LPGA sex symbol Anna Rawson bares all
Well, almost all. The Anna Kournikova of golf talks fame, jealous playing partners, and her 'body' of work
OK, suck in that gut, gents.
LPGA pro and sex symbol Anna Rawson recently visited Flyers World Headquarters here in New York City. Too "busy" to accept my dinner invite (she's not into Hot Pockets and Natty Light), the charming 28-year-old Aussie and former model did take time to talk about her first full season on tour, jealous playing partners, and being better known for her body than her body of work.
Connell Barrett: In your first full year on the LPGA Tour, you have yet to finish in the top 10. You’ve been called golf’s answer to Anna Kournikova — all looks, no game. How much does that bother you?
Anna Rawson: I don’t mind [the comparison]. She’s great. She’s gorgeous. She put [women’s] tennis on the map in a lot of ways. If I could do the same thing in golf, that would be great. But remember, I’m just starting on the LPGA. I wasn’t a child phenom. It will take time for my game to develop.
CB: You landed a GoDaddy.com endorsement deal. You’ve been outspoken on the subject of how the LPGA markets itself. You've modeled with fellow LPGA sex symbol Natalie Gulbis. What’s more important: winning or being famous?
AR: Being successful is the most important thing, and winning comes along with that. I’m not someone who can only focus on golf. I’d be so bored. I have other interests. I need something else to focus on.
CB: Are other players on the women's tour jealous of the attention you get?
AR: They were skeptical of me at first, but when they play with me, they say, “Oh, she’s got game.” Turns out, I’m not stuck up. I’m down to earth. I'm a nice person.
CB: What’s been your highpoint this year?
AR: Shooting a course record 64 [at the CN Canadian Woman’s Open].
CB: Your most nerve-racking moment?
AR: It happened the next morning in Canada, in the second round. I was leading, and I had to tee off on no. 10. The tee was at an unusual angle so that you had to hit over the crowd. There are 45,000 people there. I’m on the tee thinking, Don’t hit this woman in the head. Don’t kill anyone! I didn’t — I just missed the fairway — so that’s a good thing.
CB: What was the biggest surprise about life on the LPGA Tour?
AR: How difficult traveling is. At [The LPGA] State Farm Classic, I shot a 65 on Sunday, tied for 13th, and I made a great check. I got right in the car, drove two hours to St. Louis, flew to Maryland, got to the hotel at 1am Monday morning, and I thought, Where’s the champagne? This should be the greatest week of my life, and I’m so tired. Golf is a great job, but it’s still a job—a difficult job.
Part 2: Anna Rawson dresses down golf's biggest fashion victims.
More on Rawson: Photo Gallery | Sexiest Women Golfers | GoDaddy.com commercial
Posted by: Bob Devine | Oct 5, 2009 6:25:47 PM
Everyone expects the new guy or girl to be world beaters right out of the box especially the press. It would really give me a chuckle if someday one of the new sports phenoms when asked why they have not won yet asked back when are you going to win your first Pulitzer.
Posted by: Brian | Oct 5, 2009 10:56:11 PM
Connell, Way to bring it.
Posted by: amy | Oct 6, 2009 1:00:53 PM
Such hard-hitting journalism! Does anyone expect that the male players will be jealous of the new hot guy on tour? Of course not. But because we're dealing with women, it's all about how her playing partners are "jealous" of her attractiveness. Maybe Anna should pay more attention to her game than what the other players are thinking about her face.
Posted by: Larry | Oct 6, 2009 1:11:29 PM
Can anyone really question whether she has game? A 64? Enough said.
Posted by: Lenny | Oct 6, 2009 3:32:52 PM
How can anyone take her seriously as a golfer? She doesn’t mind being compared to Anna Kournikova. That alone tells that she’s in to the “look” of the game and not the game itself. When asked what’s more important “winning or being famous?” Any serious competitor would have said WINNING in a heart beat. This person is a golf reality show.
Posted by: Justin | Oct 7, 2009 11:17:08 AM
Good point, Lenny- doesn't success come with winning? Maybe times have changed (thank you, raelity TV) but shouldn't winning be the #1 priority? I guess if you don't have to play good golf to have a decent living, winning isn't that important.
Posted by: Justin | Oct 7, 2009 11:17:41 AM
reality* I hate it when I do that!
Posted by: Jerry Eversole | Oct 15, 2009 11:08:40 AM
I personally think the young lady needs to put some meat on her bones and take away the mirror from her face on her game. Thanks for the forum
Posted by: Sam Sjodin | Oct 19, 2009 10:01:55 AM
The young lady has to decide whether to be a great golfer like Kathy Whitworth or the lady golfer who once covered herself with nothing but golf balls and whose name I have even forgotten. She cannot be a great golfer and a sex symbol at the same time.But she is free to prove us wrong.
Posted by: chris | Nov 16, 2009 5:52:34 PM
C,mon, people, how unusual is it for someone to have both a professional-caliber golf game and world class looks? The golf market will itself determine if she is a success in pure golfer terms. We need more personalitites -- and attractive ones at that!