Blog

Mel Reid was born Melissa Rose Reid on September 19, 1987. Having won six events on the Ladies European Tour since turning professional in 2008, an LPGA Tour victory eluded her, until this week at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, earning a two-shot win over Jennifer Kupcho.

A native of Derby, England, Reid won back to back English Girls’ Championships in 2004 and 2005, as well as the Helen Holm Trophy in 2006 and 2007. In addition, Reid came out on top at the 2007 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship. Reid was rewarded in 2006 being named to the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team.

Although Reid failed to earn her Ladies’ European Tour card in 2007, she finished tied for 16th at the 2007 Women’s British Open, earning honors as an amateur. Earning some sponsor’s exemptions for 2008, Reid finished 3rd at the Australian Open and was Ladies’ European Tour Rookie of the Year.

She posted her first victory in 2010, winning the 54-hole Turkish Airlines Ladies Open by three strokes. With victories in June and September of 2011, Reid qualified for the 2011 Solheim Cup team. Reid won again in 2012, but struggled over the next few years. The sudden death of her mother in a car crash sent Reid reeling, but she returned to the winner’s circle where it all began at the 2015 Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and finished an LPGA best— tied for 9th at the Women’s British Open.

In 2016, Reid went 2-2 as a member of Team England in the UL International Crown. She later finished tied for eighth at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn LPGA status for the 2017 season. She made 11 cuts during her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, earning just under $120,000. She also earned a victory in six starts on the Ladies European Tour. In addition, Reid was named to her third Solheim Cup for Team Europe.

Reid struggled in 20 events on the 2018 LPGA Tour, making only seven cuts, and was 109th on the money list. The one positive was an LPGA career-best tied for 9th finish at the Marathon Classic. Reid had to battle at the LPGA Q-Series, finishing fifth, to earn LPGA status for 2019. Coming into her own in 2019, Reid earned over $300,000 and earned a career-best tied for 3rd at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

This season, Reid had a difficult time through the first seven events, missing the cut three times. She found her game with two consecutive top-ten finishes before her first LPGA Tour victory. Reid is currently 74th in the Rolex Rankings and is 8th in CME Race to the Globe. Although a late bloomer on the LPGA Tour, Reid could be entering her prime and a force on tour in upcoming years.