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Former Virginia All-American Leah Wigger recently earned her full-time playing card for the 2009 LPGA Tour after a harrowing playoff win at Q-School to get the final of 20 spots open for the tour. VirginiaSports.com caught up with Wigger to get her thoughts on the experience and joining the top women’s golfers in the world:
Question: How helpful was the fact you went through Q-School last year where you attained conditional status for some LPGA Tour events?
Wigger: It helped a lot in terms of knowing the courses and knowing what to expect mentally and physically. It helped to prepare myself for the week.
Question: You have had some success playing at the LPGA International courses in the past.
Wigger: I won a Futures event in April there. It was called the American Systems Invitational, but it was on the facilities’ Legends Course. I’ve played that (Legends) a few more times with junior golf, the AJGA and The Preview my senior year at Virginia, than the Champions Course, which is where Q-School took place.
Question: How was the atmosphere this year with Michelle Wie attempting to gain her tour card?
Wigger: I noticed it a little bit. Last year, when we played primarily on the Legends Course, which is more tree-lined where you cannot see other holes, whereas the Champions is more open. Michelle Wie was playing two groups behind me and I was able to look over a couple of times and see the huge gallery following her. There were a lot of people watching on the 18th green on the final day, so that made it a little more exciting and it is nice to see more interest in women’s golf.
Question: What is the toughest part of Q-School?
Wigger: Probably, mentally just preparing yourself. It’s five days and anything can happen during those five days. You have to be patient because there is tons of golf to play. If you make a double, you have plenty of holes to make it back. A lot of people, if they make a bad shot, they panic and try to force shots. You just have to do the best you can and keep plugging away.
Question: How does that approach change when you are told you are part of a four-person playoff for the final two spots to earn full Tour status?
Wigger: It was pretty amazing o go from the disappoint of thinking you had missed it by one shot to the anxiety of worrying about a playoff to complete elation at the end of winning the playoff. I just tried to focus on the things I had done that day and stayed relaxed and focused on one shot at a time.
Question: What was your first thought when the ball dropped into the cup and you won the playoff hole?
Wigger: I guess it was relief that it was finally over and then the excitement of realizing I was fully exempt and had finally gotten to the point that I wanted to be. I had my sights set on my tour card coming into the event and I actually got it.
Question: Do you get an actual card?
Wigger: (Laughs) No, they didn’t do that. Pretty much right after the playoff everyone just left.
Question: Who was the first person you called?
Wigger: My dad. He drove down (from Louisville) to watch some, but he had to leave, so he didn’t even know I was in a playoff.
Question: What happens next for you as a member of the LPGA?
Wigger: I went to the rookie orientation last year, so I don’t have to do it this year. My first event will probably be in February in Hawaii. I won’t have the opportunity to play in every event because some are limited based on last year’s results or last year’s money list. To be honest, I still need to figure all of this out with the LPGA.
Question: What’s your base of operation as you prepare to play on the tour?
Wigger: In January, I’ll spend time in Florida, probably in the Port Saint Lucie or Jupiter area. I’ll practice down there for about a month. I still consider Louisville home.
Question: Do you still have your Cavman club head cover?
Wigger: Actually, no. I need to get another one.
Question: Is this a dream come true for you?
Wigger: It is nice to see your hard work pay off and see your dreams come true. I still have a lot more dreams to fulfill on the LPGA. Just getting there is the hardest part.