Céline Boutier - © Philippe MILLEREAU / KMSP

During her career, Céline has had to make decisions and sometimes painful to achieve her goals. Although her last round did not go as planned, the lessons learned are an opportunity for Céline Boutier to make a name for herself at the Evian Championship.

“It took me a while to look at the issue objectively. It was quite disappointing at first because I failed to do it. So when I look back, obviously I want to learn from what I've done wrong. "

His first lesson baptism of fire

It was at the age of seven, at her father's request, that Céline Boutier took her first steps in the world of golf at the Paris Country Club. At first she didn't like sports, but continued as her father liked golf. It was part of a diverse set of extracurricular activities she participated in. She played the piano, participated in ballets and played field hockey.

In her quest to get Celine Boutier more interested in golf, her father enrolled her in a junior academy.

Boutier, with all his activities besides school, only practiced once or twice a week. She had hit a few balls in practice, but she preferred to hang out with her friends.

She remembers the tournament that put her on the right track and take golf seriously, at the French National Championship at the age of 11.

“It was my first big tournament. I finished penultimate. It was a big wake-up call, I agreed, I had to improve. I didn't want to stop, but I remember crying because I was playing so poorly. After that, I started to work really hard, and I continued to improve from year to year. "

It was the hindsight that Céline Boutier needed to propel herself forward.

She was fifth in the Polo Golf standings before the summer of her freshman year of college. Her performance led to her being recruited in the United States, and Duke became the milestone she took. Céline Boutier was recruited by her compatriot Jeanne Cho Stoke, who was the assistant coach of the program.

For her second year, the expatriate Ile-de-France helped the Blue Devils secure their second national title by finishing second in the NCAAs. She had her best year in the Duke program, bringing a list of awards to her resume. She graduated in Social Psychology in 2016, taking away a key lesson she has applied to her golf game throughout her career: “How you have your emotions and how to deal with them. "

The transition to a professional career

Following this introspection, his game was unlocked. After winning his first cup in the LOTTE Championship, Boutier settled into the right path and placed in the top 25 between late April and mid-May.

The final event of her season as a debutant was the highlight in her game's progression during her first year on the LPGA Tour. She finished in 3rd position at the Blue Bay LPGA Classic in November 2018. It was her best result at the start of her career, she got a score of 66 in the final round, the lowest score on the board in the fourth round.

“It was really nice for my confidence because I felt like I was playing well all year round, I didn't have a top 10 or anything like that. During the last tournament, the course was particularly difficult, I found it very narrow, the greens were very hard, very windy. It was huge to boost my confidence, I proved I can do it. I just had to prove it to myself. "

It was a harbinger of what was to come just two events later, when she would claim her first career LPGA victory at the ISPS Handa Vic Women's Open by two strokes. Boutier saw this victory as a moment that changed his life.

"It happened so quickly for me, it's a huge confidence boost", reflected Céline Boutier. “I had a lot to prove, I hoped this was just the start for me. "

The painful lesson of the US Women's Open

That confidence propelled her to the top duo in Charleston this year, sharing the lead of the podium at (-7). Although she didn't make it until the last hole, Céline Boutier's degree from Duke gave her the opportunity to learn from the start.

“Most of the time it was pretty good, I think I did pretty well. I think at the beginning and at the end I was a little overwhelmed. I didn't really feel like I did a good job hitting blow by blow. "

Céline Boutier doubled her first and last hole on her last lap (+4) at the Charleston Country Club to finish T5. Her fate was in her control until the last hole, with a bunker strike that would have forced her into a playoff. Instead, she found herself in turmoil.

She is now returning to the Evian Championship after her third top 10 of the season at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, she is approaching the Major who has always been at the center of her concerns.

“If there was only one Major I would like to win, I would choose the Evian Championship. It's a tournament I grew up watching it every year, so it's special. A Home Major, there are only two majors outside of the United States. To have one in France is quite astonishing. It would be great, I would be in heaven ”explains Céline Boutier with a broad smile.

It wouldn't be a surprise if his emotions after the Evian Championship were similar to his results after his first National Championship of France. Crying, but happy to hoist the Evian Championship trophy.

To find out more about the Evian Championship: www.evianchampionship.com

To read our last article concerning the Evian Championship:

Evian Championship 2019: the qualification tests revealed