Memphis' Rachel Heck reflects on a memorable U.S. Open

She played steady, consistent golf for four rounds in often daunting conditions. She met her idol. She met President Trump. All in all, you'd have to say it was a pretty special week for St. Agnes sophomore Rachel Heck.

The Commercial Appeal Sports Awards and USA Today national high school golfer of the year spoke about her experiences at last week's U.S. Open in Bedminster, N.J., including what it was like being — at just 15 — the youngest player in the field.

Commercial Appeal: Was there ever a time during the tournament where you thought, "oh wow, this is the U.S. Open?" Or did you fell like you belonged right away?

Heck: From the moment I got there on Sunday and I went to practice on the putting green, I was just looking around and there's Michelle Wie, Lexi Thompson ... all my role models. And I was practicing with them. I was kind of in shock. I was like, "wow I just can't believe I'm here." It's crazy.

Commercial Appeal: Did you feel intimidated in that company?

Heck: I was pretty nervous at first because I didn't know what to expect. I played practice rounds with Katherine Kirk, Sandra Gal, Brittany Lang, Shanshan Fang ... and I didn't know how they'd react. I didn't know if they'd want to play with a 15-year-old or if they be kind of annoyed and want to play with another pro.

But all of them were so great and so welcoming. They all just really want to grow the game ... and my nervousness ended. They were great.

Commercial Appeal: You played really well in the first round (reaching 3-under at one point) but didn't get to finish (thanks to a lengthy weather delay). How frustrating was that?

Heck: It was a little frustrating ... I was playing well. I was kind of on a roll and I had to stop that. We got back at the hotel really late and I had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning (on Friday). It's kind of hard to play 23 holes with five hours of sleep. And there was extra security that morning because Trump was coming.

So all that was a little frustrating after not being able to finish. And I got off to kind of a rough start but that's golf. You can't expect to play in the U.S. Open and not have a few tough holes. It was tough, really mentally tiring.

Commercial Appeal: How big of a distraction was the President's visit? Did it affect the players?

Heck: I don't think it did. I actually got to meet him. It was really cool. He was so nice and I was pretty nervous.

I was having lunch after my round on Saturday and some of the USGA workers came up to me because I had gotten to know them throughout the week and they said, "we want to get you up to meet President Trump." I went with a friend of mine, another amateur Brooke Seay. 

That was probably the most intimidating part of the whole week.

Commercial Appeal: You got to play with Lexi Thompson on Sunday and meeting her was one of your goals. How did that go? Did she have any advice for you?

Heck: It was amazing. She's been my idol for as long as I can remember and to play with her ... I didn't talk to her a ton during the round because we were kind of focused but after the round she was so complimentary. "You're amazing. Just keep doing what you're doing. I know you're going to be here (on the LPGA Tour)." I was in shock.

I woke up that morning before my alarm went off and my hands were shaking. And on Sunday there was a huge crowd. One of the moments I remember best was when Lexi was warming up and I went over and started warming up ... and everybody started cheering and yelling as we walked up to the first tee.

I don't know ... it just gave me goosebumps. It's was like 'go Rachel! Let's go Heck!"

Commercial Appeal: And your dad (Robert) caddied for you right?

Heck: Yes ... He caddied for me in my very first golf tournament when I was four or five years old and for him to caddy for me at the U.S. Open, it was just so special for both of us. We'd come so far ... it was just really neat.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.