Boca Raton is more than just home for Madison and Morgan Pressel. It’s in their blood. This is where the sister duo was born and raised, where they first learned to play the game of golf.
On the eve of the inaugural Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio marking the LPGA Tour’s official return to Boca Raton for the first time since the 1989 Oldsmobile LPGA Classic at Stonebridge Golf & Country Club, it is a dream come true for the Pressel sisters. Morgan begins her 15th season on Tour and Madison is one of two tournament sponsor exemptions rounding out the 108-player field.
“The whole town is really excited, certainly the club here at Boca Rio and my community where I live at St. Andrews, just a 15-minute drive,” said Morgan, a six-time U.S. Solheim Cup team member. “Most of the people haven’t really been to a LPGA tournament. It’s exciting that it is right in our backyard and a lot of people are definitely looking forward to coming out. It is really nice to sleep in my own bed, too.”
This week’s stop will be the third time Morgan and Madison compete against one another on the LPGA Tour, and the professional level for that matter. Madison earned co-medalist honors for the University of Texas at the 2013 North Texas College Shootout to gain entry into the Volunteers of America Classic that same year. She was also a sponsor invite for the 2014 CP Women’s Open.
“It’s such an honor to receive a sponsor exemption into the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio,” said Madison, who was unable to attend this afternoon’s press conference with Morgan due to flu-like symptoms. “It has been a long time coming, and I’m so excited that women’s professional golf is back in Palm Beach County. To be able to compete against the best in the world in front of friends and family is something I could only dream of before this event.”
Off the course, Madison and Morgan continue to support one another especially since the loss of their mother Kathy when they were 12 and 15 years old, respectively. Through the heartbreak and sadness, they have made a positive impact in the community. Whether it is with the Morgan Pressel Foundation or Morgan & Friends charity golf outing, they have shared the journey of helping to raise awareness and funds for patient care and research in the fight against breast cancer. Over the last 13 years, Morgan & Friends has raised nearly $10 million.
“In any way that we can honor her and, of course, help other people who are fighting breast cancer not have the same fate she had,” Morgan said. “We’re big on early detection and that’s why Mammovan’s is so important, which is out on the golf course this week. It is neat because some of the other players who hear about what we do but maybe don’t see it, get to see that behind the 17th tee. All we’ve been able to do here in Boca Raton to give back to our community is really a special thing.”
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