INTERVIEW: A quick nine with Anna Rawson
1 Your dad and brothers got you into golf. How long did it take for you to start beating them?
My dad had a great game until I left for college. He was a very good four handicap and we had lots of good battles. However he hasn’t beaten me since I left and that was nine years ago! My brother got to about a 15 handicap. So at age 15, I was beating him.
2 You’ve worked hard at both golf and modelling. Has it been difficult to give everything to both?
Sure it can be difficult at times but I feel so lucky to be able to simultaneously do two things I love. I started golf first at 13 so I feel much more like an athlete than a model. Even when I was 16, the other models couldn’t believe how much muscle my legs had compared to them.
3 How do you juggle your life between the golf world, fashion world and the media?
Life is busy but that is the way I have known it since I was five years old. I definitely work best when I have a million things to get done. When I have nothing to do I am hopeless. Sometimes I can get overwhelmed but I always realise that I am so lucky to do what I do.
4What are your favourite aspects about the American and European tours?
I love that the LPGA is televised on the weekends and that I am only, at most, six hours away from my home in Los Angeles. I love that when I play on the LET I get to explore some of the coolest cities in Europe and the world. I think the fashion on the LET is much better than on the LPGA. The European girls seem to take more risks.
5 How important is fashion in women’s golf and are more people catching on to its potential?
People will always love fashion. Fashion makes us all different. It’s an expression of this is who I am and is a way of looking into someone’s personality. For those reasons fashion is showing up on the golf course. There is no reason why a person should change their style for a sport.
6Apart from yourself, who are the best dressed players on tour?
I like how some of the Korean players dress, especially Grace Park. They always look so classy and put together. Off the course they always have cool handbags and cute shoes. Personally I will always love my black Dolce and Gabana pencil skirt – it looks great with everything and is such a classic!
7 Are there other athletes who you’ve looked at for inspiration?
My manager and I always wished we had someone to follow. The problem is nobody really does what I do so we have had to make it up. There are parts of other people’s careers that I like – for example, Beyonce.
8 You’ve started designing your own range for J. Lindeberg. Where have you taken your influences from?
I already loved their designs so it was easy to come in and add some slight touches. My influences come from the runway and fashion magazines. I see no reason why high fashion should not make it to the course.
9 Do you think golf is getting cooler for girls to take up?
I think there are a lot of stars that the young girls can look up to. Now that golf is becoming more mainstream it is allowing the stars to be involved with more outside the sport. I believe that younger girls will realise the potential that golf can provide.
FACTFILE
Name: Anna Rawson
Age: 28
Turned pro: 2004
LPGA rookie year: 2008
Interests: Fashion, movies, modelling
Website: www.annarawson.com