2020 – the LPGA’s 70th anniversary - was an unforgettable year for the LPGA and for me personally. Of course, there was the COVID-19 pandemic and all the challenges it brought to our world and the LPGA. But I’m referring to the stirring, loud and deeply personal calls for social justice and racial equality in the United States and around the world.
My parents used to tell me that sometimes in life, there are a few opportunities for incredible personal growth, but they’ll require a heightened commitment to closing your mouth and opening your ears. That’s what 2020 was to me. A chance to learn and most importantly to listen. I listened to our Black players, teachers and team members talk about their experience in life AND at the LPGA. As much as I wanted to believe that the LPGA was a discrimination-free zone, hearing personal stories made me realize we still have work to do. We are the leaders in bringing gender diversity to golf, but we can (and should) be so much more than that.