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When 19-year-old South Korean prodigy Inbee Park lifted the first of her seven major championships at the 2008 US Women's Open, she became the youngest champion in the tournament's history.
Bella Simões would not be born for about six years. On Tuesday she attempted to qualify for the major.
At nine years old, the Brazilian is the youngest player to attempt to qualify for the tournament, which will begin in July at California's acclaimed Pebble Beach course for the first time in its 78-year history.
Simões took the first shot of his qualifying group at The Club at Mediterra in Naples, Florida. An impeccable swing technique, posted on the USGA Twitter account, generated much applause.
However, this should come as no surprise given Simões' already impressive resume. The US Junior Golf World Champion in the under-7 category in 2020, she defended her title a year later before claiming another victory in the eight-year-old competition in 2022.
It's a junior tournament with pedigree: Lexi Thompson, world No. 7 and winner of the 2014 Chevron Championship, was a two-time champion before becoming one of the game's elite players.
Thompson became the youngest golfer to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open when, at age 12, she reached the 2007 edition of the major.
The greatest golf prodigies
Simões still has a few attempts left to usurp that title, but he will have to wait at least one more year after finishing tied for 59th out of 67 players. The Brazilian shot 23 over par, while two players, Lindy Duncan and Brooke Matthews, secured automatic qualification with scores of 10 under par and 8 under par, respectively.
The USGA announced a record number of entries for July's championship, with 2,107 applicants from 47 U.S. states and 62 countries eclipsing the previous record of 1,874 set last year, when Minjee Lee claimed victory at Pine Needles.
Players must have a handicap index of 2.4 or less, or be a professional, to attempt to qualify. Several groups are exempt and receive an automatic invitation, including the last 10 champions and the top 75 players in the world rankings.
Kimberly Williams, a 60-year-old pro from Bethesda, Maryland, was the oldest player to attempt to qualify this year, according to the USGA.
