Gabi Powel, a spectator at a golf demonstration in Bogota (Colombia), was asked to shoot a few shots by the announcer.
Powel grabbed her driver nonchalantly and, to the surprise of the crowd, began smacking drives that were 300 yards or more down the range.
Powel: “I love such moments.” People didn’t expect me to go that far.
Powel did not expect, two years ago, to hit a golf shot longer than three football fields. Jupiter, Florida resident Powel was a top-ranked golfer at William T. Dwyer high school and Florida International University. She is known for her long hitting.
Powel, who was not good enough to be on the LPGA Tour to compete in that sport, tried to remain involved as a social-media influencer and mentor for young children.
Powel’s life changed in early 2022 when the Long Drive Tour visited Hobe Sound. Powel was asked by a fellow competitor, Antony Livingston to help promote the competition through social media. She did.
Livingston’s request was different when Powel arrived at the competition. Having seen Powel hit the ball before, he encouraged Powel enter the competition.
She finished second and launched a new career.
I fell in love instantly with it.
(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Gabi Powel, of the United States, watches her ball at the Bobby Jones Golf Course during the preliminary qualification round of the World Long Drive Championship on October 20, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images).
How far can she go with this new venture of hitting a long ball?
She had to first find the right driver to smash the golf ball. The majority of long-driving golfers use clubs that are three inches (48mm) longer than the traditional driver. Next, she had to work on building strength and improving her technique.
She said, “Many people think I cannot hit the ball as far because my swing is very long and wraps around me.”
It is not about the swing, but rather where you strike the ball.
Powel says that “center-face contact” is the most important.
Whatever she has been doing is working. Powel placed fifth in a long drive contest in Japan last year, was second in Denver this year, where she made a 367-yard career-long drive, and was again fifth in the Long Drive Competition last month in Atlanta.
Powel stated, “It’s been an amazing year and I feel that I’m only getting started.”
Powel made headlines earlier this year, when she began dating PGA Tour winner Andy Svensson. This allowed her to caddy at the Par-3 Tournament in Augusta National. She was anxious when Svensson asked her to play the ninth hole, as many players do.
She said, “I was really nervous but I’ve done a lot charity work so it wasn’t the first ball I hit in front of many people.”
She was disappointed that her wedge had sailed over the green but saw the positive in the outcome. She smiled and said: “It was right on brand as a long driver.”
Powel and Leiner are no longer together, but Powel is still busy with her training and the Forward Tees Foundation, which she founded along with Hannah Leiner to “improve career opportunities for women in golf and beyond”.
Gabi Powel, then Adam Svensson’s girlfriend, holds the flag during the Par 3 Contest of The Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Rob Schumacher – USA TODAY Network
Powel explained that the program allows young girls to talk with women who played college golf, and are familiar with its intricacies.
It’s great to help the next generation, but for a professional long-drive driver there is no greater feeling than hitting a pure.
Powel described the feeling as “such an adrenaline rush.” It’s like a rush of adrenaline.
Watching it disappear into blue skies.
