Erica Blasberg

Erica Paige Blasberg[2] (July 14, 1984 – May 9, 2010) was an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She attended the University of Arizona, and was the country's number 1 ranked college player as a freshman. She won the 2004 Laconia Savings Bank Golf Classic.

Erica Blasberg
Blasberg at the 2008 LPGA Championship
Personal information
Full nameErica Paige Blasberg
NicknameSkip[1]
Born(1984-07-14)July 14, 1984
Orange, California, U.S.
DiedMay 9, 2010(2010-05-09) (aged 25)
Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Nationality United States
Career
CollegeUniversity of Arizona
(two years)
Turned professional2004
Current tour(s)LPGA
(joined 2005)
Former tour(s)Futures Tour
(joined 2004)
Professional wins1
Number of wins by tour
Symetra Tour1
Best results in LPGA major championships
ANA InspirationCUT: 2004
Women's PGA C'shipT76: 2007
U.S. Women's OpenT39: 2007
Women's British OpenT64: 2008

Early life

Blasberg was born in Orange, California, to Debra (who worked for Avis) and Mel Blasberg (who at the time worked in the automobile business, and then as a golf coach).[3][4][2][5] She was Jewish.[6] She was raised in Corona, California, 40 miles east of Los Angeles.[3] Her father had been raised on Long Island, New York, and attended Plainview High School, where he played for the golf team.[3]

She attended Coronita Elementary. She then went to Corona High School, where she had a 4.0 GPA, starred on the boys' golf team, and was the Mountain View League individual champion and MVP, graduating in 2002.[7][4][8][5]

Amateur career

As an amateur, Blasberg was the medalist at the 2000 U.S. Girls' Junior, and lost in the quarterfinals.[9] She won the 2002 Rolex Tournament of Champions.[10] In 2003, she reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women's Amateur.[11]

College

She attended the University of Arizona, and was the country's number 1 ranked college player as a freshman, compiling six victories for the Arizona Wildcats before leaving in her sophomore year to turn pro.[3][5][7] Blasberg was an All-American golfer in 2003 and 2004, 2003 NCAA Freshman of the Year, 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, and won the 2003 Golfstat Cup, awarded for having the NCAA women's lowest stroke average (72.36).[3][5][7] Golfweek put her on its cover.[3] In 2004, she was on the winning United States Curtis Cup team against Great Britain and Ireland..[4][12][13]

Professional career

Blasberg turned professional in June 2004, at 19 years of age, and played on the LPGA Futures Tour that season.[3][5] She won the Laconia Savings Bank Golf Classic, and en route to her first professional win broke the Future Tour's 18-hole scoring record, shooting a 62.[5][3] She earned non-exempt status for the LPGA Tour at the 2004 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.[14]

Blasberg started on the LPGA Tour in 2005, making the cut in most of her early events but not contending for top positions. She was disqualified from the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship in May 2005, after scoring a low 70-the lowest round of her season, when she accidentally walked 10 steps from the scoring tent before returning to it to give in her card, after taking photographs with fans and signing autographs, before submitting her scorecard which she had signed.[3][15] Blasberg later told reporters that the rule infraction was poorly handled by the officials, and that she should not have received a penalty.[16] The next week she made a hole in one and won a Mercury SUV. At mid-season she fired her caddie, because she "needed a change."[17] She was chosen to play in the 2005 Lexus Cup, where she won two matches and halved another, including a 98-yard hole out on the 18th to win a match. She ended 2005 109th on the money list.[18][3] In 2006, despite a late season rally she once again finished just outside the top 100 on the money list at # 112,[3] but a successful tournament at Qualifying School in the fall of 2006 won her exempt status for 2007 — the first and only time in her career she had exempt status on the LPGA Tour.

In 2007, she finished 104th on the money list. Blasberg chose not to return to Qualifying School, leaving her once again as a non-exempt player for 2008. In 2008, she earned a career-best tie for eighth at the SBS Open in Hawaii, and over $113,000 ($134,000 in current dollar terms) in winnings.[19] Her results were only marginally better than in 2007. She played 23 tournaments and, while she did earn the only top-10 finish of her career, she again finished near the bottom of the LPGA money list.

Blasberg returned again to Qualifying School in 2009 in an attempt to improve her status on Tour for the 2010 season, but withdrew after shooting rounds of 72 and 78 in the final stage of the Tournament. In 2009 she was 128th on the money list.[3] She entered 2010 with limited playing opportunities and played just one tournament, the Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico, where she finished 44th after Monday qualifying for the event.[3] During the tournament week, Blasberg participated in a "Back to College" event at which she joined fellow players Mina Harigae and Mariajo Uribe in visiting student-athletes at the Universidad Latina De America in Morelia to answer questions on golf and education.[20]

Blasberg was considered one of the LPGA's more photogenic players, and in February 2006 Puma signed her to a multi-year endorsement deal, to be the first female golfer to endorse and wear their clothing.[3][5][21][22] She has been compared to Natalie Gulbis, an LPGA golfer who did a swimsuit calendar.[23] She also was signed to endorsement deals with Casio and Cleveland Golf.[4][3]

Death

Blasberg was found dead with a plastic bag secured over her head in her bed at her home in Anthem Country Club in Henderson, Nevada, outside of Las Vegas, on the afternoon of May 9, 2010.[24][3][22][25][26][27][28] Officers had been dispatched in response to a 911 call by Dr. Thomas Hess, Blasberg's doctor, around 3:00 p.m. (PT).[29] In an interview with the Riverside County Press-Enterprise on May 10, Blasberg's father, Mel Blasberg, said: "At first glance it looks like she might have taken her own life, but at second glance, something is very, very strange about it. We're waiting for the police to make an investigation."[8]

Two days before she died, Blasberg and the married 43-year-old Hess played golf at the Southern Highlands Golf Club outside Las Vegas.[19] Her friend Jay Beckman saw her on the course, and said "She was making fun of my shirt. She seemed fine. She seemed normal. She seemed like Erica."[30] Hess and Blasberg then went to a hotel in Henderson, where they watched a hockey game on TV in its lounge, and were seen touching hands and with the married Hess's hand on Blasberg's leg.[19] Hess bought a prepaid cellular telephone the next day, and used it only to call Blasberg, and drove to her home and later left what he said was a drunk Blasberg at what he said was 9 pm at her home the night before she died.[19][4][31] The coroner, however, said she had no alcohol in her system, only drugs.[4][3]

Blasberg tried to call Hess about 3:30 a.m. the following morning, and Hess tried to call Blasberg eight times that morning starting at 5:13 a.m, and nine times that afternoon, before going to her home at 3 p.m. and discovering her body.[4][19] Blasberg was in bed with a dust mask over her mouth, and a plastic bag over her head, kept in place by rubber bands.[19] Hess then removed pills and a four-page handwritten letter addressed to “Whoever” and hid them in the trunk of his Mercedes-Benz.[4]

Police later found Blasberg's suicide note and some of her prescription medications in the trunk of Hess's car.[3] According to her father's attorney, Hess had prescribed medications for Blasberg.[3]

Missy Pederson, who was supposed to be Blasberg's caddie at a May 10 qualifying round for the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Mobile, Alabama, told The New York Times that Blasberg had sent her a text at 4:03 AM on May 9.[4] In the message, Blasberg told Pederson she was not going to play in the tournament.[4] A worried Pederson sent a text back to Blasberg, asking if she was all right, but Blasberg never replied.[32] However, Blasberg's agent revealed that Blasberg's bags were packed for a tournament in Mobile at the time of her death.[33][34] Furthermore, the days before had been busy and appeared normal, with Blasberg working on her golf game, buying curtains for her bedroom at her father's house, and even having a round of Botox injections.[3]

On May 13, 2010, police in Henderson, Nevada, executed a search warrant and raided the home and office of Dr. Thomas Hess in the ongoing investigation into Blasberg's death; he had been with her the night that she died.[35] The search warrant listed an anti-anxiety medication, Xanax, plastic garbage bags, and a sample of Hess' handwriting.[35] An inventory of the materials seized in the search of Hess' house included two computers, a cell phone, two video cameras, and a GPS unit. A computer and white trash bags were seized from Hess' office.[35] Small white plastic trash bags, identical to ones seized from Hess' office or home, had been found next to Blasberg's bed.[36][37] Blasberg's father appeared on The Early Show on June 2, 2010, and denied that his daughter had been clinically depressed, in financial troubles, or unhappy with her recent performances.[38]

On August 24, 2010, the Clark County Coroner's office ruled Blasberg's death a suicide. Asphyxia was cited as the primary cause, with toxic levels of multiple prescription drugs named as an additional "significant factor."[4] The drugs in Blasberg's system included pain relievers codeine, hydrocodone, and tramadol, as well as temazepam (a sleep aid), alprazolam (Xanax; an anti-anxiety medication), and butalbital (a migraine medication), according to the coroner.[3] Nevada law does not permit the release of details on the amounts of medication.[33]

Blasberg is interred at Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, California.[4]

Obstruction of Justice by Hess

Henderson police said foul play was not suspected.[3][29] However, they issued an arrest warrant on obstruction of justice charges for, and on August 24, 2010, arrested, Dr. Thomas Hess, who had called 911 to report his discovery of Blasberg's body.[3][29][39] Hess was released about 35 minutes after he was arrested and booked into jail, on $637 bail.[40][41]

In November 2010, Hess admitted that he had removed a suicide note and the prescription medication he had given Blasberg from her bedstand at the scene, hiding them in his car, he said, "to spare the family embarrassment"; he had never met the family.[42][31] Her suicide note said that Blasberg had attempted suicide many times in the months leading up to her death, and she said she felt lonely and tormented by the lack of success in her golf career.[43] "I'm sad and don't want to be doing this right now," she said in the note. "Sorry for all the people I've hurt doing this, but please understand how miserable and sad I am, and that I feel no way of escaping it."[44] His actions followed his 911 call in which the emergency operator told Hess, "Try not to touch anything," and he replied, "Yes ma'am."[45] While Hess called in the suicide from Blasberg's home, when the police arrived they found Blasberg's body alone at the scene.[40] Hess temporarily stopped cooperating with the police.[33]

Hess later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction, which carried maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.[3][45] He was sentenced to one year’s probation, 40 hours of community service at Volunteers of Medicine of Southern Nevada, and impulse-control counseling.[3][4][46]

Wrongful death lawsuit

Blasberg's parents filed a wrongful death and malpractice suit against Hess.[44][42] The case was decided on May 13, 2014. The jury found that Hess had no liability in the death.[47]

Professional wins (1)

Futures Tour wins (1)

Results in LPGA majors
Tournament2004200520062007200820092010
Kraft Nabisco Championship CUT
LPGA Championship T76 CUT CUT –
U.S. Women's Open CUT T39 –
Women's British Open T64 –
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

LPGA Tour career summary
YearTournaments
played		Cuts
made		Wins2nd3rdTop 10sBest
finish		Official
earnings ($)		Money
list rank		Scoring
average		Scoring
rank
2003 1 0 0 0 0 0 T49 n/a n/a 68.75 n/a
2004 3 0 0 0 0 0 MC n/a n/a 75.83 n/a
2005 16 12 0 0 0 0 T31 52,522 T109 73.23 75
2006 16 10 0 0 0 0 T25 62,477 112 72.37 58
2007 19 11 0 0 0 0 T18 72,037 104 73.45 80
2008 23 11 0 0 0 1 T8 113,428 94 73.09 96
2009 17 5 0 0 0 0 T36 26,408 128 73.55 113
2010 1 1 0 0 0 0 T44 5,544 971 73.00 n/a

1Money list ranking as of May 2, 2010, at the end of her last tournament.

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

References
  1. "LPGA player Erica Blasberg, 25, dies". May 10, 2010.
  2. "Family Tree, Genealogy, Family History, and DNA Testing". www.myheritage.com.
  3. Shipnuck, Alan (December 13, 2010). "The Mystery of Erica Blasberg". Sports Illustrated Vault.
  4. Bgolfy Mirjam Swanson (May 7, 2011). "Year later: Family haunted by Corona golfers death". The Press-Enterprise.
  5. Bgolfy Mirjam Swanson (May 4, 2011). "Former Corona High star and LPGA pro, Erica Blasberg, dead at 25". The Press-Enterprise.
  6. ""Obituary"".
  7. "Erica Blasberg Biography". University of Arizona Athletics.
  8. Swanson, Mirjam (May 10, 2010). "Former Corona High star and LPGA pro, Erica Blasberg, dead at 25". Press Enterprise. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  9. 2000 U.S. Girls' Junior
  10. "PUMA(R) Signs LPGA Rising Star Erica Blasberg; Blasberg To Sport PUMA's Performance Golf Collection On The Green". www.businesswire.com. January 27, 2006.
  11. 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur
  12. "Curtis Cup Results: 1932 to Present"
  13. "Blasberg funeral filled with tears, tributes". May 20, 2010.
  14. "LPGA Qualifying Tournament History 2004"
  15. "Sorenstam trying to start another win streak". ESPN. Associated Press. May 12, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  16. "Painful lesson ends tournament early". Press Enterprise. May 18, 2005. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  17. Blasberg, Erica (July 18, 2005). "Rookie Blog – Erica Blasberg, Entry 4". LPGA. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  18. LPGA money list history lpga.com. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  19. "Blasberg offered apology in '10 suicide note". ESPN. May 7, 2014.
  20. ""Back to College" at Tres Marias Championship". YouTube. April 27, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  21. "PUMA Signs LPGA Rising Star Erica Blasberg". Dexigner. February 10, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  22. Hack, Damon (May 10, 2010). "Blasberg found dead, police investigating". Golf.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  23. "Women of AllNight: Erica Blasberg". ESPN Radio. June 15, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  24. "LPGA Tour Player and Las Vegas Golfer Erica Blasberg Dies at 25". May 10, 2010.
  25. Achenbach, James (May 19, 2010). "Blasberg funeral filled with tears, tributes". Golfweek. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  26. "LPGA player Erica Blasberg, 25, dies". Golfweek. May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  27. Garcia, Oskar (May 10, 2010). "LPGA player Blasberg dies; police investigating". Yahoo Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  28. "LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg mysteriously died at 25". News Provider. May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  29. Erica Blasberg's Death Ruled Suicide; Golfer's Doctor Arrested CBS News, August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  30. "INSIDE STORY: Young Golf Pro's Shocking and Mysterious Death". PEOPLE.com.
  31. "Doctor took suicide note to spare golfers family". Golf Channel. August 25, 2010.
  32. "Erica Blasberg texted about not being able to make an LPGA tourney hours before death". USA Today. May 13, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  33. "Coroner Rules Blasberg's Death A Suicide". Golf Digest. August 24, 2010.
  34. "Agent: Blasberg had bags packed". ESPN. May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  35. "Doctor's office searched in probe". ESPN. Associated Press. May 13, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  36. Pohnl, Elliott. "Erica Blasberg: Death of LPGA Golfer Ruled a Suicide". Bleacher Report.
  37. Kauffman, Hattie (June 2, 2010). "Erica Blasberg's Father Speaks Out". CBS News. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  39. Wilson, Jeff (August 24, 2010). "Coroner says LPGA golfer Blasberg death a suicide". USA Today. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  40. "Golfer Blasberg's death deemed suicide". The Press-Enterprise. May 4, 2011.
  41. "LPGA golfer Blasberg's death ruled a suicide". ESPN.com. August 24, 2010.
  42. "Doctor cleared in LPGA golfer wrongful death case". AP News. May 14, 2014.
  43. "Erica Blasberg Suicide Note Revealed". LAlatenews. March 2, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  44. "Erica Blasberg's Father Struggling to Get Over Daughter's Suicide". Golf Channel. May 20, 2014.
  45. "Doctor: Hid evidence to spare Blasberg's family". ESPN.com. August 25, 2010.
  46. "Doctor in Blasberg Case Enters Plea". The New York Times. December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  47. "Doctor cleared in Blasberg wrongful death case". ESPN. May 14, 2014.
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