In her young life, Stephanie Meadow has experienced tremendous highs and crushing lows.
At the age of 14 her family moved to the United States so she could attend the prestigious International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and the highs began to follow: becoming the University of Alabama’s only four-time first team All-American; earning a spot on GB&I’s 2012 Curtis Cup team and holing the winning putt against the US; winning the British Amateur Championship; finishing third in her pro debut and first Major Championship at the US Open; and representing Ireland n the 2016 Olympic team in the games in Brazil.
Riding high atop a career of successes with few setbacks, Stephanie had to face a low that would change her life forever: the loss of her father Robert to pancreatic cancer which shook her to her core and impacted her game in ways she had never experienced. “To have gone through that and not have practiced in so long and play like crap. All that tied together was so overwhelming that I just broke down. I felt like I needed to give up …” But in that loss came her inspiration to succeed: “The biggest thing he taught me was to never give up. He expected me to do everything to the best of my ability.”
Stephanie rededicated herself to recovering her form through returning to the basics and working like she had never worked before. But, for what seemed an eternity, she simply was not improving. Thinking she might not be able to regain her game, Stephanie recalled something her father would tell her in her moments of doubt: “if you believe in yourself, what’s the problem?”
From there determination took over and Stephanie returned to the course to work and work some more, but this time with a fresh approach, hiring a new coach and recruiting a long time friend to caddy for her. Strengthened by her adversity and the unflagging support of family, friends and sponsors, Stephanie has positioned herself to break through in 2017 and realize her full potential. “This year I’m going to do what I used to do and aim for the stars.”
Feature Story from Irish Golfer Digital +