8. First a picture of youth, then of amateurism
Lucy Li burst onto the amateur scene in 2014 when she played the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst as an 11-year-old. There will always be the iconic image of Li fielding questions in a press conference that week while eating an ice cream cone.
Over the next five years, Li grew to be one of the world’s best amateurs. The highlights of her amateur career – which ended this fall when she advanced to the second stage of LPGA Q-School, earned Symetra Tour status and subsequently turned professional – include low amateur honors at the 2017 ANA Inspiration, a made cut at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open, a quarterfinal run at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur and a turn on the victorious U.S. Curtis Cup team in 2018. She first competed in a USGA event, the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, at 10 years, 8 months, 16 days old.
Li will long remain on the list of young amateur phenoms who impacted the game, but she’ll be remembered for something else, too: Coming under fire for violating the USGA’s Rules of Amateur Status. Early in 2019, a 16-year-old Li drew the attention of the USGA for her appearance in an Apple Watch “Close Your Rings” advertising campaign.
The USGA ultimately decided that Li did commit a violation but allowed her to keep her amateur status. The organization gave Li a one-time warning.