A few weeks before the resumption of the LPGA circuit, Swing Féminin joined the French n ° 1 Céline Boutier at her home, in Texas. On the menu of the interview: his victorious return after the health crisis, the Solheim Cup and the US Open 2019, his strengths and weaknesses, the mental aspect of golf and many other things ...

Céline Boutier at the Women's Australian Open in Adelaide.

@Mark Brake

Hello Céline, how was the confinement at your home in Dallas, Texas?

It wasn't too hard as my golf course, the Trinity Forest, remained open. We could go on the course respecting social distancing and without touching the flag. I stopped playing for only two or three weeks, which allowed me to make a little cut.

When you stop playing for a while, is there a particular area of ​​play where the sensations are more difficult to find?

It is certain that we no longer have the same sensations at all when we resume and this concerns all the compartments of the game. But the most difficult is undoubtedly for the little game and the putting, especially at the level of the game. dosage.

A few weeks before the resumption of the American circuit, at the end of July in Ohio, you have just won two victories on the Women's All Pro Tour, a local circuit. You even won in Paris… but in Texas, a nice nod when your father teaches at the Paris Country Club and you were born in the Paris region. It is a good surprise for you to have found the form so quickly?

It is true that it was cool to be able to win back immediately. But I still expected to perform. It was important for me to compete against other players, including some on the LPGA Tour, just to know where I was and to see that I did not lose my level of play too much.

You have experienced a linear progression: world n ° 1 amateur in 2014, the British Ladies amateur in 2015, two victories on the LET in 2017 and 2018, a victory on the LPGA in 2019 then success with the European team of Solheim Cup in Gleneagles… What is the best memory of your career so far?

The Solheim Cup without hesitation! The team wins, including the ones I experienced in college, are the most emotionally beautiful.

During the Solheim Cup 2019 in addition, you bring 4 points out of 4 to the team! 

It was still my first selection in the Solheim Cup, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was a great experience, playing as a team allows me to bring out the best of myself. But I didn't earn those 4 points by myself either, I earned them with Georgia (Lobby).

During this famous 2019 season, you also finish 5e of the US Open and 6e of the British Open. With hindsight, what dominates: the pride of having shone in the Major or the disappointment of having come close to the feat, especially at the US Open (Céline is a coleader departing on Sunday and second to a blow when leaving the green of 17 before ending with a double bogey) ?

To be honest, a bit of both. My history in Major was not so good until then, I had missed almost all the cuts. The Majors are always difficult to manage emotionally, there is a lot of pressure, the courses do not allow for mistakes. These two tops 10, it was still a super positive result and a clear progression compared to what I had achieved in these tournaments before.

What's the worst memory of your career so far?

(She thinks) It's the US Open 2019 anyway. I'm not sure how to explain it. (She thinks) The emotional lift I experienced ...

What is your ultimate golfer dream?

Win in Evian. It is a Major which takes place in France. I grew up watching the tournament on TV.

You confided a few months ago, on the Federation's website, that you are now more at ease mentally and that you know your strengths and weaknesses better ...

Yes, it is a process. I begin to realize the way I think. I have always tended to be hard on myself, to hold onto the negative side of things, to see what I should have done or not done… It's also very important to see the bright side of things, it allows me to have a more accurate view of my game. It's a work on myself that I have been doing since last year.

How does a high performance golfer deal with stress at important times? When you have a putt on the 18 that can make you win or lose a lot of money, even a tournament, do you manage to ignore the stake?

It is not possible to completely disregard in these cases. It's no use, it's not the point of pretending and telling yourself that you're on the putting green. The objective is to know how to manage your emotions, to stay in the present ... The experience of these situations under pressure is very important, you learn about yourself during the tournaments.

In golfing terms, what do you think is your strong point and your weak point?

My strong point is my green attacks. As for my weakness, I would say my irregularity in putting, especially below 4 meters.

Have you ever made a hole in a Céline?

Yes, twice. The first one, I was 15 and it was during an amateur tournament at Doral, in Miami. I had tucked in a 4 iron on one of the back holes… I can't remember which one, maybe the 12th. The second is at the start of the year at the Diamond Tournament of Champions in Florida. A 4 iron on the 5 ...

What do we feel in these moments ?

It's super satisfying, especially when you're lucky enough to pull it off after hitting a good shot, which was the case every time. Because to make hole in one you also need a lot of luck, the probability is so low. I can't see very well from a distance, but there, seeing the ball disappear into the hole, it's a unique feeling, you are almost euphoric. It feels weird besides having to go on with the next hole without having taken out your putter (Laughter).

Younger, is there a player you admire?

Michelle Wie. At 16, she almost won in Evian. She had an incredible precocity at the highest level. His power, his swing… it was a phenomenon. And then Tiger Woods of course, he was fascinating. I saw him win often on TV ...

You regularly play Pro-Am before a tournament, what is the fault that you most often notice among amateurs?

Generally speaking, it is at the putting level. Amateurs spend much more time on the driving range than on the putting green. Let's say that the dosage is not always that, as for the reading of the greens, it rarely goes beyond the right edge or the left edge, even if there is a big break (Laughter).

You are dressed in Lacoste, what do you like about this brand?

I grew up with Lacoste, who is the sponsor of the France team. Lacoste is first and foremost a story in golf and in sport in general, I like what this brand represents. In terms of textiles, it's classic and modern at the same time, I think it suits me well.

Besides your university studies in North Carolina, you have been playing in the United States for several years now. Do you sometimes miss France?

Yes. France, my family, the way of life… I miss all of that. The simple fact of walking in the street to go to the restaurant or to go shopping… American life does not only have flaws, but I miss all of them. Here, we do everything in the car with the air conditioning. At first, it was hard for me to acclimatize myself, although now I'm more used to it.

Apart from golf, what are your hobbies or interests?

Recently I started shooting, I really liked it. I like playing other sports: tennis, field hockey, fitness and even basketball, but here I am really bad (Laughter) !

Interview by Franck Crudo

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