But not for hundreds of young soccer fans. Tuesday morning’s rain and warm afternoon heat were not enough to keep these young fans from catching a glimpse of female soccer star Mia Hamm.
On an afternoon when most of the Women’s Open participants were squeezing in a few rounds of practice, Juli Inkster and Laura Davies were among several golf pros who joined Hamm for a few holes of golf.
Their effort seemed to be working well.
Betsy Thomas of Pinehurst brought both of her daughters to see Hamm. And, though they started out as soccer fans, “after today, they like golf.” Ann Fields, 12, of Southern Pines, said that Mia Hamm is her new favorite golfer.
Swarms of young fans spent the afternoon trying to get Hamm’s autograph. Many were successful, but none found themselves as close to the action as 10-year-old Kristin McDaniel of Morganton. She was randomly drawn from hundreds of names, all hopeful fans, vying for the opportunity to be Hamm’s caddie for the afternoon.
McDaniel is spending the week with her aunt in Aberdeen and planned to watch the Championship when it got under way on Thursday. However, she has already decided that meeting Hamm is the highlight of her vacation.
When McDaniel learned that she would be caddying for Hamm, she started screaming.
“It was my dream to meet her,” she said as she grinned from ear to ear. “I got to go around with my favorite soccer player. She acted like she was my best friend.”
McDaniel said she has a lot in common with Hamm because they both love soccer and they started playing at the same age. According to McDaniel, this is why she considers Hamm to be her role model.
Though Hamm didn’t offer any soccer tips, McDaniel did learn a thing or two about golf.
“I thought it was easy, but actually it was much harder.”
McDaniel was impressed by Hamm’s golf game. McDaniel mentioned that Hamm had told her earlier that she wasn’t a very good golfer, but after their round of golf, McDaniel disagrees. “I was shocked because she was so good,” she said.
McDaniel is looking forward to telling her friends all about meeting Hamm. “They’ll freak,” she said, “I’m gonna scream when I tell them that I got to meet Mia.”
Hamm wasn’t the only athlete McDaniel spent the afternoon with. She also caddied for Inkster.
“She was really nice too,” McDaniel said.
Inkster is occupying the top spot on McDaniel’s list of favorite golfers.
The event was part of a larger effort by the USGA to attract a younger audience to the sport. USGA representative Kimberly Williams explained that Hamm’s participation in the event “allowed kids to learn a lot more about the golf tournament. They learn it’s more than people just standing around.”
Apparently, the USGA’s goal to appeal to kids is working, at least if you ask Kristin McDaniel.
