An Interview With Cristie Kerr
1) What are your thoughts on links golf?
I have always been a fan of the British style of links golf, it is very different to what I grew up on but I think my game suits it as I don't take many divots and I like hitting the ball low and seeing different kinds of shots. I would still love to play Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, Prestwick, Royal Co Down and Royal Troon.
2) What are the keys to playing Lytham well?
You can score well at Lytham, you need to keep it out of the fairway bunkers, they are some of the most penal bunkers of any links course. They are not as big as St Andrews or Royal Birkdale’s but are very punishing. If you stay out of those you are going to have a lot of birdie opportunities and hopefully a good week.
3) What are your typical preparations for the Women’s British Open?
I would love to be able to get over early but we have lots of tournaments in the build-up so it's difficult to get there. But we get there as fast as we can and play every day, sometimes more than 18 holes, and get used to hitting the different kinds of shots particularly the pitch and runs. This will be my fourth visit and we tend to stay in the same hotel and eat in the same restaurants each year.
4) Last time at Lytham you were second so you most be hopeful of your chances?
I have always said Lytham is my favourite British course. It suits my eye, it's hard but it can be rewarding. I have always putted those greens real well and I like my chances. It’s fun to be one of the favourites, that's what we work for. I think I've done it really well in the last couple of years and I really feel like it's possible to keep it going.
5) Did that near miss play a part in winning the US Women’s Open the following year?
I think it definitely did, the closer you get the more hungry you get and being in the hunt at Royal Lytham and knowing I could play well under pressure really helped me to close it out at the US Open.
6) How easy is it to stay focused after capturing your first Major?
When you win a Major it's like ‘whoa, what did I just do?’ You put all this expectation on yourself and think you’ve got to do this and that instead of playing it ordinary and just doing the things that made you successful. It took me a while, after the US Open I had some caddy issues but at the beginning of last year I found a caddy that I think I'm going to have for most of, if not the rest of, my career.
7) You are thought to be quite driven on the course, are you like that off it?
The best explanation I can give is one of my best friends Natalie Gulbis is really good with people naturally, she’s bubbly, very open and she’s naturally like that. Other people have to work at that stuff and I'm one of those people, I'm not cold or aloof just very intense on the course. I have got a lot better with stuff outside the ropes but I have had to work at that.
8) You are now up to fifth in the world – how far can you keep going?
Overall I am improving, I’m working hard on my mental game, I’ve got a great coach in Bryan Lebedevitch who I’ve been with him for a very long time and now I’ve got the caddy that I needed. I honestly feel like I’ve just started my career, I feel like I've only been out here maybe five years instead of 14 and that's to my advantage to have that experience.
9) Any plans to start a family?
I think it's going to be golf for the next few years especially seeing how I've been playing this year. I owe it to myself to focus on golf, I’m only 31 so hopefully I’ve still got a few years to start a family.
** To find out more visit www.cristiekerrgolf.com