Sarah Schmelzel, who was an LPGA rookie in 2019, played collegiate golf at the University of South Carolina. Over that offseason, she began working with swing instructor Chris Mayson, who helps a number of players on tour including Alison Lee.
Schmelzel, born in 1994, grew up playing one of the few tree-lined courses in Phoenix, Moon Valley Country Club. She was there in March 2001 when Annika Sorenstam carded the only 59 in LPGA history. Schmelzel’s parents have been members there since the late ’90s, and one of the guys in the bag room called her father and told him to bring the kids out. Something special was brewing.
Schmelzel, who is looking for her first LPGA title, had a stretch of four top-8 finishes early in the 2024 season that included a career-best second place at the Blue Bay LPGA in China.
Here is a look at Schmelzel’s career in photos.
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Members of the 2009 Xavier College Preparatory golf team pose at Phoenix Country Club on Tuesday,…
Members of the 2009 Xavier College Preparatory golf team pose at Phoenix Country Club on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. The team was junior Kaira Martin, sophomore Sarah Schmelzel, senior Katerina Ruzickova, junior Daffodil Sanchez and senior Sierra Sanchez. (Photo: USA TODAY Network)
AIG Women’s British Open
Sarah Schmelzel of The United States plays her second shot on the 12th hole during the…
Sarah Schmelzel of The United States plays her second shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the AIG Women’s British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links on August 19, 2021 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
2022 CME Group Tour Championship
Sarah Schmelzel tees off on the 9th hole during the second round of 2022 CME Group…
Sarah Schmelzel tees off on the 9th hole during the second round of 2022 CME Group Tour Championship at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. (Photo: Chris Tilley/Special to the Daily News)
TOTO Japan Classic – Round One
OMITAMA, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 02: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States hits her tee shot on…
OMITAMA, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 02: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States hits her tee shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the TOTO Japan Classic at the Taiheiyo Club’s Minori Course on November 2, 2023 in Omitama, Ibaraki, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican – Round One
BELLEAIR, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 09: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States plays her shot from the…
BELLEAIR, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 09: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States plays her shot from the ninth tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club on November 09, 2023 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Third Round
Jun 24, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Sarah Schmelzel tees off on the 4th hole during…
Jun 24, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Sarah Schmelzel tees off on the 4th hole during the third round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
HSBC Women’s World Championship – Day One
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – FEBRUARY 29: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States interacts with her caddie on…
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – FEBRUARY 29: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States interacts with her caddie on the ninth hole during Day One of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on February 29, 2024 in Singapore. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Blue Bay LPGA – Final Round
HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA – MARCH 10: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States hits a tee shot…
HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA – MARCH 10: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States hits a tee shot on 1st hole during the final round of the Blue Bay LPGA at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on March 10, 2024 in Hainan Island, Hainan. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship – Final Round
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States hits her tee…
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States hits her tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club on March 24, 2024 in Palos Verdes Estates, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
2024 Ford Championship
Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the 2024…
Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the 2024 Ford Championship at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
2024 Ford Championship
Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the fourth tee during the third round of the 2024…
Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the fourth tee during the third round of the 2024 Ford Championship at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Arizona. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
2024 Ford Championship
Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the second tee during the final round of the 2024…
Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the second tee during the final round of the 2024 Ford Championship at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Arizona. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Second Round
Jun 25, 2021; John’s Creek, Georgia, USA; Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the eighth fairway…
Jun 25, 2021; John’s Creek, Georgia, USA; Sarah Schmelzel plays her shot from the eighth fairway during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Third Round
Jun 24, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Sarah Schmelzel tees off on the 4th hole during…
Jun 24, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Sarah Schmelzel tees off on the 4th hole during the third round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Round Two
SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON – JUNE 21: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States looks on while playing the…
SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON – JUNE 21: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States looks on while playing the 16th hole during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 21, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Second Round
Jun 21, 2024; Sammamish, Washington, USA; Sarah Schmelzel putts on hole eighteen during the second round…
Jun 21, 2024; Sammamish, Washington, USA; Sarah Schmelzel putts on hole eighteen during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Round One
SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON – JUNE 20: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States looks on while playing the…
SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON – JUNE 20: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States looks on while playing the 11th hole during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 20, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)