FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Hollis Stacy had a nagging right shoulder injury that she thought she could live through with Advil and massages. That is until she shanked four wedges during a round of golf with Jane Geddes back in January 2020.
“That’s really my bread and putter,” said Stacy. “I went ‘Oh I think I have an issue.’ ”
One month later, she underwent total shoulder replacement surgery. The 67-year-old LPGA Hall of Famer returned to competition for the first time since 2019 at this week’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open and brought with her a fantastic-looking golf swing.
“I feel like I won the tournament,” said a grateful Stacy, who opened with a 3-over 75 at Brooklawn Country Club.
Players begin their back nine on the 12th. Here’s three-time USWO winner Hollis Stacy getting her round started. pic.twitter.com/vxDw8Dolfp
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) July 29, 2021
The six-time USGA champion won 18 titles on the LPGA, including three U.S. Women’s Opens. She tied for 28th in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club and took a share of 33rd two years ago at Pine Needles.
Stacy rehabbed her shoulder three hours a day and began hitting balls three months after surgery. It wasn’t pretty, of course, but she knew that pounding thousands of golf balls on the range was the best way to strengthen her golf muscles. The four-time major winner never was a big fan of the range, preferring instead to work on her short game.
Stacy’s surgeon, Dr. Stephen Otte in Bradenton, Florida, said a full recovery from the procedure would take 18 months to two years.
Hollis Stacy putting on the 13th green during the first round at the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn. on Thursday, July 29, 2021. (Darren Carroll/USGA)
After surgery, Stacy went back to the fundamentals to try and replace some of the habits she’d formed to compensate for an injured shoulder.
“My swing had progressively gotten upright and just arms,” she said.
Stacy blasted one drive during Thursday’s opening round that flew 20 years longer than the rest and got excited about what’s possible.
“It just brought new meaning,” said Stacy of the surgery’s impact. “I really wanted to be relevant with my golf game.”
