LPGA Tour winner Austin Ernst appeared on No Laying Up’s The TrapDraw podcast, where she spoke about herself as a player and answered questions sent in by fans. The 28-year-old also described memories from throughout her career, including how she got into the game at a young age.
“My dad is a club professional, so I grew up at the golf course,” Earnst said. “He is still my teacher and he got me into the game. I remember when I was a kid, I had an older brother and we each had to ask to be taught how to play golf. It was never forced upon me, which I think helped a ton, because it was always my choice to go practice. We played everything growing up, but I grew up around the golf course in the summers when my brother was playing junior events and I was old enough to play in them. I would spend all day at the golf course.
“I remember on Thursdays the ladies would play in the morning and they’d let me play with them. I’d have lunch, and the cart boys played in the afternoon and they’d let me go play with them in the afternoon, so I’d play 36, 45 holes on Thursdays. I was lucky that the membership let me kind of have free run of the place, too, to go practice and do whatever I wanted to do. That was definitely a benefit of where we were and my dad being the man in charge.”
The 2011 NCAA Individual Champion opened up about her path to the LPGA Tour, along with what was going through her head when she won the 2014 Cambia Portland Classic. As a steady player since her rookie year in 2013, Ernst also talked about her goals for the upcoming season and beyond.
“Obviously, I want to win more. Besides last year, every year since 2014, I’ve had a second-place finish, so I’ve had a lot of chances. 2018 was my best year as far as putting myself in contention more – I think I had two second (place finishes), like at Evian, coming down the stretch there, and I’ve played well.
“For me, when I putt well, I play well. I’ve always been a good iron player. I’m always kind of up there in greens in regulation but I think if I drive the ball in the fairway and if I putt just a little bit better, then that’s kind of where I’ll have my better weeks. That’s where I’ll contend.
“My wedge game has gotten a lot better the last few years, so I think that’s obviously helped. But in the end, in professional golf, you have to get the ball in the hole. You’ve got to make a lot of birdies. We shoot 20-under, so if you’re not making a bunch of birdies you’re not going to win.”
)
)
)
)
