Haley Italia lives by the mantra “to stay in the present” as she plays fulltime on the 2015 Epson Tour.
“I’m not attached to the outcome,” Italia, 25, said. “I’m trying not to get ahead of myself. It’s cliché, but one day at a time, one shot at a time.”
Yet, the relationships and on-course hardships that the Florida native and Epson Tour golfer has experienced make it necessary to peak back and realize the influence. It’s a worthy remembrance since she started the 2015 season last week with a second-place finish – and first-place money – at the Gateway Classic in Mesa, Ariz.
Growing up in Pace, Fla., a small community north of Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle, the pathway to golf was laid by esteemed names such as Jerry Pate, Joe Durant, Heath Slocum, Boo Weekley and Bubba Watson – all multiple PGA Tour winners. Particularly impactful was the friendship developed with Watson, the two-time Masters Tournament champion who is 11 years older but played the same course, Stonebrook Golf Club, and watched over her development. Italia has attended the last two Masters as a Watson guest.
“Bubba plays Ping equipment and so do I and the Ping rep in our area took us under his wing when we were young,” Italia said. “Bubba and his wife Angie and I have played a lot of golf together. Ever since I was 6 years old, learning the game, Bubba’s been like a big brother to me.”
That caretaking was necessary for Italia to overcome two episodes that nearly derailed her professional career.
Entering college at the University of Mississippi after a stellar junior career, Italia received advice that she needed to change her golf swing in order to improve. She made the travel team at Ole Miss, but was gradually losing her confidence in recent alterations, which came to a head at the end of her junior season.
“I was struggling to stay above water,” Italia said. “It kind of sucked the life out of me. My family recognized it at the SEC Tournament after my junior year. They asked why I didn’t smile any more when I was playing golf? They knew I wasn’t having fun. I wanted to do this so badly, but golf was beating me up.”
An internship in the summer of 2011 in Destin, Fla., allowed Italia to step back. She worked with instructor Tony Ruggiero, who helped rediscover the competitive fire before her senior season in Oxford, Miss.
That newfound confidence led to a position on the Epson Tour in 2013 and conditional LPGA status in 2014. But while conducting a Fellowship of Christian Athletes clinic in Texas in late 2013, Italia felt a pain in her left leg. She prepared for the 2014 season, bouncing between the Epson and LPGA tours, with the continued dull pain. By mid-April at the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii, Italia struggled to a first-round 80 and was forced to withdraw. Natalie Gulbis and Christina Kim told her to get some medical treatment. Watson called to advise Italia to take a break. The medical prognosis was a torn hamstring, which required nearly four months of rehab in South Florida.
Italia played a handful of LPGA events to end the 2014 season to prepare for this season. She entered 2015 with a new last name – changed from Millsap after marrying conditioning coach Marco Italia last November – a clean bill of health, a refined golf game and a focus on playing the Epson Tour fulltime.
The first week out took second billing to 16-year-old amateur sensation Hannah O’Sullivan, who beat Italia by four strokes. But Italia made only two bogeys and shot 11-under par in the 54-hole event for a career-best runner-up finish. The first-place money of $15,000, which goes to the low professional, propelled her to the top of the money list. The top 10 earn 2016 LPGA cards.
“It’s nice to have a jump start,” Italia said. “I’m going to fall in love with the Epson Tour this year. I know my schedule and can plan as we go. This whole game is about consistency.”
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