Mhairi McKay
Encyclopedia
Mhairi McKay is a Scottish
professional golf
er who plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and is also a member of the Ladies European Tour
.
. She is a former pupil of Fernhill School
and was introduced to golf by her parents. They moved from Glasgow to Girvan
, close to the famous Turnberry
golf links where she learned to play and is still a club member. She had a successful amateur career and was the Golf Foundation Under 13 girls’ champion in 1987 and Under 14 champion in 1988. She also won the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf Championship in 1991 and won back-to-back British Girls Championships in 1992 and 1993. She represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup
matches of 1994 and 1996 and played in the 1996 Espirito Santo Trophy
World Amateur Team Championship.
McKay was the first international player to be offered a golf scholarship at Stanford University
in California
where she was a classmate of Tiger Woods (she took a Portuguese literature class with him). She graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Public Policy having been Pac-10 champion in 1997, Pac-10 All Conference from 1994 to 1997) and Pac-10 All Academic 1st Team in 1997. She also earned All-American honours from 1994 through to 1997.
She was an LPGA Tour rookie in 1998. She has yet to win on the LPGA Tour, but she had second place finishes in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and claimed her first professional win in 2003 at the AAMI Women's Australian Open. She represented Europe in the Solheim Cup
in 2002
and 2003
and represented Scotland
in the 2007 Women's World Cup of Golf
where she and her partner Janice Moodie
finished fourth.
She is one of three women to hold the professional course record of 67 at the Old Course of St. Andrews.
Professional
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er who plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and is also a member of the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
.
Amateur career
McKay was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. She is a former pupil of Fernhill School
Fernhill School
Fernhill School is an independent Catholic school in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.-History:The school originated in a primary school run by the Sisters of Notre Dame since 1953, which in 1971 was announced for closure. A committee of parents was formed to keep the school open, and in...
and was introduced to golf by her parents. They moved from Glasgow to Girvan
Girvan
Girvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter...
, close to the famous Turnberry
Turnberry
Turnberry is a golf resort on the coast of the outer Firth of Clyde in southwestern Scotland. Located in South Ayrshire on the rugged coast, it comprises three links golf courses, a golf academy, a five-star hotel, designed by James Miller and completed in 1906, as well as lodge and cottage...
golf links where she learned to play and is still a club member. She had a successful amateur career and was the Golf Foundation Under 13 girls’ champion in 1987 and Under 14 champion in 1988. She also won the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf Championship in 1991 and won back-to-back British Girls Championships in 1992 and 1993. She represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup
Curtis Cup
The Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match . It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland"...
matches of 1994 and 1996 and played in the 1996 Espirito Santo Trophy
Espirito Santo Trophy
The Espirito Santo Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for women organised by the International Golf Federation. The inaugural event was held in 1964 and recent tournaments have featured teams from around forty countries. It is a strokeplay event, in which the best two...
World Amateur Team Championship.
McKay was the first international player to be offered a golf scholarship at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where she was a classmate of Tiger Woods (she took a Portuguese literature class with him). She graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Public Policy having been Pac-10 champion in 1997, Pac-10 All Conference from 1994 to 1997) and Pac-10 All Academic 1st Team in 1997. She also earned All-American honours from 1994 through to 1997.
Professional career
McKay turned professional after graduating from college and qualified for the LPGA Tour on her first attempt, finishing joint 56th at LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament earning non-exempt status for the 1998 LPGA season.She was an LPGA Tour rookie in 1998. She has yet to win on the LPGA Tour, but she had second place finishes in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and claimed her first professional win in 2003 at the AAMI Women's Australian Open. She represented Europe in the Solheim Cup
Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation.The inaugural Cup was held in 1990,...
in 2002
2002 Solheim Cup
The 7th Solheim Cup Match was held between September 20 and September 22, 2002 at Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minnesota, USA. Team USA won the trophy for the fifth time by a score of 15½ to 12½ points...
and 2003
2003 Solheim Cup
The 8th Solheim Cup Match was held between 12 September and 14 September 2003 at Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Loddekopinge, Skåne, Sweden, the first time the contest had been held outside the US or UK. When Rosie Jones conceded a birdie putt to Catriona Matthew giving her a 3&1 win, Europe got...
and represented Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in the 2007 Women's World Cup of Golf
Women's World Cup of Golf
The Women's World Cup of Golf was a professional golf tournament contested by teams of two female golfers representing their respective countries....
where she and her partner Janice Moodie
Janice Moodie
Janice C. Moodie is a Scottish professional golfer who plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour but is also a member of the Ladies European Tour.- Amateur career :...
finished fourth.
She is one of three women to hold the professional course record of 67 at the Old Course of St. Andrews.
Team appearances
Amateur- Curtis CupCurtis CupThe Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match . It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland"...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1994 (winners), 1996 (winners) - Espirito Santo TrophyEspirito Santo TrophyThe Espirito Santo Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for women organised by the International Golf Federation. The inaugural event was held in 1964 and recent tournaments have featured teams from around forty countries. It is a strokeplay event, in which the best two...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1996
Professional
- Solheim CupSolheim CupThe Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation.The inaugural Cup was held in 1990,...
(representing Europe): 20022002 Solheim CupThe 7th Solheim Cup Match was held between September 20 and September 22, 2002 at Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minnesota, USA. Team USA won the trophy for the fifth time by a score of 15½ to 12½ points...
, 20032003 Solheim CupThe 8th Solheim Cup Match was held between 12 September and 14 September 2003 at Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Loddekopinge, Skåne, Sweden, the first time the contest had been held outside the US or UK. When Rosie Jones conceded a birdie putt to Catriona Matthew giving her a 3&1 win, Europe got...
(winners) - Women's World Cup of GolfWomen's World Cup of GolfThe Women's World Cup of Golf was a professional golf tournament contested by teams of two female golfers representing their respective countries....
(representing Scotland): 2007
Solheim Cup Record
| Year | Total Matches | Total W-L-H | Singles W-L-H | 4somes W-L-H | 4balls W-L-H | Points Won | Points % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 5 | 2-3-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-0-1 | 1-1-0 | 2 | 40% |
| 2002 2002 Solheim Cup The 7th Solheim Cup Match was held between September 20 and September 22, 2002 at Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minnesota, USA. Team USA won the trophy for the fifth time by a score of 15½ to 12½ points... |
3 | 1-2-0 | 0-1-0 lost to P. Hurst 3&2 | 0-1-0 lost w/I. Tinning 3&2 | 1-0-0 won w/C. Koch 3&2 | 1 | 33.3% |
| 2003 2003 Solheim Cup The 8th Solheim Cup Match was held between 12 September and 14 September 2003 at Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Loddekopinge, Skåne, Sweden, the first time the contest had been held outside the US or UK. When Rosie Jones conceded a birdie putt to Catriona Matthew giving her a 3&1 win, Europe got... |
2 | 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 def B. Daniel conceded on 15 | 0-0-0' | 0-1-0 lost w/A.B. Sanchez 5&4 | 1 | 50% |