Many players try to peak for the events that matter the most to them: major championships, Solheim Cup, International Crown, hometown events.
In order to be ready, players artfully design a travel schedule, workout plan, and practice routine in between international flights. It all seems manageable with off-weeks sprinkled throughout the year to provide a breather of sorts, time to regroup, reenergize and reassess the swing before returning to the road.
But what happens when two of the biggest events of the year are in back-to-back weeks? Players competing in next week’s Solheim Cup and teeing it up at this week’s Evian Championship are forced to ratchet up their focus in order to be game ready for two straight weeks of thrilling golf.
“It’s definitely tough just in terms of the intensity of the golf over the two weeks, the concentration that really it will take on every shot,” Morgan Pressel told the media Tuesday. “Just come into it knowing what you’re up against.”
The balancing act is one that Pressel has had time to perfect since joining the Tour in 2006. Since then, she has four times been a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team and this week makes her 10th start at the Evian Championship. For Pressel it’s a one-week at a time focus that has her committed to winning her first event of 2015 at this week’s Evian Championship in France.
“I came here to win this tournament and not just to prepare for Solheim Cup. So that’s kind of the way that I’m trying to put as much energy into certainly getting out, feeling around the golf course like we all did this morning and trying to be prepared come Thursday.”
Pressel is in the midst of one of her strongest seasons of her career, posting six top-10 finishes this season, but is still in search of her first win since 2008. Her fellow Solheim Cup teammate Lizette Salas played her way onto the team thanks to some good golf of late and says her rookie appearance for Team U.S.A. in 2013 was an experience that taught her how to manage her emotions during this two-week stretch.
“I think we already have a pretty long, grueling season. And I think the physical preparation that we do normally throughout the season is what helps us with our endurance,” Salas said Tuesday. “It was definitely exhausting coming after Solheim, I was just exhausted, and all the concentration you had to go through. I’m more mentally prepared this time, so I’m just really excited for these two weeks.”
Making her first start this week at the Evian Championship and her rookie appearance at the Solheim Cup, Alison Lee has taken a more physical approach to making sure she has the stamina she needs during these two demanding weeks.
“I just threw in an extra workout or two at home. I was two weeks at home and did some lunges last night, some squats and I’m definitely feeling it today,” Lee said Tuesday. “I’m just trying to do my part, and this is a very hilly golf course, for me to have my legs being strong and able to play the golf course and even play 36-holes next week, so I’m just getting ready.”
It’s an exciting two weeks of golf. Get ready.
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