NICHOLASVILLE, KY – On the eve of Brittany Lincicome’s debut on the PGA Tour, she’ll spend the night with friends and family. Her parents, who walked her nine-hole, pro-am round on Wednesday at the Barbasol Championship, as well as her husband Dewald, are among the group of supporters who are in Kentucky to support Lincicome this week. Lincicome’s close friend and fellow LPGA Tour professional, Kris Tamulis, is also flying in for the tournament.
Thursday, Lincicome tees off at 9:59 a.m. ET off the 10th tee at Keene Trace Golf Club. She is grouped with two rookies, Sam Ryder and Conrad Shindler. Lincicome got her first look at the back nine during her pro-am round Wednesday. She played the front nine for the first time Tuesday.
“It’s forgiving off the tee which is good,” Lincicome said about the course. “Pretty much every par 4 is 460 yards, so going to have a 6 iron to 4 iron into most of the greens. It’s ok as long as I keep it in the fairway, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Lincicome wasn’t able to make birdie at the two par 5s on the back nine Wednesday, the par 14th hole which is 543 yards and the 17th hole, which is 567 yards. But she knows she’ll need to take advantage of those once tournament play begins.
This weekend, Keene Trace Golf Club will play to a par 72 at 7,328 yards – that’s nearly 600 yards longer than the LPGA Tour’s last major championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, which played at 6,741 yards. That was the longest in the Championship’s 64-year history. But Lincicome is relishing the challenge.
“Just getting to play the back tees with the guys, it’s a cool feeling,” Lincicome said, having played from the same tees as the men both Tuesday and Wednesday.
That positive attitude will serve her well come Thursday morning as she steps to the 10th tee in what will likely be one of the most intimidating moments of her career. She anticipates the nerves she will be feeling will be much like those she’s felt at the Solheim Cup. Thankfully, she has the experience of playing in six of those to rely.
On the eve of what will be a historic moment in the game of golf, Lincicome will be surrounded by friends and family as she tries not to think about the moment that awaits her Thursday morning.
“We’re not going to talk golf and get ready for tomorrow, mentally,” Lincicome said smiling.
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