My First LPGA Event!

First and foremost, I want to apologize for taking a hiatus from any sort of social media, including my blog, for almost two weeks. Life has been crazier than usual since we decided to move to a new house.  We are moving this week and getting all of our ducks in a row has been a challenge, BUT WE ARE MANAGING!

My most recent post was a preview of my first LPGA event at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.  First off, I need to thank Tim Erensen, tournament director, and Karen Gozzi, from ShopRite, for giving me a sponsor exemption.  THANK YOU for the amazing opportunity to play on the LPGA again.

I did not know how I was going to feel about going back to an LPGA Tour event. It had been a LONG time and many questions popped into my head.  Will I be so nervous that I won’t be able to stick the tee into the ground? How will my family life fit into a tour event?  Am I too old for this comeback?  I was very anxious about going into the week.  Well… I have to say that being back on the “big” tour was the most comfortable I have felt throughout this process. In a weird way I felt right at home.  I knew where everything was, what I was supposed to do, and whom to talk to if I needed a little help.  It was incredible!

Highlights of my week:

-Hanging out with Paul, our club Guru on Tour.  Paul always welcomes me with open arms and he was definitely Stella’s favorite. She loved going into the club repair van for her daily “candy” fix!!!

-Dinner and practice round with my dear friend Karrie Webb.  Most of my friends from the LPGA have retired. However Webby is still kicking major butt out there. So great to catch up and play with her. I just love watching her play and laugh about life.  Just love her.  

- Myrtle the Turtle.  I found a baby turtle on the course during the pro-am and we took it back to the house to show it to Stella. She was excited until I put it in her hand. That was it for her.  We released Myrtle back into the woods. We will never forget Myrtle the Turtle

-I missed the cut but I felt like I played very good golf.  The best golf I have played since I have been back. I need a lot more work but I know I can play and that my game is not too far off.

-The best part of all was having my family with me and realizing that my kids and hubby fit right into my life on tour.

Can’t wait for the next two weeks of tournaments!!! So much more to come!!!

Facing Your Fears

Last weekend was my first official event back from retirement. I have not played golf competitively in six years and I have not played in a tour event in six and a half years - now that is a long time! I did not realize that it had been so long until I read it in an article that came out in Brazil and had to do a double take... it’s CRAZY!!!!

I was extremely nervous and truly scared to get back onto the green at the Florida's Natural Charity Classic in Lake Wales, Florida. And, despite trying to block out negative thoughts, these little moments of doubt kept running through my mind:

"What if I shoot a huge number?”
“What if I run out of golf balls?”
“What if I land the ball in a bunker and can't hit it out?"

Well, to be perfectly honest, it was not my best event. Some may even say it was a failure. I was so hoping to play all three days and unfortunately I did not make the cut to play on Sunday. However, I cannot let that steal my focus. I have chosen to take the positive aspects of my week and to use them going forward.

I learned…
That my physical abilities are rusty, but by no means gone.
That I need to work on my routine, especially when it comes to putting.
That most of the girls competing with me were not even born when I started to play - sad but true!
That not making the cut did not mean that I got the day off on Sunday... instead, I had the even harder task of facing Magic Kingdom weekend crowds with a two year old. (Side note: I am still confused as to why we agreed at 11pm on Saturday night to go to Disney the next morning with no prior planning!)

Most importantly, I learned that I still have the fire inside of me to compete and have to continue to fan it by persevering.

And so I move forward, closer to achieving my goal now that I have faced the fear of playing in my first event. I have two weeks off and then it’s on to the next one, but for now I’m back to Boston (and the cold) for a few days!!!!