At 11, Lucy Li is the youngest player in US Women’s Open but says she’s not nervous

PINEHURST, N.C. — If Lucy Li handles Pinehurst No. 2 and the US Women’s Open with the ease she handled a press conference Tuesday, she should be fine.

Forget that Li is 11 years old and the youngest player ever to qualify for the Women’s Open. On Tuesday, she answered questions from a room of adults with confidence and candor that belied her age.

She wasn’t wide-eyed or edgy in any way. She gave some thoughtful answers, some surprising answers.

There were a few giggles. But she came off pretty polished, which could be an indication of how she might deal with the test that is the Women’s Open, and on an unrelenting course that is No. 2.

Li was asked if she had ever been intimidated on a golf course.

“No. I just don’t care that much,” she said, causing laughter in the interview room.

Anything about playing in the Women’s Open make her nervous?

“Not really,” she said.

In the 16-minute media session, Li talked of Donald Ross courses, her favorite sports, favorite subjects in school, favorite golfer, favorite foods.

There even was a question about the last two books she has read.

“I love Rick Riordan, so I read all of his books,” she quickly replied. “And I like reading Sherlock Holmes, too.”

Li is listed at 5 foot 2, which may be generous. Michelle Wie, one of the LPGA’s biggest names, said she was introduced Sunday afternoon to Li, saying her first impression was: “She looks so darn cute.”

Wie said she hoped Li would feel comfortable enough to ask questions of the other players.

“We’re not scary, we won’t bite,” Wie said.

‘The real deal’

It’s not as if Li was issued an invitation to the US Women’s Open by the US Golf Association — the way Beverly Klass competed in the 1967 Women’s Open at age 10. In the USGA sectional qualifier at Half Moon Bay, Calif., Li finished at even-par 142 and was the medalist by eight shots.

“She’s the real deal,” said Bryan Bush, a local Pinehurst caddie who will carry Li’s bag this week.

Li, from Redwood Shores, Calif., got in nine holes Tuesday at No. 2. One of her playing partners was Beatriz Recari of Spain, an LPGA Tour pro and European Solheim Cup member last year.

“I think she’s fearless. I think she’s going to do well,” Recari said. “There were a lot of people out there watching and clapping and she seemed completely calm. It’s good to see youngsters aren’t afraid to compete at the highest level.

“She’s shorter than everybody else but she hit it pretty solid. It’s a long course but I don’t think she’s afraid of hitting woods into the greens.”

Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked women’s player in the world, said she first noticed Li on the practice range Tuesday, adding, “How little she was and the pigtails kind of caught me off-guard.”

Nor was Lewis that convinced that an 11-year-old playing in the Women’s Open was such a good thing.

“I’m not a big fan of it,” Lewis said. “She qualified, so we can’t say anything about that. You qualify for an Open, it’s a great thing. But I just like to see kids be successful at every level before they come out here.”

HER DECISION TO PLAY

Lewis said it would be wise for Li to play in more events such as the U.S. Women’s Amateur before competing against seasoned LPGA professionals. Li qualified for the U.S. Women’s Am last year — the youngest to do it — and was the youngest to reach the match-play portion during the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links event.

“I just like to see kids learn how to win before they come get beat up out here,” Lewis said.

Li said it was her decision, not her parents’, to attempt to qualify for the Women’s Open this year.

“Because it’s 36 holes and I didn’t care if I qualified or not,” she said. “I just wanted to go for the experience.”

Doesn’t sound like an 11-year-old. It was only when she talked about celebrating birthdays at a Dave & Buster’s and then watching a movie that she sounded like a sixth grader.

And the high-pitched giggles. Those were a giveaway, too.

GOLF KNOWLEDGE

While Webb Simpson is Li’s favorite golfer, she said she was “inspired” by Erik Compton, the PGA Tour pro who has had two heart transplants. In one of the best story lines of the U.S. Open, Compton tied for second place with Rickie Fowler behind champion Martin Kaymer of Germany.

“He’s such a nice guy and his story is so impressive,” Li said of Compton.

Bush, Li’s caddie, has lived in Pinehurst since 1982. He was recommended to Li’s parents, saying, “I happened to luck out with the history maker.”

Bush, 38, said he was stunned to learn of Lucy’s golf knowledge. She had read books about Ross, who designed and built the No. 2 course, as well as such famous golf architects such as Alister MacKenzie, who designed Augusta National Golf Club.

“I was kind of blown away, really,” Bush said. “She knew how Ross built the (No. 2) greens. The key phrase for us to always remember, she said, was ‘Ross built the green to repel balls, not to receive them’ and that you need to hit the right spots.”

Li received a lot of exposure on the Sunday before this year’s Masters, winning her age division in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National. The Golf Channel provided live coverage and Li got her share of TV time.

But this will be golf on a bigger stage, on No. 2, in the Women’s Open.

Lexi Thompson, who won the year’s first major title at the Kraft Nabisco, was 12 when she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines. Then the youngest qualifier, she dealt with media interviews and autograph sessions and missed the cut after rounds of 76 and 82.

“It was pretty overwhelming,” Thompson said Tuesday. “My advice this week would be to have fun. Take it as a learning experience. If this is what she wants to do for her life, she will learn from the other players and see what she needs to improve on.”

But Li said she hasn’t thought that far ahead, that it’s more about this week and the U.S. Women’s Open.

“Right now it’s just play as well as I can and the game’s going to take me wherever it’s going to take me,” Li said.