In 2018, Becca Huffer accomplished the dream that every player has when starting their professional career, earning an LPGA Tour Card. After an impressive stint on the Epson Tour in 2018, Huffer earned the spot in Q-Series, where she would finish tied for tenth to make her way onto the big stage. In 2019, her rookie year on the LPGA Tour, Huffer was unable to capitalize and transition her game to the LPGA Tour in her first year, only making one cut in 15 starts.
She would return to the Epson Tour for the 2021 season, not playing much during the 2020 pandemic. Huffer has struggled to get her game back since her breakout year in 2018, even thinking about hanging the clubs up for good near the midway point of the 2022 season. Knowing a change needed to be made to compete at the highest level, Huffer overhauled her putting, and the results are starting to speak for themself.
"Around the middle of last year, I honestly didn't know if I wanted to keep playing because I was so frustrated with my results," said Huffer. "I had to finally admit to myself that I needed to completely overhaul my putting if I was going to be able to compete at the level I expected of myself because that was the piece that was holding me back. The changes I made started to show results in the last few events of last season and gave me some nice confidence going into this year. It's really affirming to see that I have put myself in a good position heading into the last third of the season."
The 2023 season for the 33-year-old has been the best of her career so far, recording six top-15 finishes in 15 starts. Huffer had a tie for second at last week's Four Winds Invitational, her season's best result. The runner-up finish moved her into the Top 10 in the Race for the Card and one step closer to returning to the LPGA Tour.
"I've played pretty consistent all year, but to be in the top 10, you definitely need to have top finishes, so getting a T2 last week was great," said Huffer. "There's still a lot of tournaments left this season, my whole game right now feels in the best place it's been all year, so I'm just looking to keep doing what I've been doing, and hopefully, everything will work out at the end."
The new Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings No. 1, Lilia Vu, is an LPGA Tour player with a similar story to Huffer. Vu also lost her membership to the LPGA Tour in 2019 and has since earned her status back. Once she regained her status, she took full advantage, becoming a three-time LPGA Tour champion and a two-time major champion.
"It was awesome to see Lilia win another major last week. Unfortunately, we had similar seasons on LPGA back in 2019, so I know how hard it is to come back and want to keep playing after a very disappointing season." Said Huffer. "It's really inspiring to see her perseverance pay off and find success winning multiple times this year and making it to No. 1."
Huffer will look to join Vu on tour next year, and a strong finish at the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic could move her one step closer to the LPGA Tour.
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