Schubert turns pro ahead of U.S. Women's Am title defense

Winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur allows an up-and-coming golfer the chance to get a glimpse at what life at the next level is like. There is plenty of notoriety, and a handful of coveted exemptions into major championships that allow a priceless step into professional life.

Sophia Schubert, having cashed in on the learning curve those exemptions brought after winning the Women’s Am a year ago at San Diego Country Club, will soon cross over to the other side for good. Schubert announced on Twitter on Aug. 1 plans to make her first professional start the week after the Women’s Amateur, at the LPGA’s Indy Women in Tech Championship.

Today, I’m excited to announce that I am officially beginning my professional career at the LPGA Indy Women in Tech Championship, August 16-19. Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I’m also excited to announce that I’m signing with Jay Burton and his team at @IMGgolf! pic.twitter.com/kdheHIAY9t

— Sophia Schubert (@thesophiagolf) August 1, 2018

Schubert, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., played inspired golf during her senior season at the University of Texas, finishing every start in the top 10 until a T-21 at the NCAA Women’s Championship. Her first exemption came at the 2017 Evian Championship, where she tied for 58th. Schubert missed the cut at the 2018 ANA Championship and 2018 U.S. Women’s Open.

Schubert battled her game at the Women’s Open in Shoal Creek, Ala., finishing last with rounds of 85-79. She made quadruple bogey on the fourth hole in the opening round, and she could never recover. She returned to her old self at the Curtis Cup, where she put the first point on the board in Sunday singles as the U.S. completed a 17-3 rout.

“I wasn’t too happy after Shoal Creek,” she said.

Backing that up with the Curtis Cup brought her back to her old self, and so did the mantra she repeated in her head.

“I know that I’m a good golfer,” Schubert told herself. “You’re going to hit bad shots.”

Since then, Schubert also represented the U.S. in the Palmer Cup in Evian, France.

Schubert did not play the Ricoh Women's British Open this week, which would have been her last exemption as the 2017 Women's Amateur champion.

She is also not in the field for the U.S. Women's Amateur, to be played Aug. 6-12 at the Golf Club of Tennessee. Having grown up so close to this year’s Women’s Am venue, a title defense would have also been a home game for Schubert – and a treat for local fans.