April Update

I am thrilled to be writing you from my first LPGA start of the year in Hawaii! 

While counting down the days to this trip, I have stayed competitive by playing five local Cactus Tour events and three LPGA Monday qualifiers. I am very happy with my game. My scoring average in these eighteen rounds of 2018 is 70.44. Although I didn't advance through any of the Monday qualifiers, I finished third in all three (only two players qualify). This consistency shows how ready I am for my upcoming starts. 

Speaking of which, the Lotte Championship is the first of four consecutive LPGA events. I am definitely in the field this week (Hawaii) and the fourth week (Dallas). I will Monday qualify for the second and third weeks (LA and San Francisco). Solid play in these events will improve my status in the reshuffle, so my schedule after Dallas is TBD. 

I’ve diligently worked on the off-season objectives I set last October. I have been improving ownership and understanding of my golf swing, consistently practicing my putting and chipping fundamentals, and dialing in iron and wedge distance control. With all the time in one place, I’ve been able to make strength and speed gains in the gym at Combine Performance- including adding three inches to my vertical! This does two things for my golf game: 1) generates more force using the ground in my swing and 2) allows me to make an impressive celebratory leap when I win my first major 😃 

I have also turned my attention to course management this off-season. I attended a seminar that provides a standardized approach to on-course decisions based on tour statistics. It might sound complicated, but it makes life easier by removing guess work and emotion from my club and target selection process. It’s like choosing to play by the book in blackjack versus randomly hitting on seventeen because you happen to “have a feeling.” The risk might reward you every once in a while, but the measured approach pays off in the long run. A highlight from this spring was having PGA Tour player Joel Dahmen caddie for me in a Cactus Tour round.  He has been using this system for several years and helped me put it into action for the first time. We fired three under that day and I finished eleven under for the three rounds. I think playing with discipline is going to be a massive key to saving a shot every round or so- and if anybody knows how much one shot can mean, its me. 

I am proud to be representing Crucial by Micron, TR Toppers, and Snake River Farms on tour again this year. In the spirit of my renewed partnership with prime meat company Snake River Farms, I thought I would do something new and share a bit about my own nutritional preferences. I am VERY far from being a nutrition expert and I’m certainly not pretending to be one here, but I do know what keeps me feeling strong and energized as an active athlete. 

Morning: 

• I start with a cup of coffee (splash of cream, no sugar). I need that caffeine rush in the gym. 
• I like to have fuel in my stomach before lifting, so I will either have a Muscle Milk protein shake (20g of protein, 0g of sugar, bought in bulk from Costco) or a bowl of Quaker Oats Weight Control Instant Oatmeal  (7g protein, 6g fiber, 1g of sugar) with a spoonful of almond butter and a handful of blueberries. These are both quick to grab and easy to stomach first thing after waking up. 

Post work out: 

• I need a breakfast that will rebuild the muscle I just broke down in the gym and give me lasting energy. My favorite thing to make is a breakfast hash: sautéed kale, sweet potato ribbons, and onion with two scrambled eggs on top does the trick. 

Afternoon:
I usually practice and play throughout the mid part of the day, so I don’t always take the time to sit down and have lunch. I am all about on course snacks. 

• Number one go-to: Think Thin High Protein Bar (20g of protein, 0g of sugar). They are delicious and cost only $1.10/bar off Amazon.
• I always keep a bag of roasted and raw mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, macadamias, and Brazil) from the bulk bins at Sprouts in my golf bag. 
• I’ve been trying tuna packets lately. They’re usually less than $2.00/packet and come plain or in flavors like ranch or lemon pepper. With plenty of protein and no sugar, they are a cleaner and cheaper alternative to jerky. They don’t have to be refrigerated, but I think they taste best if they can hang out in the golf cart cooler for a while. 
• Finally, celery topped with a squeezable pouch of almond butter or a bag of sugar snap peas are easy and healthy snacking.
• If I do sit down for lunch, I opt for a big salad that will fill me up without leaving me lethargic. 
• When on the road or really in a rush, I’ve been known to turn to Wendy’s chili. Its hearty, the beans are a slow-burning carb, and in case you haven’t heard, fast food is cheap and convenient. 

Dinner:

• I love to cook at home. The most frequent meal on my table involves some form of protein (beef, pork, chicken, salmon, etc), roasted veggies, and salad. 
• A couple of my favorite Snake River Farms items to make at home are the American Wagyu Gold Grade Flat Iron Steak and the American Wagyu Outside Skirt Steak. Both are delicious with a little salt and pepper and are done easily on the grill. You can use the code ‘LPGA18’ on their website for 10 percent off your order and free standard shipping!
• I also like alternative pastas (red lentil, edamame, corn and quinoa) with red sauce.
• A caffeine-free mug of tea and bowl of popcorn stave off post-dinner dessert cravings. 

As you can probably tell by now, my main objectives with food are to eat whole foods, avoid sugar, get plenty of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and opt for slow burning carbohydrates over white, starchy ones. Given my high activity level, I have never counted calories and eat as often and as much as I need to feel full. 

This is not to say I am a robot. I believe in the 80/20 balance - eat well 80 percent of the time and treat yo’self 20 percent. A great golf tournament deserves to be celebrated with dessert - and Tuesdays deserve to be celebrated with tacos. 

Like I said, I’m not an expert and don’t play one on the internet. This is just what I’ve found works for me. If you have any questions… I invite you to ask someone else, preferably a nutritionist 😊.

Thank you all for following along. Keep your eyes on the upcoming LPGA leaderboards and I’ll be back with you in a month!

Who's hungry for some Snake River Farms?

A look at the beautiful par-three third at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad.

My boyfriend and I attended a really fun brunch cooking class as the Classic Cooking kitchen in Scottsdale. Our favorite items were the egg frittata and the chicken, apple, and fennel sausages.

Only thing that can improve Phoenix hiking is to borrow a dog as an adventure buddy.

hit more than my fair share of shots at Alta Mesa GC the last few months. I am very grateful to the club for making me an honorary member this year.