AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rachel Heck’s phone was blowing up. As the days of her senior year at Stanford dwindled faster than she wanted and a return to the elite women’s amateur field of Augusta National loomed, the emails and texts continued to pour in . From media to NIL sponsors, senders all had the same question: What’s next?
Damn he already knew the answer. She may have deliberated for a while, but deep down, she always knew. His entourage too.
Heck delivered insane responses to those who harassed. She wasn’t ready to share her decision with the world yet. This world was full of assumptions. And expectations. Two external factors that at 22 years old, Heck courageously managed to put aside.
For those observing his four years at Stanford from afar, it would be easy to envision the path forward. Heck is one of the best amateur golfers in the world. A five-time junior All-American. The winner of eight college tournaments. Twice a member of the dominant U.S. Curtis Cup team. She won the NCAA DI individual championship as a freshman.
How the hell could he not become a pro?
Well, Heck checked off all of those amateur golf accomplishments while participating in the Air Force ROTC program. She has had to deal with grueling injuries from time to time throughout her career. A back injury in high school triggered a bout of depression. In college, he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve injury. She underwent surgery to remove a rib in an attempt to relieve the pain. Amid all her struggles, she built a community at Stanford, within and beyond the golf program.
The Memphis native’s competitive resume may tell a story of greatness and perseverance on the golf course, but Heck simply realized the sport isn’t her only story. And that’s exactly why she chose to remain an amateur.
In an essay published by No immobilization Last week, Heck announced she would not become a professional golfer at the end of her senior year in Palo Alto.
Golf has given me the world and more. After graduating, I choose to maintain my love of the game as an amateur while exploring new horizons. Check out my decision at the link below🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/pZ7sEfpuX0
–Rachel Heck (@rachelheck2020) March 25, 2024
“It’s like a big weight on my shoulders,” Heck said after posting a 1-under 71 at Champions Retreat in the first round of ANWA on Wednesday.
It was his first round of competition since the decision regarding his future was announced.
“I’ve known for a while that professional golf is not what I want to do,” Heck says. “This doesn’t fit with the direction I see my life going. It’s liberating to finally be able to decide this and have everyone else’s support. The support was overwhelming.
“Growing up, professional golf seemed very glamorous. You think it will be sunshine and roses. Then you see a little more and realize it’s a chore. The women who do it, I have all the respect in the world for them. I don’t want to be on the road 24/7. When you’re little, it seems amazing, right? You think you’re just going to travel the world. I grew into myself and realized it wasn’t for me.
Several people helped Heck make his decision. Heck opened up to Stewart Hagestad, the 32-year-old mid-amateur legend who works full time but still makes time to compete in elite golf tournaments – he is currently ranked No. 11 in the world among amateurs and will play in his third Masters next week. She compared notes with those of Emilia Miggliaccio, an ANWA colleague who decided to continue broadcasting golf on the LPGA. Although injured and unable to compete, Heck was invigorated by seeing her close friend and teammate Rose Zhang win last year’s ANWA. The week put things into perspective for Heck. She could have fun even off the ropes.
Heck constantly weighed the choice with his parents, Stacy and Robert. They encouraged her not to influence one way or another too early in her playing career, but eventually realized that life on tour just wasn’t what their daughter wanted. They admired that.
“She’s still stuck with her way,” Stacy says. “Even with ROTC, she always had an awareness of what was good for her, even if people around her thought differently. I’m proud of her because she knows herself.
But Heck mentioned one name in particular as a key source of wisdom throughout the difficult years as he deciphered his future: Anne Walker, his coach at Stanford.
“I’ve always said there’s no right or wrong answer,” Walker says. “There is the answer you feel and whatever it is, it doesn’t change the way any of us love you. I am proud of her for having the courage to say that this life has many paths. You don’t need to follow the “right” one. You can take the less frequented one.
So far, there’s only one problem with Heck’s decision. Everyone still asks him questions about his future.
The short answer to the lingering question “What’s next?” » The question is that Heck doesn’t know it completely yet. The road map for his next years of life is uncertain and free. But that’s exactly why she made this choice.
Heck will begin a 10-week internship at a private equity firm to conclude his senior spring, an opportunity that will hopefully lead to a full-time job offer in finance. The position starts this Monday. She will become an Air Force reservist after being commissioned as a second lieutenant the day before her June 15 graduation.
Beyond that, when she’s not training in the reserves or working her 9-5, she hopes to continue playing golf as an amateur as well. The USGA Championships and potentially another chance at ANWA are certainly opportunities she is excited about.
Wednesday’s round at Champions Retreat provided a first glimpse of what Heck’s game could look like without this heavy decision bogging him down.
Battling a long course and high winds that showed their strength intermittently throughout the afternoon at Augusta, Heck led Champions Retreat with a strategic game plan. She played conservatively, only shooting pins when risks were minimal to create stress-free par opportunities. When she missed greens, she fought for the ups and downs and didn’t let wayward shots stick in her mind.
When she three-putted on the par-4 2nd (her 11th hole of the day), she shook her head and laughed about the misread with her father, who is caddying for her this week. She immediately bounced back with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 3rd.
Heck is in 21st place before the second round, five shots behind the solo leader, Scotland’s Hannah Darling. If Heck has another solid day tomorrow, she’s exactly where she needs to be to get through 36 holes and advance to Saturday’s final round at Augusta National.
But Heck didn’t let his mind go there Wednesday. She walked the fairways of Champions Retreat with a smile, chatting with her playing partners between shots and telling new stories to her father – the two haven’t spent quality time together in months.
She looked cowardly. She looked really happy.
“She looked,” Walker said, “like old Rachel.”
(Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)