Florence Descampe - © Franck Crudo

What is the best memory of your career?

There are several of them. I would say my 2^e place at the British Open in the presence of my father, who was rarely at the tournaments. But also my first victory in Denmark in 1988 ahead of Laura Davies. I had played -6 on the last nine holes to win the event, at only 19 years old. This was also a record of precocity on the women's circuit for a long time, before Paula Creamer won the Evian Masters (in 2005. ).

But the most prestigious remains my participation in the Solheim Cup in 1992, in Dalmahoh (Ecosse), with the first European victory in the event.

And your best card?

The 64 that I signed in the last round in Munich to win the German Open…

Florence Descampe - © Franck Crudo

You won your first victory very young, but you also ended your career prematurely. For what reasons ?

I won very early. From the age of 20, I had to be n ° 3 or 4 in Europe. As a result, I left much too young for the United States, where I played very well from the start and won my first tournament in my 5th grade.^e participation on the LPGA circuit (the McCall's Classic in Vermont).

But very quickly, loneliness began to weigh on me, especially since I like going out, going to a restaurant. In addition, at the time, there was no internet, no cellphones… Fortunately, I got along very well with my cart Mark Fulcher, who is now Justin Rose's.

1992 was however your best season with this victory on the American circuit and your participation in the Solheim Cup…

In fact, since I was not well in my head, I started losing my golf in 1993. Technically, my swing was a machine shaped by David Leadbetter. Until 1992, I had never missed a cut. Then I started to miss it, to lose confidence, to ask myself too many questions. And there it is the vicious circle. As you miss the cuts, you stay on the tournaments without playing on Saturday and Sunday, you start to gamble. As your ranking drops, you are no longer invited to the pro-am on Wednesday to recognize the routes. You can only play 9 holes at a time. You have departures at dawn because the best times are reserved for the best players ...

Do you have any regrets to have ended your career so quickly?

No, because it allowed me to start a family and have three wonderful children. The only regret is not having known everything I know now and not having stayed in Europe. I took the wrong path ...

On this subject, it seems that the great Severiano Ballesteros even gave you some advice ...

Yes, I used to spend whole days at the driving range at Leadbetter at the time and Ballesteros came to talk to me. He told me that I had to play more with feeling, that my swing was too mechanical. A posteriori, I tell myself he was right.

How do you explain that the women's circuit today experiences so many difficulties in finding sponsors and in existing compared to the men's circuit, unlike tennis for example?

I said that twenty-five years ago and I haven't changed my mind on the subject: I find that the European circuit was very badly managed at the time. IMG had proposed to reduce the field of players in the tournaments, in order to make the spectacle more selective and attractive, but this was refused. IMG has withdrawn. Since then, the Tour has never taken off.

And then, it must be said, today we have many Asian players at the top of the leaderboards who are not really charismatic, who do not speak. They say hello to you on 1, goodbye on 18, then they leave.

In my time, there were real personalities such as Laura Davies, Catrin Nilsmark, then Annika Sörenstam…

Belgian golf on the other hand is doing quite well and regularly comes out of good players ...

It is true. Among the girls, today we have Laura Gonzales and Chloé Leurquin. Among the boys, Nicolas Colsaerts played a very important role. He paved the way. He is a very generous person who advises and helps young people, like Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters, with whom he shares the same coach (Jérôme Theunis and Michel Van Merebeeck).

Pieters and Detry were also supported by their regional federation and went to Illinois for their university education. Just like the young people who arrive, such as Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Giovanni Tadiotto.

Have you taken your clubs out of the closet recently?

Yes, I returned to golf two years ago, especially to overcome this fear that I felt when I left the circuit. I was thinking about too many things before typing. I took lessons with Jérôme Theunis during my recovery. Today it's all fun, I'm no longer afraid. Before, I had a trainer who played for me (David leadbetter). Today, it's me who plays ...

What's your new life?

I have the role of ambassador for Las Colinas. It's a very nice place, with a friendly atmosphere and a very good staff. I help them promote the course in Belgium, in particular by organizing qualifying competitions for the Copa Las Colinas, which takes place every year.

I have also been an ambassador since May 2017 for the World Amateur Tour, organized by Jean-Charles Cambon. We play on the most beautiful golf courses in the whole world (China, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Portugal, Spain, Scotland). I accompany the players on the holes, discuss with them, play a bit of the role of mental coach, I love it!

On this occasion, you were able to rediscover the route of the Turnberry which, I believe, did not leave you with a great memory during your career ...

I remember having to hit 4 tournament shots there to get out of a bunker. I had tears in my eyes, I who have only cried twice in my career. Decades later, I returned to this famous bunker, alone at the end of the day. It was a kind of pilgrimage ... (Laughs)

Interview by Franck Crudo