French n ° 3 Céline Herbin finished 11e Last Sunday in Bonville, Australia, during the first tournament of the LET season. Already victorious twice on the circuit, the 37-year-old talks about the good and the bad memories of her career, and many other things. Interview.

Céline Herbin: "My strong point is that I don't have a big weak point"

Céline Herbin - Photo: © TPlassais / swing-feminin.com

a 11e place in Bonville to start the season, I imagine that you are quite satisfied Céline…

Céline Herbin: Yes, it's always a positive start to the season when you start almost with a top 10. I've been in Australia for a few weeks, I played several Pro-Am to prepare well for the first tournaments of the year on the LET. It seems to have paid off.

Starting Thursday, you will be playing the second tournament on the calendar, the NSW Open, in New South Wales, south-eastern Australia. How do you find the course?

I just finished my recognition journey. Objectively, the golf is not very beautiful, the greens are very good however.

What are the goals for the 2020 season?

There is obviously the Tokyo Olympics. I was already the third Frenchwoman at the Rio Olympics and I am still third today, while only the first two places qualify. Well, Perrine (Delacour) and Céline (Boutier) started the year quite strong (laughs) but I intend to fight until the end. But otherwise, I don't have a specific objective, the most important thing is the day-to-day work and we will see what the result is.

What is your program for the next few months?

After having played the first two LET tournaments in Australia, I will be heading to Saudi Arabia in March for this new event on the calendar. From April, I will play on the LPGA for three months before returning in July to Evian, then Ireland if I am not qualified for the Olympics, and Scotland.

What do you think of the new calendar on LET, with no less than 24 tournaments on the program?

I was looking forward to this, not just for myself but for all the players on the European Tour. It has been depressing for LET players in recent years. This is only positive, I am very optimistic for the coming seasons.

What is your strong point in golf?

I'm pretty consistent in all areas of the game, I don't have any particular strong points. In fact, my strong point is rather not having a big weak point (laughs).

Astrid Vayson de Pradenne recently told us that grip grip had changed his life in putting (https://swing-feminin.com/astrid-vayson-de-pradenne-le-golf-cest-une-redemption-permanente/ ). You use the same technique, what does that bring you?

I started using the gripper grip last May and won a tournament in Spain (the Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational) in the process! For me, it's a revolution in putting, it's more natural, more instinctive ...

Are there areas of your game that you work on more specifically?

Regularity in driving, control of trajectories. Otherwise, I have a whole usual range of work. But I spend more and more time on pitching and on all shots at 100 meters and less.

What is your best memory as a golfer?

In terms of result, it is to have won the French Open (in 2015 in Chantaco). As a Frenchwoman, it's huge, not many of us have done it.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x403j48

I also remember a super important putt in Hawaii in 2016, to pass the cut. I was in the last game at 18, with a view of the leaderboard and I knew that I absolutely had to enter this 5 meter putt for birdie in order to pass the cut, which allowed me to play on the LPGA circuit all the way. the season. When he returned, I burst into tears. The two girls who shared my part hallucinated! (laughs)

After the best, your worst memory?

I don't think I really have any (thinks). Oh yes ! It was in 2015 I think, during the Scottish Open. I had to get a decent result to play the British Open. I play my last game with Lydia Ko and Laura Davies but it does not pin down well and for a sudden, I miss the qualification. Suddenly, on Monday I play the qualifiers for the British and for once more, I miss the mark and am forced to play a play-off. In the play-off, I again miss the qualification for a move! I am the first reserve to wait for a possible package to be able to enter the table. I remember waiting all week for nothing. I also remember that a player, whom I will not mention, had given up after three holes on Thursday, during the 1er tower…

When we spend our days golfing, do we have time for other activities? Do you have another passion?

I have just discovered a whole new passion for sailing. I recently went out to sea in Australia with the families that host me, and I loved it. I hope to have the opportunity to do it again very soon. For the past six months, I have also been doing meditation and reading a lot on the subject. It brings me a lot of balance in life and, of course, in golf as well.

Is there a player that you admire or particularly appreciate on the tour?

Brooke Henderson, I like her attitude. She has very good results but despite this, she remains herself, she is humble. This is something to which I attach great importance.

What about men?

On a technical level, Jason Day is a reference for me and in particular his whole routine. It is essential in golf to have a successful routine. Sometimes, at practice, I visualize his swing and that inspires me.

Have you ever completed a hole-in-one?

Only once, in training, during an internship with the French team. I must have been 17-18, so that was a long time ago (laughs). It was at the Moliets golf course, I had hit a bland 7 iron which had dunked directly into the hole! Since then, I have circled around the hole in one plenty of times, but it didn't fall (laughs).

What are your favorite routes?

Abroad, the Sahalee Contry Club in Seattle, where I played my first Major, during the KPMG Championship in 2016. The density and height of trees, pines, is impressive. There is a special atmosphere on this course. Otherwise, in France, there is the Saint-Germain-en-Laye golf course (Yvelines), of which I was a member, and the Chailly golf course (Côte-d'Or).

You have played many Pro-Ams. What is the most common defect that you observe in hobbyists?

They don't know how to line up. The knees, hips, shoulders, are rarely in the right direction. Besides, amateurs rarely hold their club correctly, their grip is bad. During a Pro-Am, it is always difficult to correct this because as soon as you touch the grip, you quickly lose your feelings. This is something you have to work on at the practice.

Interview by Franck Crudo

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