Dani Mullin (West Islip, NY) is making her second Epson Tour start this week in her home state.
“Last year I was the amateur player of the year for the Metropolitan area so it is fun to take it to another level,” said Mullin. “I broke my shoulder in college so I stopped golfing for three years. ”
Mullin got hurt in 2011 and stopped playing through 2013. She started graduate school at Stony Brook.
“I did the whole real-world thing and hated it and I thought maybe there was a small chance that I could golf again,” admitted Mullin. “I started off small at first playing club championships and then I progressed and decided to turn professional in October (2015).”
Mullin said she never thought she would golf again after the shoulder injury. Her dad was the biggest influence in getting back into the sport. She was studying neuroscience in graduate school and recalls working on a paper when her father walked in and basically demanded she take a break.
“He told me that I haven’t seen light in a week and I need to go outside so I did and we went to the range,” said Mullin. “I thought I would hit the ball 50-yards since I was injured, but my dad encouraged me to have fun and I hit the ball pretty well to my surprise so I decided to enter the club championship (Southward Ho Country Club) and I won it.”
Three years ago, Mullin thought she’d have a 9-5 desk job with a bum shoulder that was still irritating her.
Unfortunately, she finished T122 at Stage I of 2015 LPGA Qualifying Tournament so her status isn't great this year so she has her sights set on 2016 Q-School.
“My game is getting better, I was just in the Connecticut Open a few days ago and I took fifth,” said Mullin. “I’m just getting my golf legs back, it is definitely a process."
Mullin spends her offseason caddying at National Links of America and has been on the bag for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Now, golf is the focus again. Even though she is off to a late start because of the setback, she is excited to be doing what she loves again.
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