In the midst of the pandemic, Lilia Vu was on the verge of quitting golf. Now, she’s a two-time main winner and ranked No. 1 in the world.
Getty Images
Ah, 2023. The 12 months every thing modified … once more. For the second straight 12 months, we left 2023 with a drastically totally different perspective {of professional} golf than we entered. Now, as we glance again at the 12 months that was — with LIV main championships, Ryder Cup controversies and oh so many different tales — we’re remembering the 15 greatest moments that outlined the 12 months in golf. Let’s get digging.
ICYMI: Biggest Golf Moments of 2023 No. 15: Viktor Hovland’s arrival
ICYMI: Biggest Golf Moments of 2023 No. 14: Fowler, Day again in the winner’s circle
ICYMI: Biggest Golf Moments of 2023 No. 13: Brian Harman’s Open rout
ICYMI: Biggest Golf Moments of 2023 No. 12: The Michael Block Party
ICYMI: Biggest Golf Moments of 2023 No. 11: Wyndham Clark’s breakout
***
Biggest Golf Moments of 2023 No. 10: Lilia Vu’s rise to the high
As the calendar turns to 2024, Lilia Vu sits on high of the golf world. After a 12 months with 4 victories — together with two main titles — the 26-year-old is the top-ranked player in the world. She entered 2023 in relative anonymity. She’ll start 2024 with a goal on her again.
Vu, at instances, made golf look easy throughout her breakout marketing campaign. Her rhythmic swing and craftiness round the greens revealed few weaknesses in her sport. When all of it labored in live performance, the remainder of the area was taking part in for second.
“It’s just been wild,” Vu mentioned reflecting on her 12 months. “I don’t think I expected this at all. I have said this before — I came in with no expectations.”
It would possibly sound like a platitude, however in Vu’s case, zero expectations was reality. That’s as a result of just some years in the past, she nearly gave up the sport for good.
3 LPGA predictions we nailed in 2023 (and three others we botched!)
Zephyr Melton
In her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2019, Vu made simply $3,830. In 9 begins, she made only one minimize. She was completely misplaced taking part in the sport she liked. Things have been no higher away from the course, as her grandfather died early on in the Covid-19 pandemic, sending her deeper right into a spiral. Despite being recent off a storied beginner profession — together with an increase to the high of the World Amateur Golf Ranking — Vu was contemplating giving up skilled golf for good.
“I was just in such a bad place,” Vu mentioned. “Everything was life or death. I just saw everybody that I’ve competed with being successful, and I just compared myself all the time.”
Heavy as issues bought, Vu determined to push via. After a lifetime pursuit of the sport, she simply couldn’t give it up. And in 2023, that persistence paid off.
In her first begin of the season, at the Honda LPGA Thailand, Vu lastly broke via. Powered by a bogey-free, eight-under 64 in the ultimate spherical, Vu claimed her first title at the highest degree.
“[It] feels really good to get it done,” Vu mentioned. “I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself at the end of last year, and during the offseason I kind of just changed my mindset.”
That mindset change continued to pay dividends. Vu continued her stellar play over her subsequent three begins, ending no worse than T14 throughout that stretch. Still, the best was but to return. In Texas, at the first Chevron Championship contested away from Mission Hills, Vu gained her first main championship as she prevailed in a playoff over Angel Yin.
“I [can’t] believe that that happened,” Vu mentioned. “That we won a major.”
It wouldn’t be her final main triumph of 2023. Vu bookended the main season hoisting one other trophy, this time at the AIG Women’s Open. And her six-stroke victory had an added bonus as she ascended to world No. 1 for the first time in her profession.
“It’s just been a crazy year for me,” Vu mentioned.
Crazy. Impressive. Dominant. Whatever you need to name it, one factor is for certain: it positive was enjoyable to look at.
Source link
