ERIN, Wisconsin – Hailee Cooper was trying to get in somewhere at Erin Hills earlier this week, but had left her credential in her golf bag. She pulled out her player clip, but that didn’t work.
A caddie passed by and convinced security that she was a player.
“He goes, ‘Just become a big name this week,’” said Cooper with a laugh. “And I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ ”
Hailey Cooper off to a great start at U.S. Women’s Open
Cooper, 25, got off to a flying start on Thursday at Erin Hills in her second U.S. Women’s Open start and first as a professional. She had it to 3 under until two late bogeys dropped her to 1 under, three shots back of a logjam of six players leading at 4 under.
Cooper wasn’t really sure if she even wanted to turn pro last year until after she did it. When she played in an Annika Women’s All Pro Tour event and won, she decided that she wanted more.
The smiley Texan ended up playing her way onto the Epson Tour through the WAPT and has put together a solid season so far with back-to-back top-5 finishes in recent weeks. In seven starts in 2025, Cooper hasn’t finished outside the top 25 on the developmental tour. She’s made just shy of $50,000 so far this season, relying on the support of one sponsor, Reliance Matrix, to ease the financial strain.
“Huge blessing,” said Cooper, “because you can’t do it. We don’t make a lot of money out here.”
U.S. Women’s Open offers life-changing purse
The U.S. Women’s Open purse of $12 million offers a life-changing opportunity for so many in the field. Those who miss the cut won’t be out any money for expenses either, as every player receives $10,000. Cooper got into the field by advancing through a sectional qualifier – all 38 holes.
Outside of her now two U.S. Women’s Open appearances, Cooper, who won the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball title at Streamsong with partner Kaitlyn Papp, has never played in an LPGA event. She has decided to give herself two years to get on the LPGA, and she if she doesn’t make it, she’ll likely move on to something else.
“I’m not gonna be 28 or 29 on the Epson Tour,” she said.
It’s a familiar refrain, though Cooper, who played collegiate golf at both Texas and Texas A&M, got a later start than most.
Cooper’s dad wanted Hailee to try pro golf
Ronnie Cooper wanted his daughter to give pro golf a chance after she rediscovered her love of the game at A&M.
“It’s a game, but, you know, you live and die and starve and eat because of the money you make as a pro,” he said. “But the good thing is, just give it a shot. I mean, worst-case scenario, you turn back amateur, we get ready for the mid-ams, we go play in stuff like that. Golf will always be a part of your life.”
The last time Cooper played in a Women’s Open, she had her dad on the bag. This time, she reached out to A&M coach Gerrod Chadwell to see if he could help connect her with a professional caddie. He came back with Travis Wilson, longtime caddie of Chadwell’s wife, Stacy Lewis.
It wouldn’t be a U.S. Women’s Open without a few Cinderella stories sprinkled in the mix. Dad said Hailee will be out signing autographs til midnight if she makes it big. Cooper finds herself in the top 20 early, and the affable, level-leaded pro is making the most of whatever happens next.
“I might not get to play this again,” she said after a formal meeting with the press, “so just enjoy it.”
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