The 2007 Portugal Open champion is stepping away from competitive tournament golf following her national Open, the 2018 Lacoste Ladies Open de France, to pursue new projects in business and television.
Why are you ending your competitive playing career?
It’s been 15 years that I’ve been on tour. I’m 36 now and I want to build a family with my husband and I have some new projects on the side. It’s the right time for me, with new things, new challenges.
What was the reason behind the decision?
In January last year, I felt a bit less motivated towards playing and it was really hard for me to go practising. I thought that I needed to prepare for the next step after my career so I had some meetings. Also, in Morocco this year, I had my husband Axel caddying for me, the course and facilities were perfect, and the weather was awesome, but I was on the course thinking, ‘What am I doing here.” So I made my decision to quit.
Since you made that decision have you felt any different?
It is a stressful life and of course I feel more free because for one-and-a-half years I didn’t know what to do. Once you take a decision, like in golf, it’s so much easier. I didn’t have to go to practise and work out and I could explore different challenges.
It must have been hard to take that decision.
It’s really hard to know as a player, but it’s really good to be able to play that long. It’s been your entire life. Since I was 12 I wanted to be a professional golfer but I felt like it was the right time for me. When you feel like you don’t enjoy playing anymore, I think it’s the right time.
What are your memories of joining the tour in 2004?
I remember when I was at Q School and my dad was caddying for me and Axel joined me at the weekend. It was the best feeling to qualify because I felt that finally, I had a job and I could make a living from my passion. Then the first win, which was in Portugal, in 2007, came and then LPGA Q School. I was really, really happy to achieve this.
Have there been other happy memories?
My win in Portugal was the best one and then I had a win on the LET Access Series, in Dinard, in 2015. My family were there and I am from Brittany, so it was a great memory.
Who were your best friends on tour?
The first one was Marine Monnet, who finished her career quite early. We had the same coach and she really helped me get into life on the LET. We used to play practise rounds together and she introduced me to the French players. Then Patricia Meunier Lebouc, who, together with her husband, pushed me to go to the LPGA Q School and helped me a lot over there, with the same coach in a small team. All the Frenchies, Linda Wessberg, Diana Luna and all the girls from my generation, we are kind of close.
There seems to be a strong bond between the French players.
Yes, especially now, because so many young girls came on tour. Right now the atmosphere is awesome and everyone wants to help each other to improve the level of the French players.
What advice would you give to the younger version of yourself?
If I started again as a golf pro, I would tell myself to focus on quality rather than quantity of practise, don’t use your phone when you practise, be focused and committed.
What are the plans now?
I will stay on the LET board because I love it. I love to help the LET grow and it’s been my entire life since I turned pro. I want to help give more playing opportunities to the players in Europe. I will continue as a TV commentator with Canal Plus and I’m going to help develop golf in France with Blue Green. We’ve done quite a lot of work in the last year to attract new players, with a Kids’ Academy. I love the spirit of the game and want to help golf to grow as a sport.
