John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
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Working smarter not harder, especially on the greens, makes all the difference for Quebecer Maude-Aimée Leblanc.
The Sherbrooke resident had retired from professional golf in October 2019, but she reconsidered 11 months later, reinvigorated after almost a year away from weekly trips to a different city. Leblanc had a stellar 2021 season, finishing in the top-10 of what was then called the Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s “school club,” and qualifying for the highest tour in women’s professional golf.
Leblanc picked up where she left off this season, finishing twice in the top 10 in her first full season on the LPGA Tour. She was the only Canadian to avoid the cut last week at the DIO Implant LA Omnium, finishing 43rd overall.
“I think my putting is the reason I was so successful last season. That made a big difference, Leblanc said. Since I started working with a new coach (Sal Spallone) two years ago, we have worked a lot on this aspect of my game. I have been extremely consistent since.
The six-foot-one golfer has always been a long puncher. With an average of 273.03 yards this season on her tee shots, she is 14th in the LPGA. Now that her putter is in the game, she’s moved closer to the top and now sits 37th in the CME Globe Race ahead of the California Verdes Championship this weekend.
“I’m a long puncher, so if I’m a little off my pushups, I’m going to miss some fairways. But that’s not going to make me miss the cut or be unable to finish in the top 10, Leblanc said. It will be played on the greens in my case.
In addition to honing his game on the greens, Leblanc added that the 11 months away from golf have given him a new perspective. She discovered that she needed to be less demanding of herself and that she needed to limit the time she spent on the course.
“I had to find a way to learn to love the sport again without putting all that pressure on myself, without taking it too seriously. I probably have my practice time in half
“I don’t train as often as I used to. I no longer spend hours at the training ground trying to think of a million deals. I find that I am simplifying several aspects now.”
Leblanc will be joined by her compatriots Brooke Henderson and Megan Osland when she starts in Palos Verdes on Thursday.
Osland qualified for the tournament on Monday, after just missing out on qualifying for the Los Angeles tournament last week.
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