Hardy juggles career, golf ambitions
Though there was a time not long ago when she might have wondered what it would be like to turn professional and try to grind her way onto the LPGA Tour, the 27-year-old is quite content pursuing her career in pharmacy and keeping golf as her favourite hobby.
“It’s fun to have both,” Hardy said after a recent practice session at Elmhurst. “I like what I do.”
Truth be told, golf is still more than just a hobby for Hardy, who is playing out of Elmhurst this year.
But working in the CancerCare wing at the Health Sciences Centre has also helped Hardy view her sport of choice a little differently.
“I have fewer expectations,” said Hardy. “I’m working full-time and I had a job where I’m working with a lot of patients who are sick, so it puts things in perspective.”
Despite her own dampened expectations, Hardy is in the field and will be considered one of the favourites when the Manitoba Women’s Amateur Championship gets underway tomorrow at Transcona Golf Club.
The Senior Women’s Amateur is also set for Transcona.
Hardy, who won the women’s crown in 2001 and 2004, will try to wrestle the title away from Kaitlin Troop of Brandon — the two-time defending champ who recently completed her second season with the UBC Thunderbirds golf team.
“I just want to go out there and enjoy it,” said Hardy. “I’m playing not too bad. I’m hitting it fairly well, having a little trouble with some hooks here and there but my putting has improved a lot. I’m not as tentative. I’m trying to be a little more aggressive. It’s a different mindset.
“I really enjoy being out there and I enjoy the competition. It’s nice to have butterflies in your stomach and to go out there and compete.”
Hardy competed in the CN Women’s Tour event held at Glendale last week and has her sights set on playing the fourth and final stop on the tour in Ottawa in a couple of weeks.
“The calibre of player has really improved a lot the last few years,” said Hardy, who played in the event in London, Ont., earlier this spring. “It’s helped improve the calibre of the game in Canada.”
Hardy admits it’s “challenging” trying to juggle golf and work, but she’s having more fun on the course these days, even if she’s not playing as often.
“I practise and play a little bit during the week, but not as much as I’d like but it’s good,” said Hardy.
One of the other big changes is that Hardy has been working with a new coach, Andrew Park of the renowned Leadbetter Academy in Florida.
“I go down there about two or three times a year and then do some Internet stuff as well,” said Hardy. “I’m not as focused on technique this year, I’m just trying to hit my targets and go with it. It’s actually working out better than I expected it to.
“There are a lot of (swing) changes I’ve been making. I used to play a lot of competitive fastball. We’re working on a lot of the same hip action. We’re trying to get more power through the ball and transfer some of those athletic moves from baseball and incorporate that into golf.”
During her trips to the Leadbetter Academy, Hardy had the opportunity to meet Michelle Wie, who has generated plenty of attention since coming onto the scene as a highly touted amateur.
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