Colts' owner sponsors Lucidi for 2008 LPGA Tour

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis Colts’ owner Jim Irsay, who fielded the team that won the Super Bowl in 2007, is making his mark in women’s professional golf with a sponsorship of Becky Lucidi, an LPGA tour player who achieved fully exempt status this year.

“Becky embodies all the attributes that we look for in players for our organization...strong character, tremendous work ethic and God-given talent,” Irsay said in announcing the sponsorship.

Lucidi will display the Colt’s horseshoe logo on her bag, shirt and visor.  Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“There’s no doubt that Becky will represent the horseshoe with class and dignity and we’re looking to a great season as her partner on the LPGA tour,” Irsay added.

Lucidi won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2002 and has played the Duramed Futures Tour and Cactus tour in her attempts to qualify for her LPGA card.  She also appeared on Golf Channel’s “Big Break V:Hawaii” in 2006. 

With her fully exempt status this year, Lucidi hopes to play in most of the events.  “This is dream come true for me and I’m excited and ready for the challenge of playing against the best players in the world,” Lucidi said.  “I want to thank Jim Irsay and the Indianapolis Colts for their support, their confidence in my ability.  I will wear the horseshoe with pride and do my best to win another championship for Mr. Irsay and his team,” she added.

Lucidi had an extraordinary amateur career capped by winning the 2002 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.  She was a two-time NCAA First-Team All-American selection in 2002-2003.  In 2003, she was a First-Team All Pac-10 selection at the University of Southern California and a member of the 2003 team that won the NCAA Division I Championship.  She also won the 2003 Mexican Women’s Amateur Championship.

She turned professional in 2003 and has been determined to make the LPGA Tour.  She competed in the Duramed Futures Tour in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  In 2007, she played in six events on the Futures Tour; returned to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament where she tied for ninth to earn exempt status for the 2008 LPGA season.