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"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch
July 13, 2004
May Wood is turning professional, and she’s doing so with a
purpose.
The former Baylor and Vanderbilt star made it official a few
days ago when she told her long-time swing coach, Phil Ritson,
that she had decided not to head back to school or play the
amateur circuit for a year or so. The only way she can test her
game is against the best in the world. She plans to join those
ranks some time soon.
"The [LPGA Tour] needs an American [star]," Wood said. "They
need a long-knocker to keep up with Michelle Wie or to hit it past
her. I’m ready to try and become that person. I want to be the
best."
If hard work means anything, and it usually does in golf, Wood
is well on her way. She typically spends the first three hours of
her day—you read that correctly—chipping. How many players chip
for three hours? Answer: The ones that want to make money. Wood
already has an appreciation for the short game, and devotes far
more practice time to it than her full swing.
May Wood
[Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt sports information department]
She’s also been working out with weights. At 6-foot-1, she cuts
quite an imposing figure on the golf course. Cardiovascular
workouts are a part of the regimen, too.
"I’ve got to be stronger physically," Wood said. "If I’m
stronger physically, I’ll also be stronger mentally."
Wood plans to move to Orlando, Fla., where Ritson is based, in
two weeks. She made the decision to turn professional with so
little fanfare that she doesn’t have an agent or an endorsement
deal. Wood thinks those things will come.
"The equipment manufacturers aren’t doing as much with the LPGA
Tour," Wood said. "You have to prove yourself."
Titleist is providing Wood’s equipment, which gives the company
an advantage when she starts commanding attention.
For now, Wood is prepared to labor in obscurity, trying to play
in some Futures Tour events and earn a sponsors exemption to the
occasional LPGA Tour tournament. She’s prepared to pay the price
to be successful.
"It might take a year," Wood said. "It might take two years.
Whatever it takes, I’m going to be patient and do what I have to
do. I’ve wanted this for too long to turn back now."
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Few players in the Southern Amateur, which begins play on
Wednesday at The Honors Course, come into the tournament with as
much notoriety as Spencer Levin. Fewer still arrive on the kind of
roll Levin has enjoyed the last month.
The University of New Mexico sophomore served notice of his
ability and the kind of summer he was going to have last month at
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, site of the U.S. Open. Levin opened
with a 1-under-par 69 that included an ace in the first round,
then followed that great effort with rounds of 71-73-75. The 75 on
a grueling final day was among the best scores in the field—only
11 shot 74 or lower. Levin finished 13th overall, the
lowest finish by an amateur since 1971.
Levin didn’t have time to celebrate his fine showing. The next
day, he was scheduled to tee off in the California Amateur at
Pebble Beach. Arriving just minutes ahead of his tee time, Levin
rolled through the tournament, winning 4 and 3 over good friend
Mark Peel. Not since 1953-54 had a player lost the California
Amateur championship match one year and come back to win it the
next.
"It was tough playing a friend," Peel said. "Spencer is a great
player who is really on a roll right now. There's no telling how
great he can become."
The rest of the golfing world is beginning to find out. The
next week, Levin won the California Scratch Players Championship
by 10 shots over Peter Tomasulo, who played for the University of
California’s NCAA Division I championship team and is GolfWeek’s
top-ranked amateur.
That performance begged a question. Where is Levin on
GolfWeek’s list? He’s 24th at the moment, but that
could change quickly if he handles The Honors Course as well as he
did Shinnecock Hills.
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