Mel Reid Bio
Melissa Rose Reid (born 19 September 1987) is an English professional golfer who competed on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. She is best known for winning the 2020 ShopRite LPGA Classic, her first victory on American soil, and for representing Europe in the Solheim Cup. Over the course of her professional career, she collected seven victories across the two tours and became one of the most recognizable English players of her generation. Reid retired from full-time competitive play following the 2024 season.
Early Life and Background
Melissa Rose Reid was born on 19 September 1987 in Derby, England. Growing up in the English Midlands, she was introduced to golf at a young age and quickly developed a reputation as a talented junior player. Her early development in the sport was supported by a strong family environment, with travel and encouragement that allowed her to compete at national events during her teenage years.
As an amateur, Reid built an impressive résumé that included several prestigious titles. She won the English Girls’ Championship in 2004 and 2005, captured the Helen Holm Trophy in 2006 and 2007, and added the 2007 St Rule Trophy to her list of honors. She also won the 2007 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, one of the most respected amateur events in the United Kingdom.
Reid’s amateur career reached another milestone when she was selected to play for Great Britain and Ireland in the 2006 Curtis Cup, a premier team competition for female amateurs. In 2007, she earned the distinction of low amateur at the Women’s British Open, finishing tied for 16th at the major championship and signaling her readiness for the professional ranks.
Path to Professional Golf
Reid turned professional in late 2007 after an unsuccessful attempt to earn her tour card at the 2007 LET Qualifying School in Italy. Despite the setback, she began playing on the Ladies European Tour in 2008 on sponsor invitations, with one professional start having come the previous year at the 2007 Dubai Ladies Masters, where she finished tied for 35th.
A third-place finish at the Australian Open in early February 2008 helped her remain inside the top 20 on the LET money list, securing her place in LET events for the remainder of the season. She finished 12th on the final money list in 2008 and was named LET Rookie of the Year, a clear sign that her transition to the professional game was complete.
Mel Reid Career
Early Career (2007-2009)
Reid’s earliest professional seasons were defined by steady progress rather than immediate results. After a limited 2007 campaign that consisted of a single appearance at the Dubai Ladies Masters, she used sponsor invitations in 2008 to assemble a full LET schedule. Her third-place result at the Australian Open proved pivotal, allowing her to compete consistently and earn the LET Rookie of the Year award at the conclusion of the season.
By 2009, Reid had established herself as a regular competitor on the Ladies European Tour. The groundwork laid during her first two professional seasons set the stage for her breakthrough the following year.
Ladies European Tour Breakthrough (2010-2011)
Reid’s first LET victory came in 2010 at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, a win that confirmed her potential as a tour frontrunner. The victory marked a turning point in her career and provided the momentum she carried into the following season.
In 2011, Reid recorded two more LET wins and reached the top of the LET rankings, a position that earned her a place on the European team for the 2011 Solheim Cup. The Solheim Cup appearance was a defining moment in her career, showcasing her on one of the biggest stages in women’s golf and cementing her reputation as a clutch competitor.
LPGA Tour Success (2020)
After several seasons competing primarily in Europe, Reid made a significant impact on the LPGA Tour in October 2020 when she won the ShopRite LPGA Classic, her maiden victory on the American circuit. The win was the highlight of her LPGA career and remains one of the most memorable results of her time on tour.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond her individual victories, Reid is perhaps best known for her Solheim Cup appearances, including her 2011 selection as the LET rankings leader. Her career total of seven professional wins spans the LET and the LPGA Tour, and her low-amateur finish at the 2007 Women’s British Open is widely regarded as a notable milestone in British women’s golf.
Mel Reid Career Wins
Across her professional career, Mel Reid recorded seven confirmed victories, with six coming on the Ladies European Tour and one on the LPGA Tour. Her wins spanned more than a decade, beginning with her first LET title in 2010 and culminating in her lone LPGA victory in 2020.
Ladies European Tour Highlights
Reid’s LET success began with her first title at the 2010 Turkish Airlines Ladies Open. She added two more LET wins in 2011, a season in which she also led the LET rankings and earned a Solheim Cup berth. Her LET victories established her as one of the leading English players of her era and formed the foundation of her professional reputation.
Other Wins and Performances
Reid’s lone LPGA Tour victory came at the 2020 ShopRite LPGA Classic, a breakthrough result on American soil. Combined with her LET titles, the win gave her a well-rounded résumé across two of the world’s premier women’s golf tours.
Mel Reid Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Reid was raised in a supportive family in Derby, England, with travel to junior and amateur events playing a key role in her early development. In May 2012, her mother, Joy, was killed in an automobile crash near Munich while traveling to watch her compete in a Ladies European Tour event, a tragedy that had a profound impact on her life and career.
Reid returned to competition shortly after the accident, though she later described a difficult period in which her form declined. In a 2015 interview with ESPN, she spoke candidly about coping with loss. In December 2018, Reid publicly came out as gay in an interview with Athlete Ally, becoming a prominent voice for inclusion in the sport.
2025 Season Outlook
Following her retirement at the end of the 2024 season, Mel Reid is no longer an active competitor on the Ladies European Tour or the LPGA Tour. Her 2025 activities are expected to focus on roles away from full-time tournament play, including media, ambassadorial work, and other ventures connected to professional golf. As a former Solheim Cup player and LPGA Tour winner, Reid remains a respected figure in the women’s game, and her perspective continues to be sought in coverage and promotional events around the sport.