Brittany Lincicomi will become the fifth female to play in a PGA Tour sanctioned event when she competes in the Barbasol Championship set for this week at Champions at Keene Trace in Nicholasville. (LPGA Photo)
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Brittany Lincicome will be among the guys when the Barbasol Championship tees off Thursday at Champions at Keene Trace in Nicholasville.
Although a regular on the LPGA Tour, Lincicome will become the first woman to play in a PGA TOUR-sponsored event in more than a decade and admitted Tuesday that she will have a case of the jitters.
“If I take a few slow breaths and not pass out on the first hole, I think I’ll be OK,” she said Tuesday following a nine-hole practice round.
Lincicome will tee off at 9:59 a.m. Thursday in a three-some featuring Sam Ryder and Conrad Shindler. The three players will start on No. 10 in the opening round, before switching over to the front nine to open the second day of play on Friday with a 2:59 p.m. tee time.
Lincicome said she has gotten support from her colleagues on the LPGA Tour, along with her competitors in the four-day event.
“Everyone has been super supportive,” she said.”I’ve always thought it’d be super cool to play in a men’s event, but I never did think I’d have the opportunity. To be playing in a practice round and hitting on the driving range (Tuesday), it was kind of surreal. I can’t stop smiling. It’s cool to be here and I can’t wait for Thursday.”
Although others have come before Lincicome, none have made the cut following the first two rounds of a PGA Tournament. She plans to approach the tournament like any other event she has played.
“I’m just got a roll with it and see what happens,” she said. “I’ll try to have a good time, because this is literally a once-in-a-lifetime, a one-and-done opportunity, so I’m just going to enjoy it.”
Lincicome was runner-up in last week’s Marathon Classic in Toledo, Ohio.
STOOPS, GRAN TO PLAY IN PRO-AM EVENT
University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops and Wildcats offensive coordinator Eddie Gran, along with former Kentucky tight end Jacob Tamme and LPGA professional Emma Talley are scheduled to compete in the Pro-Am event on Wednesday ahead of the prestigious tournament. Kentucky Sports Radio founder Matt Jones also is scheduled to play in the 18-hole event.
Former University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith also is scheduled to compete in the event. First flight tees off at 7 p.m., while the second flight is scheduled for 11:47 a.m.
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today. Reach him at keith.taylor@kentuckytoday.com or twitter @keithtaylor21.
