Patricia Meunier-Lebouc: "Marie-Laure de Lorenzi and Bernhard Langer were my models"

Hello Patricia, since the end of your career in 2010, can you tell us a little more about your new life and in particular your role as coach of the France team? 

I live in Jupiter, Florida, an hour and a half north of Miami, where some of the best players in the world including Tiger Woods are based. But I've never met him, we don't go to the same golf courses (Laughter). The vast majority of players on the French ladies' team are part of the golf teams of major American universities. I follow them on certain tournaments during their university season, like in South Carolina last March, where Pauline was present. (Roussin Bouchard), Matilda (Class), Candice (Mahe) and Agathe (Laisne). At the end of last season, during the Thanksgiving holidays (End of november), I organized a training course for the French team at home, on the golf course of Ibis. The coaches were also invited, there were in particular Alain Alberti, Pierre-Jean Cassagne… It was a great opportunity to discuss together and for the girls to train at the same time with their personal trainers. We killed two birds with one stone and lived five very rewarding days. I really want to have a close relationship with the players and their staff. The more fluid the relationship with the coach, the more tools and information I have to help the players.

Unfortunately, the world team championships have been canceled this year, due to the health crisis. You must be disappointed ...

Yes, because it was an important year for us, we had high hopes. Suddenly, the next edition will take place in 2022 at the Golf National, in France! On the other hand, the European team championships, which were to be held in July in Spain will take place, but in Sweden, from September 9 to 12.

You are the last French woman to have won a Major, in 2003. Besides Céline Boutier, who are the French women most likely to succeed you one day, according to you?

Today, we are lucky to have a young woman n ° 1 amateur (Pauline Roussin-Bouchard), like Céline (Boutier) few years ago. A Major is every golfer's dream and Pauline is on the right track. It takes a lot of work, but players like Céline and Pauline are 100% invested and they can do it. It's not easy, because there are only five Majors a year, but you have to have that dream. Céline Herbin and Perrine Delacour, who play on the LPGA, can also do it. I'm not excluding anyone, even if it's more difficult to win a Major by playing only on the European circuit, because the confrontation is not the same.

In the world top 100 today, there is only one French woman against three for men. And in the world top 500, there are eight French women against fourteen for men. How do you explain the lesser representation of our players, compared to men, in the elite of international golf?

The LET does not make it possible to make a very good living for women, while for men the European Tour is so developed that they do not necessarily need to play on the PGA Tour. Men can reach the world's elite by staying in Europe, while it is not as easy for women, who have less money and fewer tournaments to play. It's more difficult to call on outside expertise and improve your level of play in these conditions. The LET has picked up again this year, but the beautiful dynamic that has been created has unfortunately been slowed down with the virus, let's hope that it starts again quickly in 2021 ...

Are you worried about the future of the women's circuit?

Everyone is worried, we have no certainty. It is difficult to anticipate the exact repercussions of the crisis, but there will be consequences, for sure. Once again, a great dynamic had been built… What I tell the girls is that you have to keep your dreams.

Your victory at Kraft Nabisco, in 2003 against Annika Sörenstam, is it the best memory of your career?

Without a doubt. There are also my two wins in the Solheim Cup. I have the Nabisco in my left hand and the Solheim Cup in my right hand… (Laughter)

Do you often hear about it?

Yes and no. People don't necessarily talk to me about it often, but in the eyes of some people I feel a form of respect for my background and that says it all.

You are still one of the rare French champions, men and women combined, to have won a Grand Slam, whether in golf or tennis…

Yes, it's true, I'm happy to be part of this small elite of French sport and it's very pleasant, even if it did not have the same impact as if a man had won.

You succeeded Catherine Lacoste, victorious in 1967, in the Major League list. Even today, you are a Lacoste ambassador. What do you like about this brand?

All ! The crocodile is a striking emblem and Lacoste is like family to me. It is a great pride to be linked to this brand, developed by a great French champion. At the end of my career, it was obvious to remain associated with Lacoste. With Catherine Lacoste and Arnaud Massy, ​​we are the only ones to have won a Major in France. It is also a form of continuity because I have worn the crocodile since 1992 and my years in the France team. I dress 100% of the time in Lacoste and at home, there are alligators everywhere ... (Laughter)

A few months after your victory at Kraft Nabisco in 2003, you are leading the British Open after three laps and well placed for an incredible double. On Sunday, you return a 76 card and finish at 5^e four strokes away from Annika Sörenstam. Is this the biggest regret of your career?

No, I don't really think about it. I experienced an exceptional thing that week. In fact, it was almost too easy after three rounds, I was on a cloud, leading the British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, I had been playing at my best for several months, I hardly felt any pressure ... On the morning of the last day when I woke up, a little voice told me it wasn't normal that it was so easy. I started asking myself too many questions, I put on the brakes on my own. I told myself that it was not possible that it would be so easy to win a Major. In fact, why would it be so difficult? It's a shame because I almost had the cup in my hands ...

After your career, you are operated twice on the back ...

Yes. In 2013, after playing the European Championships with Karine Mathiot, I started to feel ants in my toes. Then, as I get off the train, I can't even ease off. My father, who is a physiotherapist, took me straight for an MRI, which detected a herniated disc. I was operated on urgently five days later because there was a risk of paralysis. Three years later, I crash my back after hitting balls with Marion Ricordeau. I stayed a month and a half in bed, I couldn't do anything more. I was operated again, in January 2017, at the level of the L4-L5 vertebrae. Behind it, it took a big rehabilitation, I wore a corset for three months ...

The back is often the Achilles heel of golfers. What advice would you give to amateurs so as not to “have their backs”, if I may say so?

Maintaining your back muscles and abdominal belt is crucial. It is important to warm up before playing and stretch afterwards, even if it is only for five minutes it is well worth it. The federation has also set up a warm-up protocol for young people, which they are taught in the French teams. This must be part of their daily life and be part of the duration of their journey as a high-level athlete.

During your childhood or during your career, is there a player that you particularly admired?

Yes, when I was young, I took a player and a player as a model: Marie-Laure de Lorenzi and Bernhard Langer. Unconsciously at first, then consciously I developed their qualities. In my bedroom closet, I had kept Langer's swing decomposition. I was attracted by his thoroughness, his meticulous side. He was doing the same routine down to the second, he was always doing the same thing. Having Langer as a model allowed me to develop the rigor that I had in me, as well as my ability to repeat the same routine. It is important to have automatisms, whatever the external conditions or the emotions which one can feel. I thus acquired a routine on which I was always able to hang on, it is the foundation which allowed me to achieve what I did during my career.

And Marie-Laure de Lorenzi?

I had the chance to play and interact with her when I started out. Marie-Laure de Lorenzi is a strong personality who, at first glance, seemed a bit harsh and unapproachable to me. A little impressed and all shy, I asked her during a tournament if we could have dinner together. She just answered me: "OK" (Laughter). I asked him lots of questions and I discovered someone of great wealth and great kindness. She taught me a lot. Marie-Laure de Lorenzi and Bernhard Langer are the two people who impressed me the most at the start of my golf course.

And Langer, were you able to talk to him?

No. I had the opportunity to meet him but I never dared to go see him to talk to him. We mentioned my biggest regret earlier. Maybe that's it after all ...

Interview by Franck Crudo

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