Rachel Heck embraces identity outside of golf
United States' Rachel Heck reacts during the final day of the Curtis Cup amateur golf match against Great Britain and Ireland, Sunday, June 12, 2022, in Ardmore, Pa. The United States won 15.5-4.5. (Chris Szagola/AP file)
Memphis-native Rachel Heck achieved her childhood dreams as a 19-year-old, winning the 2021 NCAA women’s golf championship and sweeping the sport’s individual honors during her historic six-win freshman season at Stanford University.
But a few months later, she was miserable.
“I was just stunned,” said Heck, now 22 and a Stanford graduate. “I had just achieved everything that I told myself I ever dreamed of … That’s what made me realize that winning is not what’s going to bring me true joy and fulfillment.”
Rachel announced to the world in March that she would remain an amateur.
“I have come to realize that I do not want to play professional golf,” Rachel wrote. “I do not want a life on the road and in the public eye.”
She had been worried about the reaction, scared she would disappoint those who had followed her career for years, but instead she received a broad outpouring of support. As always, a lot of it came from Memphis.
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King Jemison
King Jemison is completing a journalism master’s program at Northwestern University. After graduating from Stanford University in 2021, he taught elementary school in Memphis for two years.
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