Pauline Roussin-Bouchard: “I want to be an accomplished athlete in an overall way”

On an impressive run of two top 2 finishes in a row, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard arrives in top physical and mental shape to compete in her first Lacoste Ladies Open de France on the Diane Barrière course in Deauville.

Interview by David Charpenet, special correspondent in Deauville

Golf Planète: How do you explain this incredible series of good results?
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard: It’s a good dynamic that is not linked to a specific objective, but just the fact that I am happy again to be a professional athlete. I found a good balance that makes me want to get up in the morning. I was not very well at the end of last year. Afterwards, it was a little better. And then it fell even lower at the Jabra and the US Open. I was at rock bottom. I changed things and I found the desire to work again at first and the desire to play golf again afterwards.

GP: What happened in Ireland for your first individual podium since the Lalla Meryem Cup in February?
PRB: In Ireland, I wasn’t even supposed to play the tournament. But I forgot to register for the FM Championship in Boston on the LPGA Tour and I didn’t think I would be able to get into the tournament. It’s a country that I love and everything was done to ensure that I had a great week. I went there to enjoy myself. I started working with my South African caddy Paul at that time. It worked straight away. And it started a great dynamic. I lost in the play-off against the Englishwoman Annabel Dimmock, but it was a great second place. The previous weeks were already going well but it wasn’t coming together enough for me to get good results. I was projecting myself a little too much on the result and what I had to do to get there. The swing has been good since the Scandinavian Mixed in Sweden at the beginning of June. It took a little while to settle in. But now I’m able to enjoy myself and play well.

GP: And there was that second place again last weekend in Spain!
PRB: Last week I played really well on the weekend. I’m -14 in two days. That makes the victory of the German Helen Briem even more valuable. We wrote each other a lot of messages after the tournament. I congratulated her by telling her that it was easier to be the hunter than the hunted. But she held on. She replied that I didn’t make things easy by playing well. She resisted the pressure. It was a nice rally. I’m -26 in four rounds the last two weekends. It would be nice to start better, but it’s an interesting number.

GP: In the absence of Céline Boutier, you will inevitably be particularly anticipated following your two podiums…
PRB: I’m not putting too much pressure on myself this week. I’m really happy to be playing well at the moment and I’m getting good results. It would almost be the last straw if it were a drag and put pressure on me. I’m pretty happy and I’m taking things as they come. I’ve found a general balance again. That’s the most important thing.

It’s a beautiful layout and the greens are just incredible.

GP: Have you ever played on this track?

PRB: No, I have never played here. I discovered the course by walking it on Tuesday in the rain. I am playing the pro-am on Wednesday. I really like the design. It is a nice layout and the greens are just incredible. The rough is not too bad, but with the humidity, it is enough! It will be the opposite of last week at La Sella where we had a little more length than normal with the heat. There, we will certainly need one more club.

GP: Do you know Normandy?
PRB: In fact, I rarely go to France north of Paris. But I am fascinated by the Second World War and the landing. And since I love horse riding, I would have loved to ride on the landing beaches. But between the weather and the tides, it was complicated. We finally went for a ride on the heights with my caddy who also rides horses.

GP: You have always been very sporty. What are you doing at the moment besides golf?
PRB: I do a lot of Hyrox, boxing, martial arts in general. Even more than before. Because I need to do sports alongside golf to feel good about myself. I feel free to do what I want in terms of my sports activities. If I want to go running, I go running. I did a half marathon in Ireland on Sunday with 1400m of elevation gain. I am developing the hybrid athlete side. I want to be an accomplished sportswoman in a global way and not only do physical activities related to golf. I am lucky to be able to work with David Baudrier who really listens to my desires and is completely invested in me. The athletic side is becoming more and more important in my daily life. I do sports every day. At the beginning of next year, I should do a hyrox with my cousin. It’s other things that happen outside of golf that help me be happy on the course.

Photos: Mark Runnacles / LET