Golf Prodigy Lucy Li, 11, Wants to 'Have Fun and Learn'

Lucy Li is 11 and playing for the US Women's Open trophy.

ByABC News
June 18, 2014, 9:57 AM

June 18, 2014— -- Lucy Li is a pint-size sixth-grader from California who has braces, wears her hair in pigtails and also has a golf swing powerful enough to land her at the biggest event in women’s golf, the U.S. Women’s Open.

“It’s pretty amazing but I try not to think about,” Li, 11, said Tuesday at a press conference in Pinehurst, N.C., where the tournament will start Thursday. “I’m just another player trying to do the best I can.”

Li may consider herself like “just another player,” but she is making history as the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open.

“I really don’t care about the outcome,” Li told reporters. “I just want to have fun and learn.”

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“I want to learn a lot from these great players,” she said.

Li first learned the sport of golf from her older brother, who inspired her to pick up clubs at the age of 7 after she watched him play. She began training with golf instructor Jim McLean and in April won her age division at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship held at Augusta National, before the Masters.

“I like golf because it’s different from other sports,” Li said. “Anybody can play. If you’re tall, short, fast or slow, that’s what I like about it.”

Though the eyes of the world, and her much older competitors will be on Li as she plays Pinehurst No. 2 this week, the pre-teen says all the attention will not affect her game.

“I like crowds. They don’t bother me,” Li said Tuesday. “I play better the more people come watch me so, yeah, I’m really excited.”