Columns 'Best Times'

Birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie finish!

Since Best Times doesn’t appear as much as it used to, I thought I’d had to write a lot more in this column than I first did. But it’s not like that because my season started off quietly so far. 

My first tournament of the year was the ABN AMRO Ladies Open early June. It was great to finally be playing again after having been struggling so much. I enjoyed every bit of it and performed pretty well too. I made the cut quite easy and finished 44^th. It was not as good as last year but I still won the amateur title, which felt like a great welcome back to me. I played more and more after that week but felt all along that my game was far from how I know I can play. It really frustrated me but my coaches told me to stay calm and patient. I could not expect to win everything immediately after I came back; I needed to get my rhythm back and stay calm.

However I didn’t score as I wanted, it did feel like I got very close but that only resulted in rounds around level par. My goal for the Dutch Strokeplay Championship last weekend was not to worry about my score but just to let it happen. I started off the same as I did the weeks before; 70 74 74. It wasn’t bad but it was just not it, although I knew I was so close. I had one round left and was 5 strokes behind the leader. It seemed hard to beat the leader but I was certain to have a good finishing round. Just to get the feeling back and go home with a decent result. So I started of a bit weird: birdie, double bogey, birdie, birdie. Which got me at one under par thru the turn while I saw my playing partners missing some putts. I didn’t exactly know what the scores were and I decided not to go figure out who was leading, by how many shots, how many holes we had left etcetera. I decided to just play on like the way I did on the front nine. I did and waited patiently for my chances on birdie. With 5 holes left to play something happened I could have only dreamed about.  

I made a solid birdie on the 14^th, an eagle on the par 5 15^th, hit it stiff and holed out for birdie on the 16^th, made another easy birdie on the 17^th and holed an 8 meter putt on the last one to go to 6 under on my last 5 holes! My round of 65 was enough to defeat all of the other players. I started of being 5 behind but finished 4 ahead and so I became the Dutch National Champion 2010. I was very happy and relieved to finally sign for that low round I had been waiting for. I am very much looking forward to the second half of the season, I am full of confidence and enjoying the game to the fullest. 

I will be practicing for the next two weeks to get myself prepared for some nice tournaments like the World Cup and Qualifying School.
 

A little step back and a big step forward
 

Since I’m not starting the 2010 season as a professional player there have been a lot of things I needed to sort out. How do I want to plan my season? What are my new short-term goals? And more important: How am I going to make sure to make it happen next year?

I talked to my coaches about all the different possibilities I have and we found a way to keep me motivated. I started working again but it still didn’t felt like I know it should. I needed to get back in shape mentally as well as physically. We then decided I had to take a little step back in order to make a big step forward.

It’s hard to accept that in first place because the season already started. I played my first event in Portugal and was ready to play in France as well. (The one in France got cancelled due to snow.) After returning from France I noticed pain around my right thumb and checked up on it immediately. 

The MRI scan showed nothing to worry but some fluid around the thumb and pink. The fluid comes from excessive and incorrect use. Which means I have to make a swing change. A little change in my grip is already taken care of and more hinge at the top of my backswing is what I am going to work on the next few weeks or months. 

I can’t wait to get started, especially with the new Titleist clubs I got but I have to take my time and build it up slowly after 25 days without golf. 

Next level...?   

Deciding in which sport I would want to compete at the highest level was a crucial decision I had to make nearly ten years ago. Several options to choose from and I had to make up my mind. Golf seemed the best option. But it wasn’t an Olympic sport, which was an absolute must: competing in the Olympic summer or winter Games at least once.

My father convinced me by saying that by the time I’m going to be a decent player, golf would definitely be an Olympic sport. On October 9^th 2009 it was announced; golf would be included in the 2016 and 2020 Olympic summer games.  

It’s still some years ahead, but that’s fine.  Working towards it, building up to it and enjoy looking forward to the Games needs to take four years. At least, that’s what I think since it’s a once in every 4 years event.

And besides, I’ve got plenty of other challenges for the next few years. Progress, results and other goals, before I can even think of the attending the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

In December I hope to take my first step to a higher level, when I play the Qualifying School at La Manga in Spain. At the Q School, pro’s and amateurs from all over the world play to acquire one of the thirty available Ladies European Tour cards for 2010. Because there are so many players playing the Q School it’s going to be played over two stages.

The first stage (14-16 December) will be played over 54 holes played at the La Manga North and South course. 

From 170 players, 70 will qualify for the second and final stage, which is going to be played the week after first stage (18 – 21 December).

All players who had an exemption for the first stage will now join the first stage survivors in the second stage.

The second stage will be played over 72 holes on the South course only. The first cut will be after two rounds and will leave the 70 best players. They are then battling on for 36 holes whereupon the best 30 players will earn their 2010 right to play at the Ladies European Tour. 

Because it’s a true golf marathon, a good preparation is ever so important. But there’s more; Q-School is one of the most important weeks of the year for most players so it’s at least as important to feel relaxed those days in Spain. I’m therefore taking my brother with me to help me feel calm and to keep an eye on me. 

I’m also very lucky to have a great caddie. Lauren Mackin, a Scottish player who has carried my bag before knows what she needs to do and does so. With Lauren on the bag I feel relaxed and confident. 

In preparation to Q School, I will be playing a 54 holes Hi5 Pro Tour in Spain (3-5 December). 

So I’m fully booked for the whole month of December. I will be home for a few days between the Hi5ProTour and Q-School to see my coaches. Then I will return from Q School a few days before Christmas. Let’s hope for an unforgettable Christmas this year! 

WWW.MARIEKENIVARD.COM

Over the past two months, how unfortunately, I have played not more than just one single tournament.  After playing the Vagliano Trophy (Team Continental Europe vs Great Britain & Ireland) , several Dutch national tournaments were on  my calendar but a severe overstrained right wrist however spoilt the rest of my season. True, I did have a pretty busy first half of the season. The overstrained muscles in my arm had their effect on the ligaments in my right hand. They got badly irritated which left me with just one option: Take a rest .

But don’t get me wrong, no time for a holiday break, no time to relax.  I spent hours at the physio’s and I was happy that after that first week I was able to practice some putting again.

I did miss the Dutch Ladies National Championship and the Summer Games though, and a week later I also had to skip the British Amateurs Strokeplay. It took another week before I was given the ‘green light’. Without any expectations I appeared at the European Championships in Sweden, and finished fourth. A result I wasn’t too happy with then. But having said that, regarding my poor built up, a fourth place isn’t too bad after all.

I started off with little confidence and had no idea what to expect, back on the course straight after my injury.  But it was worthwhile to have experienced that playing a tournament without having enjoyed the perfect built up, is as well possible. 

I can do it. And that’s good to know for it may happen again in future, that for one reason or the other I will not be able to have my desired built-up to a tournament.  

Meanwhile, another two weeks have past and I still can’t hit more than 40 balls a day. 

A real pain, but it has given me the understanding of how important it is to listen to my body. Another learning by experience.

The Turkish Open, beginning of October will be my last tournament this season. After that, all minds are set for the Q school.  A 12-days training and practice in La Manga is part of my built-up for the final test. La Manga, Murcia, Spain is where the two stages of the Qualifying School will take place in December.

Other news is that since I haven’t been on the course a lot, I had some spare time for building my brand new website www.mariekenivard.com. Where I will keep you posted up of all my whereabouts. During the season you will find my tournaments reports, but of course there’s lots more on my site.  I invite you to have a look.

Do you want to be even more up to date? Then also have a look at my Twitter page.  A banner on my website will lead you there. I daily post my short messages to my Twitter page so you can read all about me and my daily activities. I will answer your questions when you follow me on Twitter. A fun, quick and easy way to support me. Other golfers are ‘on Twitter’ too like Steward Cink, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey en Trevor Immelman. 

And my latest news: not being able to spend much time practicing on the course and practice facilities, I did a lot of running.  In fact I will officially enter the Eindhoven half marathon on October 11.  Seems like fun, and a good physical exercise.  A good reason too, to stick to my running this time and not give up again after a few weeks.  So October 11^th, check me at the Eindhoven Marathon.