The LPGA is taking a breather this week and so is Natalie Gulbis. In Las Vegas Natalie has a chance to visit Butch Harmon for a lesson, return phone calls and focus on her next business venture. Her 2006 swimsuit calendar has just been released and her reality show on the Golf Channel will be resuming in November. You can even play golf with “Cyber-Natalie” as part of Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour 2005!
Natalie gets alot of face time in the press. It’s understandable once you catch a glimpse of her. With her sense of style, athletic 5′ 9″ figure and bright, toothy smile, cameras click, interviewers hound her and a bevy of admirers follow her around on and off the golf course. She is both personable and mature but with an edginess only a twenty-two year old can pull off.
Natalie represents the future of the LPGA to a tee!
Natalie started playing golf when she was just four years old under the watchful eye of her father John. By the tender age of fourteen when girls are worrying more about braces and boys, Natalie had gone on to win the California Women’s Amateur Championship. That same year she became youngest golfer ever to qualify for an LPGA tournament. Michelle Wie took that distinction away from Natalie by qualifying at the age of twelve for the 2002 Takefuji Classic.
At the University of Arizona Natalie helped the team to win four collegiate tournaments and was even named (appropriately) a First-Team All-American in 2001. That year Natalie tied for third place in Q-School securing her 2002 LPGA card on the first try.
Four years have passed since Natalie won acceptance into the LPGA. She has worked exceptionally hard at improving the level of her game to the acme of professional standards and now stands alone in sixth place on the money list just under $1 million mark in earnings. Her 70.96 scoring average puts her in fourth place statistically on tour, she is first in number of birdies scored and she is second only to Annika Sorenstam in rounds under par this year.
Although Natalie has yet to win an event in the LPGA, I think her time is approaching. With Butch Harmon’s guidance and instruction, just as he did for Tiger Woods, it is inevitable for her to win not just a single tournament but several. She tries again next week at the CJ Nine Bridges Classic in Jeju, S. Korea.
Playing golf in Asia for the next two weeks excites Natalie. First she’s off to Korea and then to Japan to play in JLPGA-sponsored tournaments. Although it’s a twenty-hour flight for Natalie she’s really interested in learning about Asian culture.
Paula Creamer is already in Japan this week playing in the MastersGC Ladies tournament and will meet up with Natalie in Korea. The “Pink Panther” is assimilating well in Asia. She’s even wearing pink! I wonder if Paula has a similar Japanese yukata picked out for her friend. Either way, if Natalie decides to wear one I’m sure she’ll also be thinking about how to market them here in the USA!
I got the chance to meet both John (dad) and Natalie when they stopped by my business early in the season. John is very proud of his daughter and took the time to open up the back gate of his SUV and show me her beautiful set of golf clubs and bag which proudly displayed his daughter’s name. He even affably gave me a signed autograph while Natalie was meeting my staff. Both were gracious and willing to chat about golf and life on the road. I just wanted to thank John and Natalie for stopping and chatting with a fan (me!) when Natalie just missed the cut that week.
By getting involved in businesses both within golf and outside the realm, Natalie is bringing in viewers who would not normally have watched a golf game. Natalie may not realize this yet but she is also grabbing the attention of the younger generation who never took up golf that are both fashion conscious and hip. The LPGA is experiencing growth right now and it’s partially due to Natalie!
It’s great to see an LPGA superstar both supporting her sport and venturing outside of the golf world as Natalie has done. I give her alot of credit. Gulbis sucessfully represents Adidas, Amstel Light, Genisoy, Maxfli, Metrx and TaylorMade. She has made the most of her looks and appeal by creating a business empire which will provide her both a solid income and longevity long after she retires from the sport (although by that time she might not create new calendars!).
I hope other young golfers use the Natalie Gulbis business model for their own success.
The golfer is indeed awesome. I wonder how she fares in the golf course. However, I think she is a good players. Still, her off screen beauty may never affect the best player of the game name Annika.
Met Natalie and got her autograph at Jamie Farr Classic this ear (2009) and she is still hot-looking and a very nice person!