Golf star Amy Olson is set to compete at this week’s US Open at the iconic Pebble Beach course while seven months pregnant.
The women’s US Open is being held at Pebble Beach in California for the first time, and Olson sensationally qualified for the event by shooting six-under par at a qualifying event in Minnesota. The 30-year-old is expecting, but she hasn’t let the pregnancy get in the way of her professional career.
Pebble Beach is approximately four miles long and not exactly flat, which could prove difficult for the American. Olson spoke to her colleagues who have also competed while pregnant to find out how far along she can safely play - and despite being later than she hoped, the golf star is raring to go.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I texted some of the moms on tour,” she told Golf Digest. “I asked about what the sweet spot was for them and when was their cutoff.
“I kept hearing from people who played from 28 to 30 weeks. Beyond that was pretty borderline. I thought, ‘I’m going to be 31 weeks when Pebble rolls around’.”
When she qualified for the tournament, Olson joked she would 'waddle up there and do whatever I can’. Her husband took to social media to post a video of her on the driving range on Monday, preparing for the upcoming major event.
Olson also spoke about how her approach to her game has changed since her pregnancy began. She added: “One of the hardest things for me during my pregnancy was stopping and starting.
“It used to take me five balls to warm up. Now, it takes me 50 to 55, and by then I’m tired. I know what it takes to play at the elite level and play in a major championship. Realistically, my ball-striking is not there right now.
“Do I think I can post a good score? Yes. But to say I can be competitive, that’s probably a stretch. With the weight gain, I don’t think this is going to be anybody’s formula for success.
“That’s OK. This is just so much bigger than golf. Golf has been a dream of mine for so long, and so is being a mom. “I get to do both of these things, and I don’t want to put them at odds with each other. Both are really special, and I’m excited.”
Across her 10-year career, Olson has secured career earnings of around $2.6million (£2m) but she has never played Pebble Beach. Her previous best finish at the US Open was tied-second place in 2020.
