Head Over Heels

Bill Mossman on November 4, 2026 Lawrence Tabudlo Kamalani Miyamoto has a pretty good idea why she loves golf so much. It’s the sound. Specifically, it’s the satisfying little plunk! the ball makes when dropping into the cup. “I like putting,” states the youngster with a big smile. “It’s fun. I make a lot of putts.” With her ninth birthday less than two weeks away, the Kamehameha Schools third-grader has already developed an appetite for one of the game’s most important skills. And she has turned that craving into a competitive advantage that goes beyond her island home. Kamalani’s swing is as big as her smile, and she routinely drives the ball around 200 yards. She’s also collected enough eagles that her father, Keith Miyamoto, has created a special place to keep the evidence. Still, it’s on the greens where she really shines. “She’s an incredible putter, but she also hits the ball really long,” says Kamalani’s proud papa.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.