Meaghan Francella Draws Inspiration From Humble Past to Shape a Bright Future
By Doug Milne
GALLOWAY, N.J. - To say that Meaghan Francella’s journey to date has been all fairways and greens would be, well, coming up a little short.
Seated alone in front of media for her press conference at this week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, the newly minted 43-yer-old’s comments about her life these days included as many deep breaths and tears as laughs.
And, every show of emotion was warranted.
After taking up – and falling in love with – golf at just four years old, the Westchester County native’s parents, Joe and Denise, were determined to provide their only child with as many opportunities as possible.
“We lived in Westchester County, but not from the wealthy side of town,” Francella said. “My parents did what they could and made a lot of sacrifices for me to play in tournaments.”
Denise was a teacher who also coached three sports at her school until she was almost 70. Joe caddied on the side to make extra money for his daughter to be able to pursue her dream of playing competitive golf.
“Even though we had to drive to most of the places I played, my parents worked so hard to give me the best opportunity possible to do what I loved,” she said. “We did what we could…public ranges. We made it work. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to play in college. It was what it was, and I worked my tail off.”
And, working her tail off paid off in countless ways.
Highlighted by two career victories on the LPGA Tour, Francella left the competitive side of the game in 2014 and would become the teaching pro at Philadelphia Cricket Club, a position she is still delighted to have.
Meghan’s journey would include being at her mother’s side while she battled – and eventually beat – breast cancer. Receiving the phone call with the initial diagnosis of cancer remains today as “the hardest day of my life.”
Francella’s start in this week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic marks her return to LPGA soil since undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
“2024 was pretty rough medically,” she said. “I had three surgeries. The first two were abdominal surgeries within a week of each other last March. On November 12th, I had a back surgery. I just couldn't be in pain anymore. I was so uncomfortable. It was affecting my personal life, my teaching and my mood.”
Post November’s spinal fusion surgery, Francella played her first 18 holes Memorial Day weekend, walking all 18 holes. She played an additional 18 holes the following day using a cart.
“It really felt great,” she said. “That's when I was like, ‘Okay, I think I can do this’. I figured I would give it a go. I felt healthy enough to do it and I worked really hard in PT to get here. That was a goal of mine, to be able to play here this week. I was actually shocked how well I'm hitting it this week.”
With no competitive expectations, Francella comes into the week more relaxed.
“Am I as prepared as I want to be? Probably not,” she admitted. “I’ve been teaching a lot, but I feel pretty good. I am taking care of my body and just trying to get some rest. Just getting out there and playing is a lot easier than teaching, I think. Plus, I've seen a lot of good friends this week, so it's been really fun.”
One close friend who won’t be in Meghan’s gallery this week, though, is her mom. Admittedly one who gets stressed out on the course during competition, she prefers to spend time with Denise in less-stressful environments to enhance the time to do “fun stuff together.”
“This is like a home event, being just two hours from New York,” Meghan said. “I have a lot of friends and family that always come down. Plus, now working at Philly Cricket, which is so close, everyone there is so excited about me playing this week. It just feels like home.”
Francella’s recent past has been a series of long roads, but to the product of a “community of fighters,” she understands and accepts that the only way out is through.
“The last three years have been tough physically and mentally from a family standpoint,” she said. “But, I just love this game so much. I said to my PT this winter, ‘I just want to play golf again, but don't want to be in pain anymore’. I've been on the defense a lot and I want to start to play offensively a little bit again. I feel like I'm finally starting to do that, which has been a lot of fun.”
Though she’s not playing competitively much these days, Francella may have a lot of character to her, but surrendering in any way, shape or form is no part of that make-up.
“I retired from playing competitively in 2014 because I didn't want to do it for a living anymore,” she said. “I wanted to do something else that kept me involved in the game, which led me to teaching. But, now that I got a taste of it again, I decided I still want to keep doing it. I do it at a different level now, playing with the LPGA teachers. That has kept me competitive. So, for the opportunity to play in an LPGA event here and there is always great. The club where I work loves me to go play. I constantly compete. It's in me. Somebody asked me why I do it. I said it's just part of who I am.”
As for expectations this week at Seaview’s Bay Course?
“I just want to go out and have some fun,” Meghan said. “I have a student who's a good friend of mine caddieing for me. I told her that her job this week is to keep me calm and under control. But, I do feel pretty relaxed. It may be a different story when I tee off Friday, but the expectation of being able to contend this week isn’t under my skin. Nine years ago, I didn't think I was going to play professional golf anymore. So, who knows what's going to happen. My expectation is just to make sure I'm having a good time. I worked hard to play this week, and I just want to try to enjoy it.”
With her having been away from the competition side of things for such an extended period of time, it stands to reason that she finds fields stronger than ever on the LPGA.
“It's just that everybody is getting younger and I feel like I just keep getting older,” Meghan laughed. “The level of play out here is unbelievable, as it has always been. I think the LPGA is in a great place and is only going to keep getting better.”
While there’s certainly the exciting ‘what if’ buzz in the air at this week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic field, Meghan’s allegiance has never strayed.
“I was texting with a student last night. I asked him how he was doing, and he said, this was about me this week. I said, ‘friend first, coach second, player third’. That's my motto. I'm definitely thinking about everything I can do for my students first because they're most important right now.”
Even so, she’s human. Regardless of from where and what one comes, teeing it up in an LPGA event is always a big deal – especially to one who has come from as much as Meghan has.
“I got on site and thought, ‘What am I doing? Am I really doing this?’,” she laughed. “Everybody was like, ‘Oh, my God, you're back. How are you feeling?’. So, there have definitely been questions in my mind as to whether or not I’m doing the right thing.”
How she’ll come out of this week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic is likely – and understandably – on her mind to an extent. But, it pales in comparison to the comfort Meghan – the person – embraces by looking back and seeing how far she’s come through, both, thick and thin.
“It doesn’t take a lot to be nice, so I’d like to be regarded as a good friend who was always there for people,” Meghan said. “Respect is huge for me, so I’d also like to be remembered for that. I know it may not always be the best thing, but I’m a helper and put everyone else’s wants and needs before my own. That’s just who I am. I hope people will also say I was a great instructor and coach. Really, all of that is who I am now.”
She’s also clearly a remarkable individual who paid close attention to the virtues of parents who would go – quite literally – any distance for their daughter.
