INTERVIEW: A Quick Nine with Anna Nordqvist
The prolific Swede reflects on her incredible Major breakthrough at the LPGA Championship last year with Mark Townsend...
1 How confident were you going into your first Major in the States?
To be honest, I was really excited just to be there. I had a conditional card at the start of the year so appreciated any chance to play. I had a new caddy and I was trying to enjoy the whole experience having attempted to Monday qualify a few events earlier in the year but then didn’t get in.
2 How nerve-wracking was it all?
I played in the 2007 and 2008 Women’s British Opens which helped. Playing in the WBO as an amateur was the biggest thing I had done and it was a great learning experience. I probably wasn’t as nervous as the first two times.
3 You were out in the first group of the day. Was that a good or a bad thing?
I had to get up at 4.30. I’m not really a morning person but once I’m up I quite like playing early on as you can set your own pace and you get the best of the course.
4 You led after the second and third rounds. How did you cope with all the new-found stardom?
The interviews are all part of it and it generally means you are doing well. I had been media-trained for two years with the national team but having the cameras on the course was all new to me. I am here to learn and that was a pretty good lesson.
5 What about your strategy for the final round?
I don’t think I missed a fairway the last two rounds and my putting was great. I didn’t really look at the leaderboards that many times but knew where my playing partner, Lindsey Wright, was standing. She made birdies on two tough holes but I then birdied 14 and then made a huge putt on 15.
6 When did you finally let yourself relax a little?
My caddy really helped but playing the last I knew I was three ahead. And when I hit it to a few feet that was the first time I really thought ‘OK what have I just done?’.
7 And how long did it take to sink in what you had just done?
It was all quite overwhelming the days after with the media. It took maybe four days for all the attention to calm down. Then I watched a few clips and I then realised what had happened.
8 Do you now feel part of the LPGA Tour?
The hardest thing was not playing. It was like starting school, you don’t know a lot of people but once you get in you get to know a lot of friends and Wendy Ward is like my big sister on tour. Obviously after the Major win more people know me so I sign a few more autographs.
9 Will we get to see more of you over here?
Definitely. I feel very strongly towards Europe. The LET is getting better and better and I will definitely come back and play more in 2010.
ABOUT ANNA
Age: 22
Lives: Arizona, USA
Turned pro: 2008
World ranking: 7th
Website: www.annanordqvist.com