How Young is Too Young in a Pro Event?

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Saw this on The Irish Times website this afternoon - an 11-yr old girl has qualified to play in the women's US Open.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/lucy-li-11-qualifies-for-us-women-s-open-1.1802529

Lucy Li (11) qualifies for US Women’s Open

Li becomes the second youngest girl to play in the event

Eleven-year-old American Lucy Li has become the youngest player to qualify for the US Women’s Open by winning the sectional qualifier at Half Moon Bay in California.

But she will amazingly not be the youngest ever competitor in the event, with Beverly Klass turning professional as a 10-year-old in 1967 and playing in the US Open that year.

Klass, who was the victim of an abusive father, made the cut in three of her four tournaments before the LPGA barred her by instituting a minimum age of 18.

Li shot rounds of 74 and 68 on the par-72 Old Course on Monday to win by seven shots and secure her place at Pinehurst from June 19th-22th.

The women’s US Open is being held the week after the men’s event on the same course, Pinehurst No 2.

Li already has some experience of a major championship venue after winning the girls aged 10-11 division in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt contest at Augusta that preceded the US Masters this year.

Is this too young an age to be playing in an adult competition? I certainly think so. Although the kid can obviously play some serious golf, surely it can't be doing her any good to be put under such pressure in such a spotlight...

Although the article does say she isn't the youngest (a 10-yr old qualified back in 1967), the USGA seems to have relaxed or ignored its own minimum age requirement.

Although I'm sure the reason that we don't see this going on to the same extent in the men's game is that adult men hit the ball much, much further, so a similarly-aged kid wouldn't have a chance, this seems to have passed scrutiny almost as if its normal in the women's game...

Jazzzman

If you're good enough, you're old enough.

John Divney

Well she qualified, there were probably tour hopefuls or college players she beat , which is mental.

As long as she doesn't get invites and exploited, she's a kid and that exposure cannot be great for adjustment later on.

dan_ep82

I think its great, I don't see the need to hold her, or anyone, back due to their age.

I do think it will be hard for her at that age dealing with pressure, hopefully the USGA have put some kind of precautions in place so that she cannot be taken advantage of or pressured overmuch.