Lucy Li of Redwood Shores, who played in the 2014 United States Women’s Open at the age of 11, announced that she is turning pro.
The 17-year-old Li informed the United States Golf Association of her decision and was not listed in the latest update of the World Amateur Golf Rankings after previously being ranked fifth.
“So excited for the next step in my golf career, on and off the course,” Li said in a post on Twitter after tying 72nd last month at the second stage of LPGA Q-School last month and earning her Symetra Tour card for next season.
Li, who captured the 2016 Junior PGA Championship, and the PING Invitational and Rolex Tournament of Champions in 2017, also played in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at age 10.
In 2016, she made her U.S. Women’s Amateur debut and advanced to the quarterfinals in each of her last three U.S. Women’s Amateurs.
Li also was low amateur at the 2017 ANA Inspiration on the LPGA Tour and made the cut in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2018, when she also played for the victorious 2018 U.S. Curtis Cup team.
Li also played for the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team in 2016 and 2018, and for the U.S. in the U.S. Junior Solheim Cup team in 2017 and 2019, helping the Americans win all four times.
Earlier this year, the USGA issued a warning to Li after she violated Rules 6-2 of its rules of amateur status by appearing in an Apple Watch advertisement. Li apologized and was allowed to keep her amateur status.
