Mel Reid surprises golfer with news that she qualified for 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

USA Today

3 hours ago

FRISCO, Texas – As LPGA players made the turn at the Fields Ranch East Course on Friday morning, retired player-turned-television-analyst Mel Reid was on a special assignment over by the 10th tee.
Reid surprised 38-year-old Erika Johnson with the news that she'd qualified for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, representing Texas.
'Unbelievable achievement. You're going to have to get some Olympic rings on you or something,' said Reid, pulling up the sleeve of her shirt to reveal her own tattoo from the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
Johnson, it turns out, already had two tattoos of her own and was game to add a third at Reid's invitation.
'It would be my honor to take you,' said a smiling Reid, an LPGA winner and Special Olympics ambassador.
The golf portion of the USA Games will be held at Victory Links Golf Course in Blaine, Minnesota, June 20-26, the same week as the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.
Johnson came out to the KPMG Women's PGA in Frisco with her mom, Kim, and coach, Linda Walls. She first took up the game in high school and plays out of Woodbridge Golf Club in Wylie, Texas.
While golf is her main sport, she began with the Special Olympics in 2002 and participates in basketball, bowling, flag football, floorball, golf, soccer, softball and volleyball. She also competed with the FC Dallas Special Olympics Unified Team. One of her tattoos is the FC Dallas shield and the other is a star.
'It means a lot,' said a grateful Johnson of heading to Minnesota.
In March, Johnson flew to Italy to compete in floorball, which her mom said is like ice hockey but in tennis shoes and without the ice. Organized sports, she said, have given her daughter a strong community and boosted her confidence.
'She travels more than I do these days,' said Kim. 'She has really learned to know that she can stand on her own two feet.'
After touring Golf Channel's set near the 10th tee, Johnson planned to take in more of the action at Fields Ranch East before heading to her job at the local movie theater, where she's worked for nearly 20 years.
'This is what it's about, isn't it?' said Reid. 'I've got a nephew with quite severe special needs, so it's very close to my heart. I just think they're more impressive than us, to be honest with you. … The way they just get on with stuff. Their fire, their grit, their strength. It's just something we can all learn from.'