Golfer death still mystery, agent claims

LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg had her bags packed for a tournament in Alabama when she died at her home in Anthem, her agent said Tuesday. Police aren't saying how she died.

Blasberg was scheduled to leave on Sunday to play a qualification round on Monday for the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Mobile, said the agent, Chase Callahan, who is based in Irvine, Calif.

Callahan and Blasberg's parents, Mel and Debbie Blasberg, of Corona, Calif., began planning Tuesday for a memorial service in her hometown amid questions about Blasberg's death Sunday in her home.

"We don't know yet who, what or why," Callahan said, calling Blasberg's death "tragic for her family, the people of Corona and the people who knew her."

"Police haven't given her family or me any indication of anything," said Callahan, who noted that Blasberg's father also was her golf coach.

"For Mr. and Mrs. Blasberg, her taking her own life is not something that's in the details that they know right now," Callahan said. "This is someone whose career was as important to her as her family."

"She was 25. She hadn't reached her peak yet," he said.

Blasberg was found dead about 3 p.m. Sunday after police responded to a 911 call from the two-story, three-bedroom home Blasberg bought for $281,000 in November 2007.

Police have not said if they suspect foul play, and police spokesman Keith Paul declined again to say Tuesday who summoned police to the house.

Clark County Coroner Michael Murphy said a ruling on a cause of death was pending blood and tissue tests that could take four to six weeks to complete.

Callahan said he didn't know if Blasberg had any visitors during the weekend.

"I don't question any of the relationships that she had in this right now," he said.

The family has scheduled a May 19 memorial service at the Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, about 65 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Private burial will follow.

Blasberg grew up in Southern California and was in her sixth season on the LPGA Tour.

She was a former junior golf standout and an All-American in 2003 and 2004. She was the 2003 NCAA Freshman of the Year and 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year while at the University of Arizona.

She turned professional in June 2004 and won once on the Duramed Futures Tour before qualifying for the LPGA Tour in 2005.

Her best year on Tour was 2008, when she earned a career-best tie for eighth at the SBS Open in Hawaii and more than $113,000 in winnings, according to the LPGA.

Blasberg played in one event this season, tying for 44th in the April 29-May 2 Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico.