Interview with Frenchwoman Agathe Sauzon, soon to be 28, who played her first Major last year at the British Open, and also won the French Open doubles in Réunion.

Agathe Sauzon: "The objective is to win a tournament on LET"

Agathe Sauzon - © Tristan Jones / LET

Women's Swing: What is your assessment of your year 2019?

Agathe Sauzon: It's a good season after a difficult year. I put new things in place, I'm glad I kept my card. I played my first major tournament at the British Open. And even if I miss the cut suddenly when I had a good first round (69, -3), I learned a lot by rubbing shoulders with the 50 best players in the world. I also played my first LPGA Tour tournament in Australia, during the ISPS Handa Vic Open (victory of Céline Boutier) and at the end of the year in Réunion I won the French Open in doubles, with Lucie André.

SF: And for 2020, what are your objectives?

AS: I would like to join the world top 400 (Agathe is 553e currently) to be able to play the LPGA cards. The goal is also to win a tournament on the LET. So far my best performance is a 6e place in Morocco and at the French Open, two years ago.

SF: What is your schedule for the next few weeks?

AS: I am currently in Marrakech, to train warm after a long break at the end of last season. I then returned home, to Valence in the Drôme, to work on physics. Then I left for Australia, to play my first tournament at Coffs Harbor on February 20, on the magnificent Bonville course.

SF: How did you discover golf?

AS: I must have been 6-7 years old. My grandmother played very well and enrolled my brother and I at the Valence Saint-Didier golf school.

SF: What made you want to start a professional career?

AS: I was studying chemical engineering but by playing every day, I progressed a lot, to the point that I won two tournaments. As I love competition and traveling and wanted to have no regrets, I took to the pro circuit. It was the deal with my parents: I would turn pro if I got my diploma in parallel.

SF: What is your strong point in golf?

AS: I would say my putting… even if I didn't put one today in practice (laughs). I'm generally pretty solid, especially on the return putts.

SF: Your worst memory in golf?

AS: When I was in college in the United States, I remember playing a tournament on an island in South Carolina. I was very happy because my parents had come especially to see me. But the conditions were appalling, there was a storm of wind and rain. I even almost fell into a water hazard at one point (laughs). I played very badly and I was very disappointed, because my parents had crossed the Atlantic for me.

And your best memory?

AS: I hesitate, because there are a lot of them. Even though I haven't yet had the pleasure of putting in a final putt to win a big tournament on the pro circuit. I would say it's still in college days. I won the fourth tournament I played, on the first play-off hole, by hitting a given wedge. It was also in South Carolina for that matter ...

What is your favorite route?

AS: Morfontaine in France. I really like the atmosphere, the course is in the forest, the layout is very nice and the maintenance magical. We play in the middle of nowhere and I love this feeling of being isolated, on a golf course. There is also Bonville, in Australia, which I will be playing again next February and which crisscrosses the heart of a eucalyptus forest. I also want to quote Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco.

What is the fault that you find most often in amateur players?

AS: They get annoyed easily and quickly become negative. There is also the dosage when putting. I often compete in Pro-Ams. Usually we help other players find the right line. However, if you have the right line but you send mines to the putting, there is no point! (laughs)

Interview by Franck Crudo

To know more : https://ladieseuropeantour.com/player/?player=201224

To go further, read our last article on Agathe Sauzon:

Bossey Ladies Championship: Focus on Agathe Sauzon