Laura Frick makes history as the first female director of the PGA Women’s Championship at Hazeltine.

Laura Frick broke barriers and made history this week by becoming the first female professional of the PGA of America to assume the role of championship director at one of the association’s most prestigious events, the KPMG Women’s PGA, held at Hazeltine National in Minnesota. In a setting where male tradition still dominates, Frick, at just 33 years old, has risen to the top of the organization and leads all tournament operations, coordinating thousands of volunteers, ticketing programs, and hospitality, while managing relationships with major partners such as KPMG, the LPGA, and Hazeltine itself.

The achievement becomes even more significant due to the symbolism of the moment: on the first day of the tournament, Frick’s 89-year-old grandmother was the first to enter the gates at 6:30 AM. It was she, along with Frick’s grandfather, who introduced Laura to golf when she was just eight years old in Hudsonville, Michigan, and now witnessed her granddaughter reach a milestone that could forever change the role of women in sports and the organization of major events. A graduate of Ferris State, Frick not only manages all logistics of the event but also conceived new experiences for fans, such as the Club PGA, a premium public access area that has already sold out for the entire week of competition.

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The impact of this appointment goes far beyond the tournament. In a world where women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, Frick’s rise can serve as inspiration for a new generation of professionals. The director herself acknowledges the significance of the moment, stating: “I have been thinking about this day for a year and a half, or even longer, right? I have been thinking about this since I started pursuing this dream. I know it will all hit me on Sunday night. I am still running on a lot of adrenaline and solving problems, and I worry about the moment when I will finally have time to sit down, because it will be an enormous pride, but also a feeling of ‘Oh my God, I just did this,’” confessed Frick, visibly emotional.

The journey of Laura Frick demonstrates that determination and vision can overcome historical barriers. She recalled that, while still in high school and competing, she began to take more interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects of golf than the game itself: “In my last year of high school, I was playing in the state finals and lost a bit of focus during the round. I started thinking about the behind-the-scenes: how does the grass look so immaculate? How does the scoring system work? What does it take to host an event of this magnitude? I told my mom about it, and she suggested I watch a video about my uncle’s program because I could study for that. I was never a great player; I was decent, shooting between 80 and 90-something. I never wanted to be a professional, but I always loved the sport.” After visiting Ferris State, she decided to pursue the path of major tournaments, even though she was the only woman in a class of 85.

Her passion led her to directly contact the director of an LPGA tournament via LinkedIn, where she ended up being hired to manage volunteer operations. “I was promoted to event manager at 24 when one of the leads left, three months before. It was a wild but incredible learning experience,” Frick recalled, noting that she made it clear to her colleagues early on that she did not want to follow the traditional ‘green grass’ path, but rather organize major championships. “I told everyone in college that one day my goal was to run a major,” she emphasized.

Over the past year and a half, Frick has split her time between Frisco, where she resides, and Minnesota, traveling every three weeks until she settled in Hazeltine in mid-May. Under her leadership, the PGA Club has become an immediate success, offering fans an exclusive experience with local cuisine and regional beverages, all with a prime view of hole 17, completely sold out from Thursday to Sunday.

Frick’s creativity and dedication were also evident in the events leading up to the tournament. On June 1, she organized a special day for influencers and local celebrities, with representatives from various fields, including WNBA athletes, Netflix actors, and players from the Minnesota Vikings. “I wanted to engage the community and show that golf is for everyone,” she explained.

Laura Frick’s influence is already being felt beyond the greens: “I receive many messages from college girls or even high school students, and it’s almost a personal mission to give back, respond to all of them, and mentor whenever I can,” she stated, highlighting the mentoring role she now plays.

Looking ahead, Laura Frick’s success at this KPMG Women’s PGA could open doors for more women in top positions in golf and other sports. Her example challenges the status quo, and the industry will undoubtedly be watching this leader’s next steps closely. If her debut as a championship director was a resounding success, it remains to be seen what impact her journey will have on the renewal and democratization of the sport — a story that will certainly continue to unfold.

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