When Chloe Kovelesky stepped onto the biggest stage in women's golf at age 14, her prodigious power made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Now, five years later, the Wake Forest sophomore is ready to showcase her talents at Augusta National Golf Club.
Kovelesky burst into the spotlight at the 2021 U.S. Women's Open, where her 112 mph swing speed and first-round driving distance average of 301.3 yards led the field. However, her incredible length came with an unexpected and painful consequence.
"I bite my tongue on a lot of things I see in the comments and messages we get on Golf Digest accounts, but yesterday was a new low," wrote former Digest social media manager Nicole Rae on X. "We posted about a girl who is FOURTEEN and our comments were littered with disgusting, cruel and hurtful body shaming by MEN."
The online harassment blindsided the teenager during what should have been a career highlight. Kovelesky was forced to adapt quickly to the harsh realities of public scrutiny.
"I definitely turned off Instagram for the week," she said, "and then Morgan Pressel, who has been like a mentor to me, called and she was like 'Hey, let's talk.'"
Pressel, who first met Kovelesky when she was just 8 years old during a newspaper interview in their hometown of Boca Raton, became a crucial support system. Their friendship began with nine holes at Pressel's club, St. Andrews, followed by ice cream at lunch.
"It's a really tough thing to be a public figure in any fashion, and to be thrown into at that age," said Pressel. "People can be really mean online. It's part of the reason why I'm not on Twitter (X) anymore."
Kovelesky's journey to this moment began remarkably early. She took her first step on her first birthday, and her father cut down her first putter and wedge the same day. Even before she could walk, she would scoot across their south Florida home's floor, smacking golf balls.
The sport became a family affair, with Kovelesky bonding with her parents and Charlie, their chocolate lab who doubled as a backyard ball retriever. Charlie even gained fame when Kovelesky qualified for the 2017 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.
This wasn't Kovelesky's first experience with media attention. At age 8, she appeared in Esquire's "Short Game," a reality series following young golfers and their parents pursuing the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. While the finished product didn't meet the family's expectations, it had positive impacts.
"I'm glad there's positivity to it," she said, noting that people still tell her she was an inspiration to them growing up.
The path to Augusta hasn't been without physical challenges. Two knee surgeries have forced Kovelesky to dial back her swing speed from 112 mph to a more manageable 106-107 mph range.
Wake Forest head coach Kim Lewellen first discovered Kovelesky at an amateur event in Orlando, Florida, in a moment that perfectly captured her unique talent.
"I was walking down a cart path and she hit a golf shot and I thought, well that sounds different," Lewellen recalled.
Now, as the 19-year-old prepares for the Augusta National Women's Amateur (April 1-4), she carries lessons learned from adversity. The tournament format includes two rounds at Champions Retreat, followed by a practice round and final round at Augusta National after the cut.
"I've missed by a little bit for quite a long time," said Kovelesky of finally getting her shot.
Wake Forest associate head coach Ryan Potter, who will caddie for Kovelesky this week, speaks glowingly of her character development through challenging times.
"She's really kind," he said. "Always thinks about others."
The experience with online harassment became a defining moment in Kovelesky's maturity.
"It was definitely a learning experience just to know hey, these things are going to happen, people are going to be, I don't want to say jealous, but people are going to be jealous," said Kovelesky. "It doesn't matter what it is. Just be yourself, be true to yourself."
Kovelesky arrived at Wake Forest a semester early, which proved beneficial during her knee surgery rehabilitation. She has since found success, earning co-medalist honors at last fall's Annika Intercollegiate and currently ranking No. 42 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Potter notes they've focused on improving her short iron play since arriving at Wake Forest, capitalizing on the shorter approach shots her distance advantage provides.
As Kovelesky prepares for her Augusta debut, she represents more than just another talented amateur. Her journey from cyberbullying victim to resilient competitor offers inspiration for young athletes navigating social media's dark side. This week at Augusta National, she'll have the opportunity to let her golf do the talking on one of the sport's grandest stages.