INSIDE THE ROPES: MIZUHO AMERICAS OPEN, LPGA EDITION
LPGA Tour is the place where the best in the game plays. Where the legends of the game have played. And where future winners and legends will play.
Growing up I was inspired by the women on the LPGA. Players like Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer. And just the other week I got to work during my first LPGA event - the Mizuho Americas Open - hosted by none other than Michelle Wie.
Even though I’ve been to mixed LET/LPGA events (majors) in the past, there was something special about going to a ‘’pure’’ LPGA event, over in the US.
And to get to experience it at a place like Liberty National, was nothing short of surreal.
I’ve never seen anything like Liberty National Before. The quality of the course was impeccable and the views were unreal. Hitting shots with the Manhattan skyline in the background? Yes please. Aiming at the Statue of Liberty off the tee? Yesss please.
To top it off, they had a dedicated ferry going back and forth between downtown Manhattan and the course the entire week. So the players were actually staying in the city and taking the ferry over to play each morning.
Let’s just say I took the ferry over a few times during the week. Partly to get an up-close look of the Statue of Liberty (like really close) and partly to sneak over for some coffee, bagels and donuts in the city.
Overall, the setup of the event was just so good. Incredible course, world class players and inspiring golf.
I spent the week over in NYC (or I guess New Jersey but NYC sounds cooler hehe) with Amundi Golf creating content with some of their international players. And we had a blast.
Something cool about the event is that they gave 25 of the best junior golfers in the world a chance to compete alongside the pros for the week. They didn’t compete against each other but they played the same course and played in mixed groups for the final day.
And one of the Amundi players, who’s an amateur, actually played in the last group with Nelly Korda on the final day, which was extra exciting. Nelly is just so incredible. A legend in the making, if she’s not a legend already? I think she is.
So to get to be inside the ropes on a Sunday afternoon, creating content with a final group including Nelly Korda; that was special. She also went on to win the event and Amundi player Gianna Clemente won the AJGA side of the event. We literally could not have asked for a better ending to the week.
Except for maybe being able to actually see the ending in person. We had to catch our flight that same night and unfortunately couldn’t stay to watch the final 6 holes or so. It’s one of the things you might not always see on social media. But we literally went straight from the 12th hole out there to our Uber, to the airport, changed quickly in the bathroom before checking in our bags and then finished the last pieces of content for the day before boarding the flight.
A busy final day at Liberty National. But still, whether we were there or not, it was still the perfect ending for us, Amundi and our job for the week.
This week was another reminder of how grateful I am to be able to work with something that I’m so passionate about.
The places this sport takes me. The people it connects me with. It blows my mind on the daily how many incredible and life-changing opportunities golf has given me.
Women’s golf is on the rise too, and it makes my heart happy. Thank you NYC (or New Jersey or whatever hahah) for an incredible week.
Every early morning and late night working. The long flights and jet lagged tired and stressful days. It’s all worth it to get to experience this.
Pinching myself to call this my job 🫶🏼
