.S. Solheim Cup captains, Team USA has a deep pool of candidates. So deep, in fact, that it might be some time before we see some big names take the helm.

Stacy Lewis recently named a record four assistant captains for the 2024 Solheim Cup, adding Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome into the fold. Morgan Pressel and Angela Stanford return as assistants after working with Lewis last year in Spain.

What does the Solheim Cup committee look for in choosing a captain? Past Solheim Cup experience is a must. While winning a major isn’t a requirement (i.e. Rosie Jones), it’s definitely preferred.

And given how much the Solheim Cup has grown over the years, experience as an assistant captain will surely be seen as a vital component.

The list of players who should be given the honor is so long, in fact, that it’s hard to see how someone like Dottie Pepper gets back into the fold, though it’s certainly possible.

Here’s a list of decorated players who are likely to get the nod in the coming years:

Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome added as assistant captains for 2024 Solheim Cup

This year’s Solheim Cup will be contested Sept. 13-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

Paula Creamer returns to the Solheim Cup for the first time in seven years in a new role as assistant captain. She’ll be joined by Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Angela Stanford. It’s up to the host captain to determine the number of assistant captains, and for the first time in Solheim history, Stacy Lewis has appointed four women to the job.

This year’s Solheim Cup will be contested Sept. 13-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

“I’m so excited to have Morgan and Angela back for this year at RTJ,” said Lewis. “Then thinking about what I learned last year in Spain and from previous captains, I asked Paula and Brittany to join the team as well. These four have so much experience and love for the Solheim Cup, plus they’re my friends and all major champions too. I’m excited to see them in this role and to help prepare them to be future captains as well.”

Juli Inkster celebrates with Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome of Team USA after the final day singles matches of The Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on August 20, 2017 in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Last year in Spain, Lewis was assisted by Natalie Gulbis, Pressel and Stanford.

Creamer, a 10-time winner on the LPGA, became the youngest Solheim Cup player in U.S. history when she made the team as a rookie in 2005 at age 19. Creamer’s 7-and-5 singles victory over Laura Davies in 2005 is the third-largest margin of victory in Solheim singles history. She also holds the record for most foursomes victories with seven.

“When Stacy asked me to be on her team for the Solheim Cup, I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” said Creamer. “My seven Solheim Cups are some of the best memories of my career, and I can’t wait to make more memories working with Stacy.”

Lincicome, a two-time major winner, has played on six U.S. Solheim Cup teams. She went 4-0 with partner Brittany Lang in four-ball appearances, a record for any U.S. duo.

“Serving as an assistant captain to the U.S. Solheim Cup Team will be one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Lincicome. “My years competing for the U.S. team hold some of the highlights of my career and my entire life.”

This marks Stanford’s third time as an assistant captain and Pressel’s second.

LPGA players revealed their favorite swings on tour — and one name kept coming up

It’s tough to beat Nelly’s.

At the LPGA Drive On Championship last week, the first full-field event of the season on tour, Golfweek asked several players to name their favorite swing on tour (outside of their own). Not surprisingly, one name kept popping up – Nelly Korda.

The hometown favorite would go on to win her ninth LPGA career title in a playoff against Lydia Ko in Bradenton, Florida. Danish player Nanna Koerstz Madsen even noted that she has used videos of Korda’s swing in the past to help her get into certain positions.

The No. 2 player in the world wasn’t the only name mentioned, of course. Here are the favorites:

Lexi Thompson to join Annika Sorenstam, Babe Zaharias among women who played in a PGA Tour event

Thompson will join this exclusive group with an appearance at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.

Few women have teed it up in a men’s professional golf tournament on the highest stage.

Two of the LPGA’s earliest stars paved the way in this department, and there have been a handful of notable starts since then. It’s a unique pressure that’s unlike anything else they’ve ever faced. Lexi Thompson will be the seventh woman to tee it up on the PGA Tour.

What follows is by no means an exhaustive list of women who have teed it up against the men (on any level, from state amateurs to mini tours) but instead, these are some of the more iconic moments of women teeing it up in a different arena and making history.

Photos: See Lexi Thompson’s career through the years

LPGA: She can’t find a mom-friendly sponsor for her hat, but Brittany Lincicome has found her game at the Chevron Championship

What stood out most about Lincicome’s lid at The Club at Carlton Woods is that it’s completely blank.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Brittany Lincicome wore a shiny ballmarker on her hat that spelled out youngest daughter Sophia’s name in the first round of the Chevron Championship. On Day 2, she’ll wear one with eldest daughter Emery’s name.

“Can’t play favorites,” she said, after opening with a 2-under 70 at the first LPGA major of the year, good for a share of fifth.

Lincicome, 37, a two-time major champion with eight career victories, is one of the few moms on the LPGA who’s still competing after having two children.

What stood out most about Lincicome’s lid at The Club at Carlton Woods, however, is that it’s completely blank.

“I was going to put ‘Your name here,’ ” joked Lincicome, who lost her hat and bag sponsor in December of last year.

This marks the first time the decorated American player has gone without a hat sponsor, which at the peak of her career brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now, with a more limited playing schedule after giving birth to her second child last August, Lincicome’s longtime agent, Jeff Chilcoat, said they’re looking for anywhere from $60,000 to $100,000 for that space.

“My expectation would be that corporations would seek out and really want to work with mothers,” said Chilcoat, “especially in the products that apply to being a mom.”

Chilcoat, the founder of Sterling Sports Management, had a number of LPGA players on his roster become moms around the same time, including Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lang, Gerina Piller, Brooke Pancake and Lincicome. As some sponsors dropped off, Chilcoat hoped to replace them with companies whose consumers were mothers.

“We, as a company, very purposefully made up lists of brands that we thought would really work for these mothers,” said Chilcoat.

After hundreds of phone calls, they didn’t strike a deal with a single company that fit that model.

“Not one stepped up and did something,” he said.

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Lincicome’s dream scenario is to win on the LPGA once again and have her kids run out on the green to celebrate. She sees that play out so often on the PGA Tour. This marks Lincicome’s fourth LPGA start since giving birth to Sophia.

The 2023 season also marks her first with a new caddie, as longtime looper Missy Pederson has transitioned away from caddie life. Lincicome, who prefers to employ female caddies, hired Britney Hamilton.

It’s hard to imagine anyone on the LPGA having a deeper affection for the Dinah Shore Tournament Course than Lincicome, who twice made a leap into Poppie’s Pond. She’s embracing everything about the week in Texas, from the Bentley courtesy car she’s driving around town to the local park she found to take her daughters.

“Assuming Chevron stays with us for 20 or 30 years,” she said, “I think they’ve done a fantastic job.”

And if she were to win this championship for a third time this week?

“I could retire, I think,” she said, smiling.

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Two-time major winner Brittany Lincicome getting back in the swing of things at Epson Tour opener after maternity leave

Brittany Lincicome was hoping to slide under the radar at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Brittany Lincicome was hoping to slide under the radar at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. But it’s hard for a two-time major winner to blend in at an Epson Tour event.

Before Lincicome begins her 2023 season on the LPGA later this month in Arizona, the mother of two thought she’d try to regain some confidence at the season-opening event that’s about 90 minutes, without traffic, from her St. Petersburg home. It’s her first time playing on the official qualifying tour. The 37-year-old went straight to the LPGA from high school and was a rookie in 2005.

There are 12 players with LPGA status competing this week in Winter Haven. That’s the maximum allowed to play under Category F. Lincicome, who is returning from maternity leave, isn’t the only major winner. Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg, who won the 2018 ANA Inspiration, now the Chevron, is competing along with Lauren Stephenson, Jaye Marie Green, Mariajo Uribe, Perrine Delacour, Marissa Steen and five players who graduated from the Epson Tour last year by finishing in the top 10 on the money list.

Delacour, Green and Steen are coming off medical exemptions while Uribe was also on maternity leave.

“Traveling with two girls is a lot more difficult than I thought,” said Lincicome, who is the midst of sleep training daughter Sophia. This week she’s staying in a rental home with fellow mom Rachel Rohanna.

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Lincicome, an eight-time winner on tour who is 84th on the current LPGA priority list, has talked often in recent months about trying to find that carefree attitude she had as a younger player. Now she often feels like she’s trying to guard against making the cut, rather than charging up the board.

In addition to her growing family, Lincicome will also have to adjust to a new caddie this season as her longtime looper, Missy Pederson, transitions away from caddie life. Lincicome will work with Holly Clyburn this week but has hired Brittany Hamilton for the start of the LPGA season as Clyburn works for Paula Creamer.

“I just feel like I relate better,” said Lincicome of working with female caddies.

Lincicome is using one of three “test starts” this week. LPGA players who are out on maternity or medical leave can use three test starts on the Epson Tour, regardless of their status, to ease back into competition.

Playing on a test start, however, doesn’t guarantee a spot in an Epson Tour field. The 12 spaces that are available in Category F are filled based on priority status.

The top 60 players in the CME rankings from the previous season are not allowed to compete in Epson Tour events. Those who are ranked 61 and below, however, are allowed up to three starts in any given season. The 12 highest-ranked players get in.

The LPGA’s 2023 schedule doesn’t feature a full-field event until the Drive On Championship March 23-26 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona. For players who graduated from the Epson Tour back in early November, that’s a five-month stretch without a paycheck.

With the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic taking place the week prior to the Drive On in Mesa, it’s not surprising to see Category F for that field once again filled with LPGA players looking to get in some reps.

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Meet the longest players in the women’s game over the past 20 years, including three former World No. 1s

Maria Fassi topped the list last year at 279 yards.

Maria Fassi topped the LPGA’s driving distance category last year with an average of nearly 280 yards. The year prior, Anne van Dam clocked in at 291 yards, a full six yards ahead of her nearest competitor.

As the women’s game gets longer, stronger and deeper with each passing year, it’s interesting to note that some of the most powerful players in the game also often happen to be ranked No. 1.

Conversely, there are a handful of names on this list that might be new to casual fans.

The LPGA tracks driving distance on two holes each week, and there are times when the holes selected are designed in such a way that promotes the longest players on tour to hit a fairway metal or hybrid. In other words, the numbers below could’ve been even higher.

Here’s a look at the biggest hitters on the LPGA over the past 20 years: