Amy Rogers doesn’t know Emma Talley quite as well yet as she does other LPGA Tour players. However, Rogers — the content producer for LPGA.com — knows enough to be impressed with what she has seen.
Talley had top five finishes in her last two tournaments, is 35th on the money list with over $335,000 and is second in the rookie of the year points race.
“I think she has been incredible. Obviously, after such a decorated amateur career it feels like she has been a veteran out here and does not play like a first-timer. She has really found her comfort zone,” Rogers said.
Rogers has covered the LPGA, PGA, Web.com and European Tours for Golf Channel. She was in Kentucky for the Barbasol Championship to cover Brittany Lincicome’s quest to become the first LPGA player ever to make the 36-hole cut at a PGA event.
“Emma has an incredible personality. She is always interacting with fans and thanking volunteers. She brings a lot to the LPGA Tour that is really needed,” Rogers said. “You don’t see that as much in other sports. She has the opportunity to inspire junior golfers and make them have fun at the course.
“She is so approachable. It makes it easy for fans to get to know her and she is someone junior golfers can use as a great role model.”
Rogers says playing so well and securing a spot on the Asian swing — a six-tournament swing that starts Oct. 4 in Korea — is a major accomplishment. Players secure spots with their ranking on the money list and the LPGA pays all major expenses for the players.
“I don’t think it surprised me that she has qualified for the Asian swing,” Rogers said. “I think anyone aware of what she did as amateur and then she won on the Symetra Tour and played their a year and a half and that really helps you. It’s a big struggle for some new players when they first get out on (the LPGA) tour but not her. So it’s really no surprise she is playing well and bringing so much to the tour with her personality.”
Talley’s boyfriend, Patrick Smith, was at the Barbasol Championship with her. He caddies for Sandra Gal on the LPGA Tour but got to play in the Barbasol pro-am with Talley before they both headed overseas for the Scottish Open and then the British Open. He’ll also go Asia because Gal should also qualify.
“That is pretty big for Emma to get to do that,” Smith, a New Zealand native, said. “We set a few goals for her this year and one of them was to make the limited field events (like the ones in Asia) that only have the top 60 or 70 players. You know you have had a good year if you do that because you get expenses paid, no cuts, guaranteed money. It’s a big thing to do that, especially as a rookie.”
(BY LARRY VAUGHT)