Céline Boutier - Photo: DR

Proette September 6, 2016 after a flawless career with amateurs, victorious ten days later in Alabama of a first tournament on the National Women's Golf Association (NWGA), the US third division, with a right to play sold out on the Symetra Tour, the antechamber to the American Circuit, Céline Boutier wasted no time in climbing a new level by winning the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Classic on May 11th. A playoff success against Colombian Paola Moreno.

Always aim for victory

Thanks to this oh-so-important victory without forgetting another top 3 (2nd at Four Winds International on June 9) and three tops 10, the player from Montrouge, exiled in the United States for five years, currently occupies third place in the Volvik Race for the Card, the Order of Merit of the Symetra Tour. With $ 60 in earnings. Remember that the first ten at the end of the season validate their ticket for the LPGA Tour. The objective stated and announced by the Frenchwoman since the opening of hostilities on March 741.

« I really believed in my chances pretty quickly, underlines the one who will be 24 years old on November 10. I just continued to improve since the end of 2016. And I went for it. For me, there was no real surprise to win so early in the season. Obtaining my card is obviously objective number 1, but winning one or even several tournaments on the Symetra is another. Whenever I start an event, it is to give the best of myself while aiming for first place every week… »

Back soon in France

So in the top 3 as she sets off this Friday in Battle Creek (Michigan) for the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, the former winner of the British amateur 2015 intends to maintain this dynamic while there are still eight tournaments on the calendar. For her, no question of relaxing for a single second until the finish line is not crossed.

« Nothing is done yet, continues the former student in psychology and economics at Duke University (North Carolina). I don't want to spend another year on the Symetra. So I have to set the bar for the top 5 or the top 3. Beyond that, we are never safe. I want to go on the LPGA Tour, and nothing will stop me even if I thought when starting in March that it would be quieter in terms of pace. There, it's still intense. Not long ago, I played six weeks in a row and here I am in the middle of my three consecutive weeks. Before a fortnight break that will allow me to return to France to see my family. »

Too much pressure

At the end of May she even rubbed herself at the highest level by playing the LPGA Volvik Championship, a stage of the LPGA Tour, after qualifying on Monday. If it did not manage to pass the cut on Friday evening, largely due to a very difficult first round completed in 82 (+10), this experience remains very rewarding.

« Having a partial right of play on the LPGA Tour, I have the possibility of taking part in some tournaments but I want first to devote myself to Symetra, she comments. It was a great experience but I still felt a lot of pressure. The big difference with Symetra is in my head that it happened ... »

With Jordan Spieth's coach

To reach yet another level, the individual European champion in 2012 can count on the enlightened opinions of Cameron McCormick, her coach whom she meets in Dallas (Texas) where the champion lives all year round. McCormick is none other than the coach of Jordan Spieth, who has just won the British Open at the Royal Birkdale. His third Grand Slam tournament at the age of 24…

« Cameron has this ability to adapt to each of his players, blows Céline Boutier. I am not too technical and he manages to distill the right information each time without taking my head. It is very important for me… »

What is also important to him is being able to play on the Ladies European Tour (LET) before the end of the year. La Commuter has indeed a full right to play (category 8) on the European Circuit after finishing third in Morocco in December 2016.

« Chances are I'm going to be in late season tournaments between October and Novembershe concludes. I can't wait to go to India, China, the Gulf, so many destinations that I don't know at all. The French Open (October 5-8) in Chantaco? I don't know yet, however… I will make a decision at the end of August. »

The last date of the Symetra Tour 2017 (Symetra Tour Championship) falls the same week as the Lacoste Ladies Open of France. So it's not easy to choose. Unless, by then, his card for the LPGA Tour 2018 is already insured. And in this case…

By Lionel Vella / ffgolf