U.S. Women's Open: how tables turned for Lizette Salas
This year, U.S. Women’s Open has an amazing tale to tell, a true story about the ‘American Dream’.
Lizette Salas is a professional golfer in her rookie year. She played an amazing first round, scoring 69 points. This placed her among the leaders of the tournament, namely Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome.
What makes Salas special?
She comes from a Mexican immigrant family from Azusa, California. This Los Angeles city is plagued with excessive with gang related issues.
Salas wanted more from life than what the city has to offer. She chose golf as her ticket out of the humble background. She was offered a scholarship to USC on the basis of her golf skills.
This event is special for Salas, as it is the most prestigious event of her rookie year. Playing alongside the top golf players is something she could only dream about earlier in her career.
Lizette Salas shared that her parents are the most important influence in her life. They encouraged her to take up golf and supported her all the way. The family was present at the golf course to cheer for her.
Salas said, “My dad still works long hours out on the golf course, my mom also, so this is just my way of repaying them for all their sacrifice and all their work they’ve done for me”.
Her family has been the most important factor in her success. The constant sacrifices of her parents enabled Salas to take up golf and make a career out of it.
She started playing golf at the age of nine. From this humble beginning, she went on to have a great amateur career.
Salas’ father has played a major role in her career. He wanted his daughter to be a golf star. He did odd jobs around the golf course, where he was employed. These jobs were done in exchange of golf lessons that Salas received from a pro at the course.
Recounting those memories, Salas said, “He didn’t have that much money to pay for lessons because they’re really expensive. ... My dad fixed cars on the side, and that’s how I got started”.
Salas had a really tough childhood. Lacking even the basic golf equipment, she struggled hard and achieved her aim in life.
Recalling those days, she said, “I didn’t have golf shoes. I didn’t know how to dress, nothing like that. They worked out a deal where my dad did handyman favours for them”.
Salas went pro in 2011. She had a great 2011 season and participated in seven events. She made the cut in all seven and finished among the top-10 in two events.
This is great performance from a player who did not have much opportunity to play in amateur events. Her best finish was a fourth place at the Island Resort Championship.
U.S. Open is an excellent opportunity for a player like Salas to brush up their game. Playing against top golfers like Yani Tseng, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and Ai Miyazato is an opportunity of a lifetime.
Another great thing for Salas is the course itself. Blackwolf Run is well known for its difficult terrain and long distances between the holes. It is a course that tests even the most hardened of professionals. Playing in the heat on such a course is a lesson
that will take Salas a long way in her pro career.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: