For Samantha Morrell, getting involved with the game of golf began with a simple invitation from her grandmother. The rest, as they say, is history.
Morrell is a 33-year-old LPGA Class A Professional from Rhode Island who works at two facilities throughout the year. In the winter months, she serves as lead instructor at the Durland Golf School at Naples Grande in Florida, and she then works the regular season back in the Northeast as an assistant professional at Fenway Golf Club.
But no matter where she lives or works, family is what defines home for Morrell. “I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them,” says Morrell. “I am very grateful for how much they support me.”
Twenty-four years ago, golf was not yet a part of her family, even though the Morrells had a local driving range just three minutes down the road. Morrell’s grandma had never played golf before, but she always dreamt of trying. It was hard to find the time between work and family, but one summer, she drove those three minutes to the local driving range, walked into the pro shop and proclaimed, “I want to learn how to play golf. Where do I start?”
A nine-year-old Morrell accompanied her grandmother for her very first lesson with local golf professional, Tony DeQuattro. And from that moment on, she began taking lessons with her grandmother and unlocked her passion for the game.
While it was her grandmother who helped get her started in the game, it was Morrell’s mother who became her greatest supporter over time. “My mother has been with me to every lesson,” said Morrell. “She knows what she’s talking about when it comes to golf, and she’s always willing to volunteer a swing reminder for the day.”
Her mother knew what it took to be recognized. She knew the importance of travel and gaining more experience, so she signed Sam up for tournament after tournament growing up.
Morrell’s dad was a bit tougher to convince, as golf is not an inexpensive sport. But he supported her newfound passion as the family traveled from event to event, where they witnessed Morrell’s game flourish.
Fast-forward to July 2023 and to an event that Morrell is quite familiar with, the LPGA Professionals National Championship at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va. This tournament provides a chance for LPGA and PGA Professionals to qualify for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, one of five majors on the LPGA Tour schedule.
From the scoring tent that day ahead of the final round, you could hear Morrell and her mother debating who has the deeper Rhode Island accent while discussing their shared taste in 80s music as Morrell sat in a tie for fifth. With only eight professionals qualifying for the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Morrell’s mother was there to support her until the end of her last 18 holes in Virginia.
The final round saw Morrell carded her lowest round of the week, a 2-under 69, to ultimately finish fourth in the qualifier, securing her a fourth start in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club.
Morrell has previously played in the 2020, 2021 and 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championships, the last of which was held at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., where she unfortunately missed the cut. “That was pretty tough and a humbling experience,” said Morrell about her time at the Lower Course. “Any momentum I had coming off a local win at the Connecticut Women’s Open was dashed by Baltusrol. It brings you right back down to earth.”
Morrell’s goal for Sahalee Country Club this year is to make the cut and play through the weekend in her fourth major championship appearance.
She recently competed at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship, her first-ever Epson Tour event last year, and made the cut after carding back-to-back rounds of even par, something that is giving Morrell a bit of confidence leading into this year’s major test.
“The yardage at that event is similar to what we will be playing at the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” says Sam. “If I could do something like that at the KPMG, I would be quite happy.”
Making the cut at Sahalee wouldn’t just be a win for Morrell, but it would inspire her students, as well. Morrell hopes to encourage those she teaches to watch and support women’s golf, especially since they now know someone competing in an LPGA Tour event. “I want them to see me go through my routines out there on the course,” said Morrell. “I want them to see me tee the ball up the same way every time, take my practice swings, and just show the thought and a purpose behind every shot.”
Believe it or not, there was a time when golf was not a part of Morrell’s life. “I hit a lull when I transitioned from playing collegiate golf at Old Dominion into the golf industry,” said Morrell. “That was probably the most miserable time of my life when I wasn’t playing anymore.”
It was that lull that ultimately pushed her to become a teaching professional, to see the game not just for the pressure of the competition, but as an opportunity to give back by sharing her passion with others through instruction. “My favorite thing about teaching is that aha moment when a student understands something,” said Morrell. “I love it when a small adjustment or a simple tweak is what leads to a big difference for my students.”
But at the end of the day, competition is what still drives Morrell. As an assistant professional and a teaching instructor, day-to-day life can be hectic, but the competition is what keeps her grounded and reminds her why she does what she does.
“Growing up, I always thought competing was the only reason to play golf. That’s what I’ve enjoyed most about this sport,” expressed Morrell. “The competition isn’t only against others; it can be a competition against yourself, against the course, and just a personal challenge to grow and become a better golfer.”
As she prepares to travel to Washington at the end of June, Morrell reflects on what makes her past KPMG experiences so meaningful and important. “This is one of the biggest stages in women’s golf,” Morrell explained. “You will be warming up on the driving range next to Lexi Thompson and Nelly Korda. Just to be able to make a statement like that at a major, it’s amazing that you get to brush shoulders with the big girls.”
And imagine, had her grandmother never surrendered to her curiosity about the game of golf, a fourth KPMG might not have been on the horizon for Morell. She might never have played golf at all.
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