The 2020 U.S. Open is Coming to my Club

My story started long before I received my U.S. citizenship in 2004. But it is a day I will never forget. There are a handful of moments that measure up to the feeling I had that day. Two of those memories include getting through the LPGA Q-School on the first try and meeting Tom Nieporte, the man that gave me my start at Winged Foot Golf Club.

My journey to Winged Foot had many twists and turns, but it all began in Lima, Peru. Despite the popularity of soccer and volleyball there, I clung to golf. After my first lesson, I was hooked.

Throughout my junior career, I received a taste of success and never looked back. I played on three winning South America Junior Championship teams, and in 1977, I won individually.

Around that time, I met a man I will never forget: Jose Fernandez. Jose taught me all I needed to know about fundamentals. Now, as a teacher myself, I hope these three things stick with my players too: Grip, weight transfer and position of the hands at impact.

After hoisting many trophies in my Amateur career, in 1988, I decided my next move was to turn professional. I played on the Ladies European Tour for several years, where I nabbed a second-place finish at the French Open and a top-10 finish at the British Open. My next move was on the biggest stage of all—the LPGA. In 1992, at the age of 32, I earned my exemption status onto the LPGA Tour.

.... Please click here to continue reading the article on the LPGA Women's Network website.