Tour News
A perfect balance: Kerr enjoys success on course, fulfillment off
Cristie Kerr has been a mainstay on the LPGA Tour for more than 15 years. With 16 wins, two major championships and nearly $16 million in career earnings, she has remained competitive year in and year out.
Since 2002, Kerr has had at least one win in every season but three, including this year, but don’t count her out just yet. This year isn’t over. One of the biggest reasons she has been able to perform at such a consistently high level for so long is her laser-like focus on detail and organization.
“I don’t like doubt and I feel more confident when I’m prepared,” Kerr said. “If anything, sometimes I have been over prepared.”
These days organization is not just important, it’s a necessity. Kerr and her husband, Erik Stevens, welcomed their first child, son Mason, back in December. Becoming a mother has naturally led to adjustments.
“I need a bigger rental car and an extra suitcase everywhere I go,” Kerr said. “The responsibilities of having a child now have allowed me to refocus some of my golf planning toward parenthood. What I’m learning about parenthood is that it’s much like golf. There are certain things you cannot prepare for and being able to adjust on the fly is very important. In some cases I need to lower my expectations on my ability to prepare.”
Mason was born via surrogate due to Kerr being diagnosed with a medical condition that would have made it very difficult, if not altogether impossible, to carry a child to term.
“He gets older and taller every day,” Kerr said. “I only wish I could spend more time watching every little development. We are working on crawling right now.”
On the course, Kerr has been her steady self with nine top 10’s in 15 events this season, including finishing third in last week’s LPGA Marathon Classic. Not surprisingly, she focuses not on the near wins but on the disappointing tournaments.
“The top 10s are great and I have had two seconds, but I have also missed a cut at the U.S. Open which is not acceptable by my standards,” Kerr said. “One of my goals for this year was to be more consistent and in contention every week. I believe consistency is the key to getting back in the winner’s circle, which is the ultimate goal, always.”
While perhaps practicing less at this point in her career, Kerr says she practices smarter these days not measuring how long she’s at the course but rather how much she accomplishes in the time she’s there.
To that end, Kerr has been spending time working on her short game and mental preparation, both of which she knows need to be better if she is going to get back on top of a final-round leaderboard. In off weeks, she has been practicing at Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J., a short boat ride from her apartment in New York City where she lives during the summer.
Liberty National will host the 10th Annual Birdies for Breast Cancer Celebrity Golf Classic in September. Having watched her mother, aunt and godmother battle the disease, Kerr founded Birdies for Breast Cancer back in 2003 to raise money and awareness. To date, the organization has raised more than $3 million.
In 2010, Birdies for Breast Cancer partnered with the Jersey City Medical Center to create the Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center which makes screening, testing and treatment available to women regardless of their ability to pay.
“It’s so cool to see how far the foundation has come and where it’s going,” Kerr said. “In the coming years, Jersey City Medical Center is planning the expansion of an entire Women’s Health Pavilion, which our foundation looks forward to supporting.”
This week, Kerr is excited to tee it up in the LPGA’s first-ever International Crown competition pitting four-member teams from eight countries against each other at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md., near Baltimore. Joining Kerr on the U.S. squad are Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson. In addition to the U.S., Korea, Japan, Thailand, Spain, Sweden, Australia and Chinese Taipei are competing.
“Anytime you have the chance to represent your county in a mostly individual sport, as golfers it’s something to look forward to,” Kerr said. “I am excited to play with my teammates Paula, Lexi and Stacy. There are a lot of unknowns because it’s a new event but kudos to Mike Whan and his team for their vision in creating a new event like this that is generating great attention for our tour and will showcase the true international talent on the LPGA Tour.”
Having accomplished so much both on and off the course already, Kerr has no plans of slowing down. She intends to keep grinding toward that first win of the season and hopes to reach the top five in the world rankings where she’s currently 10th.
Further out, what’s still on her bucket list?
“Obviously, the LPGA Hall of Fame has some of the toughest standards for entry in any sport,” Kerr said. “Being able to earn my way into the Hall of Fame is certainly on there. And I would love to captain a Solheim Cup team.”
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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jabroni23
Jul 24, 2014 at 3:30 am
I’m not a fan of Kerr. Her less than cordial approach with both fans and the media is well documented. I didn’t completely understand until I was standing 10 feet from her as she hit a tee shot during the final round of the LPGA Championship last year, and there was cheering in the background from the other side of the course during her address on a par 3, which was a result of someone making a long putt on another hole again, on the other side of the course. She was the only player to miss the green out of the 10 groups we watched, and after missing the green, she turned to us and said “you people need to learn how to shut up”. I have no love for jerks.
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