Cristie Kerr would be exceptional even without golf. That's something one absolutely knows within about seven minutes of meeting her. ~ And the seven minutes only come into play because the girl is a consummate listener. So here's Cristie Kerr... a beautiful young woman and a world champion golfer - someone who's taken the sport to the highest level... yet she's still so genuinely interested in what others have to say. ~ I'll admit, I was quite surprised by that when I first met her.
It was just about a year ago, and I was
I've witnessed similar exchanges numerous times over the past year. It's the way Cristie is with everyone, from the young waiter at a cafe to the top level executives at tournaments.
Today is the day before the start of the U.S. Women's Open at Pennsylvania's Saucon Valley Country Club and Cristie has a lot going on. As the 2007 U.S. Women's Open Champion - and the only American to have won the cup since Meg Mallon in 2004 - Cristie loves this tournament. And she knows the 2009 trophy is within her grasp, despite... or perhaps because of... the extremely challenging characteristics of Saucon Valley's "Old Course".
Its extreme length - 6,740 yards - makes it the third longest in Women's Open history... the copious bunkers and narrow fairways make it the kind of challenge the intrepid Ms. Kerr actually relishes.
The kind of challenge she doesn't relish...none of us do... is the one being presented by the current global economic downturn. For the LPGA it's resulted in the recent loss of several tournaments...and a tenuous future for others.
Then, this past Monday, there was the story on GolfWeek.com of a letter that came out of a recent meeting attended by Cristie and several other top players. It reportedly requested the resignation of LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens. This has caused an inevitable feeding frenzy among the golf press, some of whom almost appear to delight in the prospect of
At the USGA press conference yesterday Cristie set the tone with a prepared statement in which she acknowledged the collective curiosity surrounding the current state of the LPGA, but asked that at this USGA hosted event, the conversation be brought back to “the U.S. Open or questions about myself and my golf and perhaps my wine making.” Cristie's unwillingness to turn the U.S. Women's Open into a referendum on the future of the LPGA earned her the immediate ire of Steve Elling, senior writer for CBSSports.com, who clearly would have preferred to see a melee break out. He referred sarcastically to pampered American princess, Cristie Kerr, and her all-encompassing, inestimably important wine making venture.
Knowing Cristie as I do, that line just made me laugh. Obviously Mr. Elling has never met Cristie Kerr, nor been exposed to her relentless energy and determination on and off the golf course. Cristie is in fact developing a wine as she mentioned, but there's nothing "arrogant and selfish" about her efforts as Elling suggests. 100% of profits will be going to Cristie's foundation, Birdies for Breast Cancer. And that's where the giving comes in.
Birdies for Breast Cancer, the foundation Cristie started for her spirited, cancer-survivor mom, Linda, has earned almost $700,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness and prevention.
Last night Cristie hosted a special event at Melt restaurant's Level Three not far from Saucon Valley CC. The benefit raised money for the foundation, and for Lehigh Valley Hospital's Breast Health Services. Cristie has another event...a charity golf event...planned for August at the awesome Liberty National Golf Club that overlooks the New York City skyline.
In addition to everything else, we're finishing up the last details on Cristie's new website which will be officially launched, along with her blog, at the end of the week. That way Cristie can keep you posted on what's going on in her life - on course an off - and the way things are looking, there won't be a dull moment.
While I don't know her personally, Cristie has always seemed like a classy golfing gal.
ReplyDeleteMr. Elling ought to be ashamed of himself. His comments are completely inappropriate.
Thanks for pointing out the real Cristie Kerr, even though it sounds like she does a good job of it all on her own! :)
Christ has nothing on Cristie.
ReplyDeleteGood work, GG. :)
ReplyDeleteCristie Kerr is a class act that the Wei - Gulbis publicity whores will never come near. It kills me that there is someone saying those two should have been let in the US Open.
ReplyDeleteGreat read .... one of my favourite all time players on the LPGA ... class act.
ReplyDeleteSaw Cristie play during the British at St Andrews and would love to see her back.
Here's hoping!
I met Christie down here at Pine Needles, and she is a class act among class acts. To put it mildly, I was smitten not only with her awesome golfing skills, but also with the way she carried herself in competition and with the fans who were cheering her on. She is the sort of lady that all golfers of all levels could learn a great deal from. I know I have.
ReplyDeleteGreat article and thanks for sharing.
Great article.
ReplyDeleteCristie's a walking Kerr package. Class is not dismissed.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to Cristie, she the real deal, athlete:role-model
ReplyDeleteI read on lpga.com where Cristie wanted to be Kate Winslet for a day. OK, I want to be Cristie Kerr for a day. :)
ReplyDeleteCBSSports.com senior writer Steve Elling files periodic, irreverent and irrelevant observations on the golf beat.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Ms. Kerr will consider the source. Then she'll laugh like you did.
Good Luck CK.
I really respect how she handled it. Very classy. As a matter of fact, I'd actually like to hear about her wine making. I think it was Mr. Elling who made fun of her for that comment. Sure it sounds a bit silly, but some are interested in what the players do away from the golf course - like her charity work.
ReplyDeleteCristie is just one example of the many players on the LPGA who are both solid players as well as engaging individuals.
I would have to disagree with the comment left by the anonymous person. If you have ever met Natalie Gulbis you will know right from the start that she is one of the nicest players out there on the LPGA. I have come to know her over the years and every year she impresses me even more. Just last week in Toledo she was talking to Natalie in front of younger fans and Cristie dropped an F bomb in front of tons of people. What a classy lady. Natalie Gulbis has more class then Cristie Kerr and Natalie would do anything for her fans unlike Cristie who rolled her eyes when I fan asked for a picture after her practice round. Classy
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to imagine Cristie Kerr or Natalie Gulbis being rude or using bad language. I've been a volunteer at Kingsmill for the past three years and both women have always been gracious and friendly.
ReplyDeleteFans love them and so do the volunteers. We're all hoping for the best for our tournament.
Cristie has always been one of my favorites & I love that she handled the press in the manner that she has. The golf paparazzi are always so quick to jump in the wrong direction & if I could, I'd slap their wrists (or heads) with a wooden ruler like the nuns did to us in boarding school. We always deserved it & so do they.
ReplyDeleteCristie's parents did a beautiful job raising her, instilling the excellent values she exhibits today. I'm pleased to see that she has a backbone & isn't afraid to use it.
Frankly, I see no need to make derrogatory comments about Cristie or any other LPGA player. They are all out there just trying to do their best, entertaining us in the process.
I wish Cristie & all the other players the best in the upcoming Women's US Open. We're playing at the crack of dawn this weekend so that we can watch every moment of it...
Sometime ago I have read a news piece Asian players mentioning about Kerr's snobbishness and arrogance toward them. Though it's hard to be proved, Kerr being arrogant became my perception since then.
ReplyDelete