‘It’s my last tournament before the baby comes!’ Tour player makes US Women’s Open field while pregnant
By Matt Chivers
LPGA Tour player Amy Olson has an exciting few months ahead and this begins at the US Women’s Open.
Not only has she just qualified for her seventh US Women’s Open, but she achieved her spot in Minnesota while carrying her unborn baby.
Olson is six months pregnant with her and her husband Grant’s first child due in September, but before that, she will tee it up at Pebble Beach on July 5.
The 30-year-old shot level-par and a 6-under 66 to come through qualifying at Somerset Country Club at Mendota Heights with flying colours at the top of the leaderboard.
“I wanted a shot at it because it’s Pebble,” Olson told the Minnesota Golf Association. “That was the big motivation and it’ll be my last tournament before the baby comes, so it’s a good way to go out.
“I’ve always loved the US Open. They always set up the course very fair, but hard. It’s usually not quirky – hit it straight, hit it long, and two-putt a lot of greens. That’s generally favored my style of game.”
“I’ve always had to take my life one year at a time because I’ve never had status for more than one year.
“I’ll take the same approach after the baby comes, but I’m pretty noncommittal one way or the other. Life’s going to change a lot.
“Going into Pebble, I’m going to do everything I can to stay healthy and do the best I can.”
Olson, currently ranked 343rd in the Rolex Rankings, announced she was pregnant on March 25 on her Instagram page. Since then, the LOTTE Championship is the only event she’s played in on the LPGA Tour.
The American first joined the LPGA Tour in 2014, making 13 career top 10s and just after $2.5 million in prize money.
In 2020, Olson came within inches of glory at the US Women’s Open when she came tied for second at Champions Golf Club, one shot behind Kim A-lim.
She also came tied for second at the Evian Championship in 2018 behind Angela Stanford – so we can expect a strong showing from Olson on the Monterrey Peninsula in 2023.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
