The Loop

It's in the genes

May 07, 2009

If there's one kid who should feel at home on the range this week at TPC Sawgrass, it's Molly Beman.

Her grandfather is former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman, who for $1 bought the swampland upon which now sits PGA Tour headquarters and the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Molly is serving at the Players Championship this week as a volunteer at the practice range.

"She's absolutely loving it," Beman, who stopped in the lockerroom Thursday afternoon to chat with contestants, said of his 11-year-old granddaughter.

Beman said that Molly is a natural right-hander who is finding better success hitting the ball left-handed. "Her favorite player is Phil Mickelson," the elder Beman said. "She knows he is right-handed but that he plays left-handed, which is just like her, so she's like 'Phil's my guy.' She got to watch him hit balls up close and that made her whole week."

-- Dave Shedloski