Do You Know Me?

" Lisa Hackney, LPGA rookie." That's how I've been introduced to the crowd at the 13 LPGA tournaments I've played in this year, and each time I hear it I smile. It's quite amusing, really, being called a rookie. I mean, I'm 29 years old and have seen playing professionally around the world for six years. Last season, in Europe, I finished fifth on the money list, was on the Solheim Cup team and won the Welsh Open.

If I'd had my druthers, I would've been an LPGA rookie long ago, but until last fall I was 0 for 4 at the Q school, which meant I had to play in Europe, Australia and Japan, where the crowds are lot so large and the paychecks not nearly as hefty as those over here. I was pleased when I finally squeaked through Q school last October and earned my LPGA card. My boyfriend, Martin Hall, was equally happy.

Seventeen years ago Martin taught me how to play the game. He was the pro at Trentham Golf Club near my home of Stoke-on-Trent, England. From the beginning, we shared a special bond. He wasn't just my golf instructor, he was also my friend. I knew then it wasn't just a schoolgirl crush, nor was he just a golf coach. We were soul mates. When he moved to Florida five years later to teach at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, I was sad to see him go.

Fate brought us together again eight years ago. We were both visiting home, in England, and ran into each other at Trentham. I was a sociology major at Florida, and he was still teaching at St. Andrews. We started dating, and soon my dream of playing on the LPGA became his dream, too.

This season started slowly. Having achieved nonexempt status at Q school, I was low on the priority list for getting into tournaments. My first opportunity to play was in the Hawaiian Ladies Open, which was the fourth event of the year, but I missed the cut. Everything changed, however, in March when I finished fifth at the Dinah Shore. My mom, Susie, was at the tournament, and she was a bit gobsmacked at the whole thing—because I had done well, and because the high finish bumped me far enough up the money list so that I could play in whatever tournaments I wished.

I've had a lot to smile about ever since. Not only am I the top-ranked rookie on the tour, but I've also seen steady improvement in my game since I joined the LPGA. Do I miss Europe? Sometimes, and to curb the nostalgia I go home to play in a tournament every couple of months. It's fun to compete with the old gang. I'm certainly no rookie to them.