Morgan Pressel qualified for her first U.S. Women’s Open at age 12, finding the national spotlight long before she could drive a car. Four years later, she nearly won the whole thing at Cherry Hills Country Club, shortly after her 17th birthday. Birdie Kim’s hole-out bunker shot on the 72nd hole dashed Pressel’s chances of becoming the second amateur to win the championship.
She’d go on to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur later that summer.
Pressel turned 36 years old on Thursday, May 23, 2024, and while she’s now retired from competitive golf after 16 seasons on tour, the 2007 Kraft Nabisco champion still plays a prominent role in the women’s game as lead analyst for Golf Channel/NBC’s LPGA coverage.
When the tour heads to Lancaster Country Club next week for the 79th U.S. Women’s Open, Pressel will once again be in the booth shaping the conversation. She tied for fifth at Lancaster when the club first hosted the Women’s Open in 2015.
Take a look back on Pressel’s career through the years:
RANCHO MIRAGE, CA - APRIL 1: Morgan Pressel poses with the winner's Dinah Shore Trophy after…Morgan Pressel looks on at the first green during the third round of the 2021 Hugel-Air…CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Morgan Pressel poses for a portrait at the Park Hyatt Aviara…Morgan Pressel watches her tee shot on the third hole at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf…Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel Stacy Lewis, captain of team USA and Angela Stanford pose with the…ROSWELL, GA - AUGUST 7: Morgan Pressel celebrates during the morning session of the finals at…KAPALUA, HI - OCTOBER 19: Morgan Pressel holds the winner's trophy after her 8-under par win…Madison Pressel of Texas tees off at No. 1 during the second round.LPGA golfer and TV analyst Morgan Pressel works during the third round of the PGA Tour's…Morgan Pressel's Morgan & Friends Fight Cancer Tournament in 2024.Morgan Pressel and Mina Harigae during the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Preview Day in the Pebble…Morgan Pressel during the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Preview Day in the Pebble Beach, Calif. on…Pressel, 13, looks on during the 2001 U.S. Women's Open at the Pine Needles Lodge and…Morgan Pressel, 13, signs autographs during practice ahead of the 2001 U.S. Women's Open at the…Morgan Pressel plays her shot from the second tee in her match with Anna Nordqvist of…Angela Stanford, Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel, Beth Daniel, Kristy McPherson and Brittany Lincicome of the U.S.…Morgan Pressel on the sixth hole during round one of the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA in Orlando.…Morgan Pressel walks off a tee box during the practice round at the 2020 U.S. Women's…U.S. President George W. Bush poses with members of the 2007 Solheim Cup winning team: Pat…Morgan Pressel's Morgan & Friends Fight Cancer Tournament.The United States team: Megan Kang, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Altomare, Angel Yin, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda,…Morgan Pressel waves to the gallery on the seventh green during the 2019 U.S. Women's Open…Morgan Pressel's Morgan & Friends Fight Cancer Tournament.Morgan Pressel and her MammoVan (Photo: Jason Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)Morgan Pressel at her home in early 2017. (Photo: Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)Morgan Pressel shown in a 2011 file photo for Golfweek. Pressel won the 2005 U. S.…Some of the stars who came out to support the Morgan Pressel Foundation included Stacy Lewis,…Morgan Pressel of the U.S. Solhiem Cup team celebrates after winning her match 3 and 2…Morgan Pressel has made photo books for her fellow teammates from the Solheim Cups. Photography is…Photo of Golfweek photographer Tracy Wilcox photographing Morgan Pressel with the tools of her hobby, Canon…Morgan Pressel has used her hobby of photography to make photo books of her travels.Madison Pressel, Grandma, and Morgan Pressel on top of Mount of Olives.Morgan Pressel lines up a birdie putt on the first playoff hole during the final round…
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