CHANDLER, ARIZONA | At Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass, a golf facility on the lands of the Gila River Indian Community, Gabby Barker tees off today in the LPGA’s Ford Championship. A member of the Shoshone-Paiute tribe, Barker is not only the first Native American to play in the Ford Championship. She is the first female Native American touring professional.
“To be able to go out there as a Native American woman and showcase this event alongside other amazing women, and to have Gila River support the LPGA is just beautiful,” Barker said.
Barker is one of the two sponsor exemptions in the Ford Championship. She’s always been heavily involved in her community, participating in programs like the Nike N7 Fund, which supports sporting activities in Native American communities. Barker also played on the Epson Tour starting in 2018 before losing her status in December 2023. She hopes to not just show off her culture at the Ford Championship, but her game too.
“My game is trending in the right direction,” said Barker, who is making her fifth LPGA start. “I’m hoping that this week is where I showcase it.”
Growing up in Caldwell, Idabo, a suburb of Boise, Barker started playing golf at age 6 but didn’t become serious about the game until she became a teenager. Playing with friends, she saw golf as a team sport, which she really enjoyed.
“Something little like that [that] can spark a kid’s interest is exactly what happened to me,” Barker said. “To be able to go out there with a group of friends and be able to play the sport that I love is great.”
Barker played collegiately at Texas Tech and won three tournaments. During her time in college, she met Notah Begay III, a four-time PGA Tour winner and a member of the Navajo, who became an important mentor to her.
Begay learned about Barker, a sophomore at the time, through his brother, Clint Begay.
“Clint tells me, ‘Have you seen this young Native American golfer at Texas Tech? She’s one of the highest-ranked players in the country,’ ” Begay recalled.
“She’s the real deal,” Begay said. “She really has an opportunity to play on the LPGA now.” – Notah Begay III
Surprised that he hadn’t heard of her, Begay immediately looked at the women’s college golf rankings. However, he couldn’t originally find her on the list.
“I started at rank 15 because I’m like there’s no way she’s any higher than 15,” Begay said. “I go all the way to 100 and I don’t see her name.”
Confused, Begay looked again, more slowly this time. Still no luck. Thinking his brother might have been mistaken, Begay then looked at the top 10.
“I looked and she was the first name on the list,” Begay said.
After that, Begay reached out to Barker and offered to help her in any way he could and the two started to chat.
“We’ve formulated a great friendship and I’ve tried to help her navigate some of the obstacles and challenges of being a professional golfer,” Begay said.
Barker says she greatly appreciates Begay’s advice.
“He’s been my mentor and gives me all access to his brain in terms of hitting golf shots or learning the business side of golf,” Barker said. “So ultimately, I owe a lot to Notah.”
After having observed and played with Barker, Begay believes she has what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
“She’s the real deal,” Begay said. “She really has an opportunity to play on the LPGA now.”
Begay says this is due to more than Barker’s skill. It’s about her positive mentality on the course.
“She has a very playful disposition with the game,” Begay said. “She gets immersed in trying to contend with all the different things that come your way throughout a round of golf and that’s one of the things I’ve always admired about her.”
Begay says in his case, there is no pressure to represent the Native American communities when he plays golf. There is only opportunity. He says it’s an opportunity Barker will have to take for herself.
“The game isn’t coming to anybody,” Begay said. “This game doesn’t just give it to you, you have to go take it. She has to be the one who pays the price in terms of her time, effort and energy.”
Without tour status going into the Ford Championship, Barker had to take it. In an attempt to get into the Monday qualifier, and because she enjoys working with kids, she signed up for a children’s clinic before the event. While taking a break from practicing at Whirlwind Golf Club, she received a Zoom call from Chance Cozby, the executive director of tournament founding partner the Thunderbirds, along with members of the LPGA and Gila River teams.
“I told her I have good news and more good news,” Cozby said. “We still want you to be involved in the junior clinic but clear your schedule because you’re going to be playing in the tournament.”
“Tears were rolling and I was just like, ‘Am I really getting this sponsor exemption,’ ” – Gabby Barker
Barker couldn’t have been happier.
“Tears were rolling and I was just like, ‘Am I really getting this sponsor exemption,’ ” Barker said.
Begay says having Barket in the field is a no-brainer.
“She is our most qualified Native American golfer in the country,” Begay said. “She’s a wonderful representative of our community.”
Barker says hearing that from Begay means more to her than anyone could ever know, as it’s sometimes scary being the only Native American female touring professional. There’s always a spotlight on her. Like Begay, however, she also sees the spotlight as an opportunity and hopes to capitalize at the Ford Championship.
“It’s beautiful to be able to share about my culture and be a representative for Indian country and really any Native American community out there,” Barker said. “Any way that I can help push our culture and the boundaries of what we have set for us, that’s what I’m willing to do.”