Lucy Li showed her age only when she finished her historic round at the US Women's Open. Just like any 11-year-old, she went straight for an ice cream.
The youngest qualifier ever at the Women's Open played a grown-up game at Pinehurst No 2, except for three holes that made her eight-over 78 look a lot worse than it was, and stretched the odds of her becoming the youngest player to make the cut.
"She looks 11. She doesn't talk 11. And she doesn't hit the ball like she's 11," said Catherine O'Donnell, who played with her in a sunbaked opening round on a course that hosted the men's US Open just a few days ago.
She looks 11. She doesn't talk 11. And she doesn't hit the ball like she's 11
Lucy was the star attraction, right down to her Stars & Stripes outfit to celebrate the occasion. She wore a mid-drift shirt patterned after the American flag, with a similar motif for a skirt, complete with silver stars that matched the colour of her braces.
She wound up 11 shots behind Stacy Lewis, the No 1 player in the world, who opened with a 67. But one moment was telling.
The kid made a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-five fifth hole and headed to the next tee, her braided pigtails swinging with each step. The media and a large gallery followed her past the adjacent green, where hardly anyone noticed Lewis making her way around with no bogeys.
Lucy missed only one fairway - by less than a yard. Even though she hit fairway metals into half of the holes, she rarely got out of position. Now if she could only take back three shots that led to big numbers.