Amy Olson to play US Women’s Open seven months pregnant

Amy Olson is playing for two in the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open.

The LPGA golfer enters this week’s tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links seven months pregnant and ready to compete for the final time before welcoming her baby in September. 

“It’s one of those memories I’ll talk about forever,” Olson said, according to Golfweek. “And the fact that it’s at Pebble is really cool. The fact that there will be two of us walking down the fairway together, that’s pretty awesome.”

Olson announced the pregnancy of her first child with husband, Grant Olson, on Instagram on March 25. 

This isn’t the first time Olson, 30, is golfing pregnant: she was six months along when qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open in late May at the Somerset Country Club in Minnesota. 

Olson had her mom caddie the 36-hole qualifier and earned medalist honors and a spot in the July major with a 6-under par. 

While Olson has played just four competitive rounds through the 2023 LPGA season, she was determined to try to make it to the U.S. Women’s Open and took the process day-by-day. 

“When I found out I was pregnant, I texted some of the moms on tour,” Olson said, according to Golf Digest. “I asked about what the sweet spot was for them and when was their cutoff. I kept hearing from people who played from 28 to 30 weeks.” 

“It’s very difficult to try to qualify for the Open. You have to have the right round on the right day. I thought, ‘If we qualify, we’ll deal with it then.’”

Beyond the mental battle of getting through the course, Olson said she’s had to change some of her golfing mechanics on her follow through so her arm doesn’t hit her stomach. 

Olson’s best majors finish has been a tie for second, most recently in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. 

The 78th U.S. Women’s Open is from July 6-9 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.