Teenage prodigy MacKinzie Kline will achieve a long-cherished dream when she makes her LPGA debut at this week's Ginn Tribute.
The 15-year-old American, who has continually defied the odds after being born with a congenital heart defect, will tee off among the game's elite in Thursday's opening round at RiverTowne Country Club.
“I'm very nervous playing with all these great golfers but I'm going to go out there, have a ton of fun and learn,” Kline said. The gifted amateur from Encinitas, California is likely to attract one of the biggest galleries at RiverTowne after being given an exemption by tournament host Annika Sorenstam.
With her blonde hair and easy smile, Kline is one of the brightest young talents in the American game, and has had to overcome obstacles not normally associated with her peers.
Born with heterotaxy syndrome, she has only one ventricle in her heart instead of two and therefore tires very quickly in hot weather or when she walks either too far or too fast.
She was also born without a spleen and with her liver on the wrong side of her abdomen. In a landmark decision, the LPGA has allowed Kline to use a motorised golf cart in competition because of her medical condition.
Kline's caddie Hugh Montgomery knows his employer may not live beyond the age of 30 and finds it difficult to keep their dual focus on golf alone.
Kline has come to terms with her situation in a positive way. "I really don't think about that," she said, referring to her likely longevity.
"I live for however long I live. If it's 30, fine. If it's 100, that's the way it is. I'm fine with that. I never really think about it."