11-year-old golf reporter shines at US Women’s Open
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Hello, friends, and happy US Women’s Open week! I’m back at the Riviera, my favorite course in the world, and I’m having a lot of fun watching the world’s best players do it. I have a new favorite US Open tradition that started last year at Oakmont, when I spent the day with Silas, the Sentry First Tee junior reporter. This week, I was excited to hear that I would be having Jamie, an 11-year-old from California and Sentry First Tee Junior Reporter on site.
Jamie and I met at the media center first thing on Tuesday morning. He had a notebook with questions for the players and was eager to attend the lesson. Our first stop was at the famous 10th hole, where we met Bianca Pagdanganan as she was changing during practice. Jamie got to go with him and ask all kinds of questions about golf and life. He was a natural! As someone who does this for a living and is still nervous, I was impressed by Jamie’s professional calm.
Next we head to the area. I told Jamie that the range is one of my favorite places to hang out during tournament weeks, because you get a lot of players at once. Also, you can find caddies, coaches, agents and anyone else the player might have. Jamie got to interview several other actors, including Megan Khang. We then took a break for lunch before our main event of the day.
At the beginning of our day together, Jamie told me that Lydia Ko is his favorite actress. Luckily for us, Ko’s press conference was happening that afternoon. We told Jamie we were going to a press conference, but we didn’t say who we were doing it for. Jamie and I arrived a few minutes early, got a front row seat and looked through her questions to find one ready to ask.
Press conferences can feel intimidating, because you’re asking your question into a microphone in front of a room of people. That didn’t do it for Jamie. He turned on the light when Ko entered the room. When it was Jamie’s turn to ask a question, he introduced himself and then asked Ko how he does it to keep from playing poorly. Answer from Ko:
“I really believe that golf isn’t over until the glove comes off and the putt finally lands on the last hole. Golf is one of those crazy games. You’ve seen when players miss 5s, make consecutive cuts, and then win the next week. You feel like the odds aren’t in your favor, but golf can do it to you. I feel like sometimes I putt well, but I putt well. Weeks where I feel a little scruffy and I finish in the top 10. So there’s no right or wrong answer, and I think because of that, I think that helps me to be motivated and kind, I think, to not give up and keep fighting.
After the presser, Ko took a few minutes to chat with Jamie. He signed Jamie’s hat, took pictures and thanked him for asking such a good question. It was the perfect way to end the day.
I love days like this so much because I remember being Jamie’s age and wanting to play golf. I remember going to the 2006 US Women’s Open at Newport (RI) Country Club and following Michelle Wie. Now it’s 20 years later and I got to record some Wie content this week!
“That was an exciting phase of Nike golf.”
Michelle Wie and her daughter react to old US Women’s Open photos: pic.twitter.com/dlBFso9Ev0
— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) June 4, 2026
I watched Jamie enjoy a great day of golf thanks to the Sentry and the First Tee, and it was great to see his confidence grow as the day went on. Opportunities like this give golf-loving kids the ability to experience our work throughout the day, and it was an honor to play a small part in Jamie’s day.
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