Father of LPGA Golfer Erica Blasberg Says She Did Not Commit Suicide

May 11, 2010— -- Professional golfer Erica Blasberg was found dead at her home in Henderson, Nev.

The cause of death has been withheld pending an investigation by the Henderson Police Department and the Clark County Coroner's office, which are awaiting toxicology reports, police spokesman Keith Paul told ABCNews.com.

Erica's father, Mel Blasberg, is backing away from a statement he made Monday suggesting that his daughter might have committed suicide. Today, he insisted to TMZ that his daughter was "very upbeat" in the days before her death.

Mel Blasberg visited Erica at her home Thursday and spoke to her Friday. He told TMZ she was excited to play in a golf tournament in Alabama this week and had already packed her new golf bag in her car for the drive to the airport Saturday morning.

Erica never made her flight. Her father told the website that a friend found her body in bed the next day.

On Monday, Mel Blasberg told the Riverside Press-Enterprise in California that his 25-year-old daughter's life may have ended by her own hands.

"At first glance, it looks like she might have taken her own life, but at second glance, something is very, very strange about it," Mel Blasberg told the newspaper. "We're waiting for the police to make an investigation."

"Either way, I lost her, and it's impossible to deal with," he said.

Paul said police responded to a 911 call at Blasberg's suburban three-bedroom house at 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Paul declined to name the person who made the call, saying it was part of the investigation.

Blasberg's agent, Chase Callahan, released the following statement to the press: "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Erica Blasberg. To most of the world, Erica was known as a professional golfer, but she was more than that. She was a loving daughter to her parents and a compassionate and loyal friend. Erica had a good heart, was extremely kind and very thankful for what she had in her life."

In her only LPGA Tour event this year, Blasberg tied for 44th two weeks ago at the Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico.

"She went all the way to Mexico to qualify in an area where they just had a killing, that's how motivated she was," her father told the Press-Enterprise. "And she had a nice weekend. She made a little money, she felt good. She knew this year was going to be a tough year, but she was motivated. She didn't seem down."

The Mystery of Golfer Erica Blasberg's Death

Blasberg had more success in college, winning six tournaments in two years at the University of Arizona and becoming a two-time All-American. In 2003, she finished the season No. 1 in the rankings and was named NCAA Freshman of the Year, Pacific-10 Player of the Year and Golfweek's Player of the Year. The following year, she turned professional.

But Blasberg struggled on the LPGA, never finishing higher than 94th on the money list. A native of Orange, Calif., she moved to Henderson four years ago.

Her former coach Greg Allen, who remembered Blasberg as a fiery competitor, told Golfweek the young golfer tended to keep to herself on tour, saying it was hard for anyone to "get close" to her.

An attractive young woman who loved painted nails and hair ribbons off the course, Blasberg appeared in a commercial for Puma's women's golf line when it launched in 2006.