Celine Boutier (Fra) LPGA Evian Championship 2019, Photo Philippe Millereau / KMSP

With all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, French No.1 Céline Boutier has chosen to remain based in Dallas, Texas, during the 166-day hiatus from the LPGA Tour. Despite the pandemic there was a lot of golf to be played, even during closings. Céline took advantage of it.

«I play Trinity Forest (in Dallas)Said the French native of Montrouge after returning a 71 (-1) card on Saturday morning at Inverness Club in Ohio, sharing the lead after the second round at -5 under the par in the championship. Drive On. Trinity Forest is not Inverness, but it is the American base of So Yeon Ryu, Su Oh and famous instructor Cameron McCormick, among others. It is also a club that never closes, even during the worst of the coronavirus.

Céline Boutier had played very well at the beginning of the year After a performance at the Solheim Cup 2019 where, as a rookie, she led 4-0-0 and would have been the woman of the match without the incredible finish of Suzann Pettersen, Celine played all four tournaments earlier this year, posting three top-10s with a single round over par.

«I have the impression that maybe (the Solheim Cup) gave me a little confidence»Said Céline Boutier

«When you play with so much pressure on this big scene which can be scary, you don't really know how you are going to handle it until you experience it.»

“I was very happy with the way I behaved and handled my emotions that week (in Scotland). It definitely gave me confidence.»

But a lot can happen in five days of golf. When you're away for five months, no one knows how you'll come back.

This is where Céline Boutier's choice to stay in the United States made a huge difference. She played a lot of golf in her spare time with fellow LPGA Tour mate Kristen Gillman - two-time American amateur champion - and it turned out to be very positive. In June, the French n ° 1. won the Women's Texas Open, beating 10 female LPGA Tour players, including top champions Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lang, as well as LPGA Tour winner Cheyenne Knight, who was second at three points.

Céline Boutier put it back 15 days later by winning in Paris… in Texas, not in France, winning the championship of Paris Kathy Whitworth in the playoffs against Catherine O'Donnell. It wasn't golf on the LPGA Tour, but in her two wins in June in Texas, the Francilienne posted scores of 68-64-67-69-69-69-66.

«It really was something I was determined to be, it's important to play at regular intervals before starting the first LPGA Resume Tournament, and that I don't get too rusty. ”Said Céline Boutier. "I feel like I handled it well because it also motivated me to train. You know, when you don't have tournaments for three months, sometimes you don't want to go on the course ”.

«So just having been able to play a few tournaments - three in the last two months - it allowed me to challenge myself and have something to look forward to, it was kind of a personal competition and it was more like friendly ».

With France instituting travel restrictions, Celine felt lucky to be in Texas. "Fortunately, the weather was pretty good, although a bit warmShe said. "But I was able to do a lot of things in the open air and other activities, other sports like tennis or cycling, etc. ”.

“It was nice to have time and to be able to prepare myself in the same place for the resumption of the Tour».

« I feel like the first month or the first month and a half, I hated it because it's too much time off and I'm not really used to it", she says. "But the last few weeks, I have rather enjoyed it. The only thing to do is that when you have a long break you want to vary your daily activities a bit, but everything was closed then... »

You could work on your game, at least in Texas. The golf course was not closed. And, ultimately, the decision to stay in Dallas during the break could put the French No.1 in a great position for the remainder of the 2020 season.

See the previous article on Céline Boutier:

Céline Boutier: “My best memory? The Solheim Cup without hesitation! "