Morgan Pressel Profile
Following her mother’s death from breast cancer in September 2003, 15-year-old Pressel moved in with her grandparents Evelyn Krickstein and Dr. Herb Krickstein, a retired physician and pathologist who is her coach as well as her grandfather, while her two younger siblings stayed with their father. Pressel continues to live with her grandparents, who are the parents of former top-10 tennis player Aaron Krickstein, Pressel’s uncle. For the eldest Krickstein, this is the second time he has groomed a young athlete into a star. Aaron Krickstein holds the record for being the youngest player ever to win a men’s professional tournament, in Tel Aviv in 1983.
In 2001, as a 12-year-old, she became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. This record stood until 2007, when Alexis Thompson, another 12-year-old, beat the record by several months. In 2005, at the age of 17, she was one of three co-leaders starting the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills in suburban Denver. Pressel was tied for first on the 18th fairway when Birdie Kim holed out from the bunker just ahead to secure a one-stroke lead. Pressel then needed a birdie to tie, but made a bogey on the 18th to lose by two strokes. Her second-place finish gave her a share of the low amateur honors with Brittany Lang. In 2005, Pressel won the North and South Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst, and the most important amateur event, the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Pressel also finished her amateur career as 2005 Girls American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Junior Player of the Year.
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
