A nine-year-old from Brazil has become the youngest person ever to try and qualify for the US Women's Open, according to CNN.

CNN —

At the 2008 US Women’s Open, 19-year-old South Korean prodigy Inbee Park made history by becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. This marked the beginning of her impressive collection of seven major championships.

Bella Simões would not come into the world for approximately six more years. On Tuesday, she made an effort to meet the requirements for the main event.

At nine years old, the Brazilian is the youngest player ever to attempt qualification to the tournament, set to tee off at California’s acclaimed Pebble Beach course for the first time in its 78-year history in July.

The first shot of her qualifying group at The Club at Mediterra in Naples, Florida was hit by Simões. Her swing technique was flawless, as seen on the USGA’s Twitter account, and received many compliments.

The #USWomensOpen has officially commenced!

Bella Simoes, who is nine years old, made the initial shot.

Please join us at @FSGA ➡️ https://t.co/622czXdhXk pic.twitter.com/4aYolLLL21

— U.S. Women’s Open (@uswomensopen) May 9, 2023

It is not unexpected, considering Simões’ impressive track record, that she achieved another win in the US Kids Golf World championship. She was the champion for the under-seven category in 2020, successfully defending her title the following year and then winning in the eight-year-old category in 2022.

This is a prestigious youth tournament that has been won by notable players such as World No. 7 and 2014 Chevron Championship winner Lexi Thompson, who became a top player after winning the tournament twice.

At just 12 years old, Thompson became the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the US Women’s Open in 2007.

As we take a look at some of the most talented prodigies in the history of golf, where better to start than Tiger Woods: Six junior world championships to his name, the only player to win three US junior championships in a row, and a three-peat winner of the US amateur from 1994 to 1996. Woods turned pro in August 1996. Within a year, he'd scooped three PGA Tour events, become the youngest winner of The Masters at 21, and become the fastest player to reach No. 1 after turning professional, just 290 days into his pro career. Pictured, Woods at the 1996 US Amateur Championships.<br />

Let’s begin by examining some of the most gifted young athletes in the history of golf, starting with Tiger Woods: With six junior world championships under his belt, he holds the record for being the only player to win three consecutive US junior championships and was also a three-time winner of the US amateur from 1994 to 1996. Woods turned professional in August 1996 and within a year, he had won three PGA Tour events, became the youngest winner of The Masters at the age of 21, and achieved the fastest rise to No. 1 after turning pro, accomplishing this feat in just 290 days. In this photo, Woods is shown competing in the 1996 US Amateur Championships.

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Following a series of wins in Canadian amateur events, Brooke Henderson became the youngest-ever winner of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (at the Sahalee Country Club, pictured) when she won her first major aged 18 in 2016. Henderson has since racked up eight wins on the LPGA Tour, her most recent coming at the LA Open in April 2021.<br />

After achieving multiple victories in amateur competitions in Canada, Brooke Henderson broke the record for youngest winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (held at Sahalee Country Club) when she claimed her first major title at the age of 18 in 2016. Since then, Henderson has accumulated eight wins on the LPGA Tour, with her most recent triumph occurring at the LA Open in April 2021.

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After becoming the youngest player to win the British Amateur Championship in 2009 (at Formby Golf Club, pictured) and make the cut at The Masters as a 16-year-old the following year, Italy's Matteo Manassero burst onto the pro scene, becoming the first teenager to win three times on the European Tour. Victories at the Castello Masters, Malaysian Open, and the BMW PGA Championship suggested the arrival of a new superstar, but Manassero has since endured a difficult spell. He hasn't won on the European Tour since 2013, though 7th and 8th Tour finishes already in 2022 have made for a solid start to the year for the Italian.

In 2009, Matteo Manassero became the youngest player to win the British Amateur Championship at Formby Golf Club. The following year, at the age of 16, he also made the cut at The Masters. This catapulted him into the professional scene and he became the first teenager to win three times on the European Tour. He secured victories at the Castello Masters, Malaysian Open, and the BMW PGA Championship, establishing himself as a potential superstar. However, Manassero has faced challenges since then and has not won on the European Tour since 2013. Despite this, his 7th and 8th place finishes in 2022 have been a strong start to the year for the Italian.

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The youngest-ever known winner of a professional golf tour event, 14-year-old Atthaya Thitikul made headlines around the world when she triumphed at the Ladies European Thailand Championship in 2017. A string of amateur titles followed before Thitikul turned pro in 2020, and the Thai prodigy's meteoric rise continued with three more Ladies European Tour wins by September 2021. She won her first LPGA Tour event in March 2022 at the JTBC Classic in Southern California (pictured), and in May, rose to No. 4 in the world rankings.

At just 14 years old, Atthaya Thitikul became the youngest professional golfer to win a tour event when she emerged victorious at the Ladies European Thailand Championship in 2017. Despite her young age, Thitikul has already earned several amateur titles and turned pro in 2020. She has since garnered three more wins on the Ladies European Tour, and in March 2022, she claimed her first LPGA Tour victory at the JTBC Classic in Southern California (pictured). By May, she had risen to No. 4 in the world rankings, solidifying her status as a rising star in the world of golf.

Donald Miralle is a photographer for Getty Images.

Donald Miralle works as a photographer for Getty Images.

Continuing Thailand's recent trend of golf prodigies, Ratchanon "TK" Chantananuwat narrowly missed out on besting compatriot Thitikul's record when he became the youngest male player to win on a major Tour aged 15 years and 37 days. Victory at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup in April 2022 (pictured) set a new peak in the schoolboy's amateur career, having already become the youngest player to make the cut in the history of the All Thailand Golf Tour in 2020, aged 13 years and four months.

Following a pattern in Thailand of producing talented young golfers, Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat came close to surpassing Thitikul’s record as the youngest male player to win on a major Tour at just 15 years and 37 days old. In April 2022, he achieved this milestone at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup (pictured), marking a new highlight in his amateur career. Prior to this, he had already made history as the youngest player to make the cut in the All Thailand Golf Tour at the age of 13 years and four months in 2020.

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Having already won on the ALPG Tour earlier that year, New Zealand's Lydia Ko became the youngest golfer to win on the LPGA Tour when -- at 15 years old -- she triumphed at the CN Canadian Women's Open in August 2012 (pictured). After turning pro in October 2013, Ko has gone from strength to strength with an already-glittering trophy cabinet. At 17 years old, she was the youngest golfer to reach the No. 1 ranking in 2015, and today boasts 17 victories on the LPGA Tour.

Lydia Ko, a golfer from New Zealand, made history in August 2012 when she became the youngest player to win on the LPGA Tour at 15 years old. This came after her previous victory on the ALPG Tour earlier that year. Since turning professional in October 2013, Ko has continued to excel and has amassed an impressive collection of trophies. In 2015, at just 17 years old, she became the youngest golfer to achieve the No. 1 ranking and currently has 17 wins on the LPGA Tour.

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Arguably the greatest golfer never to go pro, Bobby Jones is one of the sport's most influential figures. A prodigious young talent with a string of wins by the age of 14, it took longer than expected for Jones to win his first major, triumphing at the US Open in 1923, aged 21. He soon added three more and three British Open titles before retiring at just 28. He proceeded to found and help design the course at Augusta National Golf Club, where The Masters -- then known as the Augusta National Invitational -- was first hosted in 1934.<br />

Considered by many to be the top golfer who never turned professional, Bobby Jones is a highly significant figure in the sport. With impressive victories under his belt by the time he was 14, it took longer than anticipated for Jones to secure his first major win at the age of 21 in the US Open of 1923. He went on to win three more major titles and three British Opens before retiring at the young age of 28. Jones then went on to establish the Augusta National Golf Club and was involved in designing its course. This is where The Masters, originally known as the Augusta National Invitational, was first held in 1934.

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One of the most famed golf prodigies in recent history, a 10-year-old Michelle Wie became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur Championship in 2000. Aged 14 in 2004, she bested many of the world's top men's players' and major winners at the Sony Open (pictured) despite narrowly missing the cut. With a professional career marred by injury, victory at the US Women's Open in 2014 has proven to be the career peak for Wie, who told CNN she had been considering retirement before the birth of her daughter in 2020.</span> </div> <figcaption class=

Golf’s greatest-ever prodigies

Simões has a few remaining chances to take the title, but will have to wait at least another year after placing tied for 59th out of 67 players. The Brazilian ended with a score of 23-over par, while Lindy Duncan and Brooke Matthews both qualified automatically with scores of 10-under and 8-under, respectively.

The USGA has reported that the number of entries for the upcoming championship in July has reached a new record, with 2,107 applicants from 47 US states and 62 countries. This surpasses the previous record of 1,874, which was set last year when Minjee Lee won the tournament at Pine Needles.

To qualify, players must have a handicap index of 2.4 or lower, or be a professional. Some groups, such as the last 10 winners and the top 75 ranked players, are automatically invited and do not need to qualify.

According to the USGA, Kimberly Williams, a 60-year-old professional from Bethesda, Maryland, was the oldest player to participate in qualification this year.

Source: cnn.com