USGA: 18 Questions With Mina Harigae

Last year Mina Harigae finally realized a lifelong ambition of winning a USGA championship when she defeated Stephany Fleet at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, which was held at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky.

She went on to play in the U.S. Women's Open and was one of four amateurs to make the cut, dryly stating after the second round: "I was hoping I would miss the cut. I feel like I don't really deserve to the way I played." She finished her first Women's Open 21-over 305 for a tie at 67th.

Things continue to be on the up and up for Harigae, who has appeared in 16 USGA championships. She was recently named to the USA Curtis Cup team and will attend Duke this fall to play golf. She shared with the USGA her thoughts about golf, what she would change and what really ticks her off.

The reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champion. How often have you been introduced like that and what's your reaction? Do you have to look around and say, ?Is that really me?'
Harigae: I've only been introduced like that a few times and I think it's pretty cool. Yeah at first it's like, ?Whoa, that's me,' but when I think about it not many people get to be introduced like that so I think it's really cool. It may be a little nerve-wracking, because I don't want to top the ball in front of people being a USGA champion and all.

You have accomplished quite a bit in golf for only being 18 years old. What drives you to succeed? And why did you choose to start playing golf?
Harigae: What drives me, I guess, is my competitiveness. I've always been competitive and I love to succeed. Makes me feel like I'm doing something right.

Why golf? It just came natural to me and I find it fun hitting a little golf ball around. [Laughter]. But really I like it because it's the best feeling in the world making an important 10-footer or sticking it next to the flag. I started playing because I thought it was a fun sport trying to hit the ball as far as I can. Then I started to love the game and it just became routine.

Is there a favorite quote that you adhere to?
Harigae: “There are no shortcuts to success." I heard Annika [Sorenstam] say that at the Polo Banquet last November and I thought it was a great quote, especially because it's from Annika.

Check out USGA.org for the complete story.

USGA: 18 Questions With Mina Harigae

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