Cristie Kerr Explained

Cristie Kerr
Birth Date:12 October 1977
Birth Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Residence:Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Spouse:Erik Stevens (m. 2006)
Yearpro:1996
Tour:LPGA Tour (joined 1997)
Extour:Futures Tour (1996)
Players West Tour (1996)
Prowins:24
Lpgawins:20
Letwins:1
Futwins:1
Otherwins:2
Majorwins:2
Nabisco:T2: 2009
Lpga:Won: 2010
Wusopen:Won: 2007
Dumaurier:T17: 1999
Wbritopen:T2: 2006
Evian:T18: 2017
Award1:LPGA Komen Award
Year1:2006

Cristie Kerr (born October 12, 1977) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She has 20 wins on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships, and over $19 million in career earnings. Kerr was the number one-ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings for three time periods in 2010. She is naturally left handed but plays golf right handed.

Amateur career

Kerr was born in Miami, Florida, and started playing golf at the age of eight. She had a successful amateur career, winning the 1994 Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship[1] and the 1995 Women's Western Amateur. She was the 1995 American Junior Golf Association Junior Player of the Year.[2] In 1996 she played in the Curtis Cup[3] [4] and was the low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open. She graduated from Miami Sunset High School in West Kendall, Florida.[5]

Professional career

Kerr's first win in a professional tournament came in April 1995 in the Ironwood FUTURES Classic on the Futures Tour, which she played while still an amateur.[6] [7]

She turned professional in 1996 at age 18 after graduating from high school, playing on both the Futures Tour and Players West Tour. In October 1996, she tied for sixth at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to gain exempt status for 1997.[8] Her LPGA career started fairly slowly; she broke into the top fifty on the money list in her third season in 1999, but did not win until her sixth season. In 2002, she won her first LPGA event at the Longs Drugs Challenge in California. By 2004, she was one of the leading players on the tour, with three tournament victories, and a fifth-place finish on the money list. She won two tournaments in 2005 and moved up to third on the money list. She tied for second at the 2000 U.S. Women's Open, matched by her performance in the 2006 Women's British Open. Her first win of 2006 came at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship where she posted a tournament-record score of 19 under par. In 2006, she was the only American to win more than one event on the LPGA Tour, winning three times. She won the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, her first major championship. She was also a member of the United States Solheim Cup team in 2002,[9] 2003,[10] and 2005.[11]

The hallmarks of Kerr's game are putting; she finished in the top five on the LPGA Tour in putts/greens hit in 2005 and 2006 and iron play. She was fifth in greens-in-regulation in 2005. In 2005, Kerr finished in the top 10 in half of the tournaments she entered, and ranked second in the LPGA in scoring average, trailing only Annika Sörenstam.

In 2010, Kerr won two of the first 10 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, including the LPGA Championship, which she won by a record-breaking 12-stroke margin over the second-place finisher Song-Hee Kim. As a result of this finish, she went to the top of the Women's World Golf Rankings on June 28, 2010.[12] Kerr held the position for three weeks before Ai Miyazato again regained the top ranking by a margin of 0.0006 average points.[13]

In 2015, Kerr won the CME Group Tour Championship by one shot over fellow American Gerina Piller and South Korean Jang Ha-na.[14] [15] That year she made 24 cuts out of 25 events, captured her 17th career victory at the Kia Classic and posted a 3–0–1 record at her eight Solheim Cup, helping the U.S. team to victory.

In 2016, she recorded four top-10 finishes, including a tie for seventh at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. She was also on the victorious U.S. team at the UL International Crown, where she posted a team-best 3–1–0 record. In 2017, Kerr recorded her 19th and 20th career wins, moving her into a tie with Laura Davies for 26th all-time on the LPGA career wins list. That year she also participated in her ninth Solheim Cup for the U.S., posting a 3–0–1 record, thereby surpassing Juli Inkster for the all-time lead in points recorded by a U.S. player in Solheim Cup history (21). In 2018, Kerr recorded two top-10 finishes, with a season-best finish tied for second at the Kia Classic[16]

Breast cancer activism

Kerr is actively involved in fundraising for breast cancer research.

The LPGA and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awarded Kerr the 2006 LPGA Komen Award[17] due to her dedication to find a cure for breast cancer through the foundation that she founded called Birdies for Breast Cancer. Kerr donates $50 per birdie. As of August 2009, she has raised over $750,000 through donations and an annual charity event.[18] Kerr created the foundation in honor of her mother, Linda, who has been her inspiration. The foundation was created in 2003, the year that her mother Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer.[17] Kerr also founded Curvature Wines, which helps to raise money for breast cancer charities.[19]

Personal life and off-course activities

Kerr is in height. In 1999, she weighed 175lb, a weight that caused her to have back spasms. Her parents, who are divorced, are both diabetics, and her mother had a heart attack when Kerr was in the ninth grade. After her weight peaked, Kerr began exercising regularly and went on a diet. By 2002, she had lost 50lb, and weighs 125lb.[20]

Kerr made an appearance on an episode of the third season of Donald Trump's television series The Apprentice in 2005. In 2006, Kerr married businessman Erik Stevens. Kerr and Stevens maintain a residence in Scottsdale, Arizona. One of her sponsors is Mutual of Omaha, which donates money to her breast cancer research foundation every time she places third or better.[21]

Kerr partnered with Pride Mountain Vineyards in Napa, California, to launch her Curvature wine label with the 2006 vintage. She has also launched a new wine venture, Kerr Cellars, with winemaker Helen Keplinger, beginning with a 2013 vintage. The label now produces Pinot noir and red and white Bordeaux blends. In 2013, she passed the Court of Master Sommeliers level I test.[22]

On December 8, 2013, Kerr and Stevens welcomed their first child, a son named Mason, via a surrogate.[23] Kerr welcomed a second boy, Griffin, on August 28, 2018.[24]

On December 4, 2020, Kerr and her caddie Matt Gelczis were injured in a collision between golf carts before sunrise prior to the start of the second round of the Volunteers of America Classic at the Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas. The two were sent to an emergency room at a local hospital, and released later that day. Kerr withdrew from the tournament.[25] After completing the first round of the 2020 U.S. Women's Open, in which she shot a 71, she described what happened: Kerr and Gelczis struck another cart head-on, having been blinded by its headlights, which the cart Kerr was riding on didn't have; she and Gelczis were using a flashlight to try and find their way to the driving range, where the other cart had been coming from.[26] The two were thrown from the cart; Kerr landed on her chest, suffering three dislocated ribs, and bruising on her arms; in order to get through her first round at the U.S. Women's Open, she regularly took pain medication.[27] According to Kerr, Gelczis's injuries were far less severe, receiving only a "bump on the head", and whiplash.[28]

Professional wins (24)

LPGA Tour wins (20)

valign=top width=33% align=left
Legend
Major championships (2)
Other LPGA Tour (18)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)
1Apr 21, 2002Longs Drugs Challenge66-72-67-75=280−81 stroke Hee-Won Han135,000
2Apr 17, 2004LPGA Takefuji Classic69-67-73=209−7Playoff Seol-An Jeon165,000
3Jun 20, 2004ShopRite LPGA Classic66-68-68=202−111 stroke Paula Creamer (a)
Giulia Sergas
195,000
4Sep 5, 2004State Farm Classic69-63-63-69=264−241 stroke Christina Kim180,000
5May 8, 2005Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill68-68-68-72=276−85 strokes Jill McGill330,000
6Aug 28, 2005Wendy's Championship for Children68-67-66-69=270−181 stroke Paula Creamer
Annika Sörenstam
165,000
7May 7, 2006Franklin American Mortgage Championship67-69-66-67=269−192 strokes Pat Hurst
Lorena Ochoa
Angela Stanford
165,000
8Aug 13, 2006CN Canadian Women's Open67-70-74-65=276−121 stroke Angela Stanford255,000
9Sep 10, 2006John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic70-61-68=199−141 stroke Annika Sörenstam150,000
10Jul 1, 2007U.S. Women's Open71-72-66-70=279−52 strokes Lorena Ochoa
Angela Park
560,000
11Aug 24, 2008Safeway Classic71-67-65=203−13Playoff Helen Alfredsson
Sophie Gustafson
255,000
12May 10, 2009Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill (2)69-63-66-70=268−162 strokes In-Kyung Kim330,000
13Jun 13, 2010LPGA State Farm Classic (2)67-67-63-69=266−221 stroke Na Yeon Choi
Anna Nordqvist
255,000
14Jun 27, 2010LPGA Championship68-66-69-66=269−1912 strokes Song-Hee Kim337,500
15Nov 11, 2012Lorena Ochoa Invitational67-69-67-69=272−161 stroke Inbee Park
Angela Stanford
200,000
16May 5, 2013Kingsmill Championship (3)66-71-66-69=272−12Playoff Suzann Pettersen195,000
17Mar 29, 2015Kia Classic67-68-68-65=268−202 strokes Mirim Lee255,000
18Nov 22, 2015CME Group Tour Championship68-69-66-68=271 −171 stroke Jang Ha-na
Gerina Piller
500,000
19Apr 15, 2017Lotte Championship71-69-62-66=268 −203 strokes Chun In-gee
Jang Su-yeon
Lydia Ko
300,000
20Oct 29, 2017Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia70-63-65-71=269 −151 stroke270,000

LPGA Tour playoff record (3–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
12004LPGA Takefuji Classic Seol-An JeonWon with par on seventh extra hole
22004 Annika SörenstamLost to bogey on first extra hole
32008Safeway Classic Helen Alfredsson
Sophie Gustafson
Won with birdie on first extra hole
42008 Navistar LPGA Classic Candie Kung
Lorena Ochoa
Ochoa won with par on second extra hole
Kerr eliminated by par on first hole
52013Kingsmill Championship Suzann PettersenWon with par on second extra hole
62017Volunteers of America Texas Shootout Haru NomuraLost to birdie on sixth extra hole

Futures Tour wins (1)

^ Won as an amateur, top professional (Comstock) earned $4,500.

Other wins (2)

Major championships

Wins (2)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up
−5 (71-72-66-70=279) 2 strokes Lorena Ochoa, Angela Park
−19 (68-66-69-66=269) 12 strokes Song-Hee Kim

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order.

Tournament 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Chevron ChampionshipCUTT35
U.S. Women's OpenCUTT36LA60CUTT2
Women's PGA ChampionshipCUTCUTT5WD
du Maurier ClassicCUTT54T17CUT
Tournament 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Chevron ChampionshipT66T3T11T5T3T35T20T21T2T5
U.S. Women's OpenT4T32T13T27T10T281T13T3T17
Women's PGA ChampionshipCUTT41T34T17T33T5T18T10T311
Women's British Open ^CUTT29T14T11T5T2T336T8T5
Tournament 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Chevron ChampionshipCUTT22T19T4T41T457T30T52T32
U.S. Women's Open3T9T20CUTCUTT8T19T52CUTT23
Women's PGA ChampionshipT3T12T12T17T19T50CUTT49T60T37
The Evian Championship ^^CUTT67T53T39T18CUTCUTNT
Women's British Open ^T14T1316WDT1372T59T28CUTCUT
Tournament 2021 2022 2023 2024
Chevron ChampionshipT28
U.S. Women's OpenCUT
Women's PGA ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTCUT
The Evian ChampionshipCUT
^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001
^^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013.
LA = low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
NT = no tournament
T = tied

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
0 1 2 6 7 12 23 21
1 0 1 4 5 11 28 19
1 1 2 5 8 14 26 20
0 0 0 0 0 1 7 4
0 1 0 3 5 11 20 16
0 0 0 0 0 1 5 2
Totals 2 3 5 18 25 50 109 82

LPGA Tour career summary

Year Tournaments
played
Cuts
made*
Wins 2nd 3rd Top 10s Best
finish
Earnings
($)
Money
list rank
Scoring
average
Scoring
rank
199727140000T1549,05811273.44109
199826170001T488,6137472.8990
199923160003T5177,9784772.0953
200024230218T2530,7511571.9419
2001231800253373,9472872.2660
2002262211381685,3931271.4717
200323210228T2696,0971370.697
200424223201111,189,990570.334
200522202241111,360,941370.862
200626263301911,578,362570.073
20072219101611,098,921671.8817
200826261101111,108,8391070.885
200925251121311,519,722270.283
201021212221311,601,552369.952
201122200331221,470,979270.713
2012232110071837,3141471.2719
2013211810151710,9461971.1922
20142422021112911,8831570.5711
20152521210811,294,301770.6413
201625220004T7456,2153971.2333
201723212111011,414,752769.9512
201822200102T2426,9815171.0933
201921130003T9181,4568071.6479
202016120002T6243,5764771.4335
20211470001T698,87011372.0695
20221350000T1258,96213972.38123
202310300003313,44918073.96n/a
Totals^597 495 20 24 23 182 1 20,179,848 3
^ Official as of 2023 season[29] [30] [31]

* Includes matchplay and other tournaments without a cut.

World ranking

Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

Year Ranking Notes
2006 4 [32]
2007 6 [33]
2008 7 [34]
2009 4 [35]
2010 2 [36]
2011 4 [37]
2012 11 [38]
2013 12 [39]
2014 13 [40]
2015 11 [41]
2016 30 [42]
2017 10 [43]
2018 31 [44]
2019 110 [45]
2020 99 [46]
2021 167 [47]
2022 394 [48]
2023 818 [49]

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

Solheim Cup record

Year Total
matches
Total
W–L–H
Singles
W–L–H
Foursomes
W–L–H
Fourballs
W–L–H
Points
won
Points
%
Career3818–14–63–4–24–5–311–5–12155.3
200241–3–00–1–0 lost to S. Gustafson 3&20–1–0 lost w/ M. Redman 4&31–1–0 won w/ R. Jones 1 up,
lost w/ R. Jones 1 up
125.0
200343–1–01–0–0 def. S. Pettersen 1 up0–1–0 lost w/ K. Kuehne 3&12–0–0 won w/ K. Kuehne 2&1,<br>won w/ K. Kuehne 2&1375.0
200542–2–00–1–0 lost to G. Nocera 2&10–1–0 lost w/ N. Gulbis 2&12–0–0 won w/ N. Gulbis 2&1,<br>won w/ P. Creamer 1 up250.0
200751–3–10–1–0 lost to L. Wessberg 1 up0–1–1 halved w/ P. Hurst,
lost w/ N. Castrale 1 dn
1–1–0 won w/ N. Castrale 3&2,<br>lost w/ M. Presel 3&21.530.0
200942–1–11–0–0 won w/ M. Wie 1 up1–1–0 won w/ P. Creamer 1 up,
lost w/ N. Castrale 1 up
2.562.5
201152–2–10–1–0 lost to K. Stupples 10&8<sup>11–0–1 won w/ M. Wie 2&1,<br>halved w/ P. Creamer1–1–0 lost w/ M. Wie 2 down,
won w/ M. Pressel 1 up
2.550.0
201341–2–10–0–1 halved with K. Icher0–1–0 lost w/ P. Creamer 2&11–1–0 won w/ M. Wie 2&1,<br>lost w/ M. Pressel 2dn1.537.5
201543–0–11–0–0 def. C. Hull 3&21–0–0 won w/ L. Thompson 2&11–0–1 halved w/ L. Thompson
won w/ L. Thompson 3&2
3.587.5
201743–0–11–0–0 def. M. Reid 2&11–0–1 halved w/ L. Thompson
won w/ L. Thompson 5&3
1–0–0 won w/ L. Thompson 4&23.587.5
1 Kerr conceded the match at the start because of injury; Solheim Cup rules categorized this as a 10 and 8 loss.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Past Champions . Junior Orange Bowl . April 30, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061102003530/http://www.jrorangebowl.com/Events-index-id-40-g_id-11.html . November 2, 2006.
  2. Web site: All-Time Rolex Junior Players of the Year . American Junior Golf Association . April 4, 2007.
  3. Web site: Previous Curtis Cup Matches 1932–2002 . USGA . March 23, 2007.
  4. Web site: 1996 Curtis Cup Match . USGA . March 23, 2007.
  5. News: Women's Intuition . The Miami Herald . July 2, 2007 . 1D.
  6. News: Salt Lake Tribune . Futures Tour Ironwood Futures Classic results . April 3, 1995 . July 21, 2011.
  7. Web site: Futures Tour . Futures Tour Winners List . July 21, 2011 . dead . https://archive.today/20120119161856/http://lpgafuturestour.com/content_1.aspx?mid=1&pid=27482 . January 19, 2012 . mdy-all.
  8. Web site: LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament – results – 1990–1999. LPGA .
  9. News: A Glimpse at the U.S. Solheim Cup Team . The Golf Channel . September 16, 2002 . April 28, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015300/http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15104&dv=4618285&select=7253&select2=1&v.pos=901&h.pos=0 . September 30, 2007 . dead .
  10. News: Sheehan Announces Selections . The Golf Channel . August 25, 2003 . April 28, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205621/http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15104&select=10692 . September 27, 2007 . dead .
  11. Web site: Lopez announces 2005 U.S. Solheim Cup Team . . August 28, 2005 . Bethan . Cutler . April 28, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184453/http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_news.php?Id=3896 . September 30, 2007 .
  12. News: Associated Press . Kerr romps to 12-stroke win at LPGA Championship . June 27, 2010.
  13. Web site: KSDK.com . Miyazato replaces Kerr as women's No. 1 . July 19, 2010.
  14. News: Kerr wins LPGA finale, Ko wins CME Globe, Park qualifies Hall of Fame . Yahoo Sports . Ryan . Ballengee . November 22, 2015 . November 23, 2015.
  15. News: Cristie Kerr wins LPGA title, Lydia Ko takes $1 million bonus . The Sydney Morning Herald . Associated Press . November 23, 2015 . November 23, 2015.
  16. Web site: LPGA . Christie Kerr – Bio .
  17. Web site: Kerr receives 2006 LPGA Komen Award . LPGA . November 15, 2006 . December 23, 2008.
  18. Things Are Looking Up: A Q&A with LPGA Tour star Cristie Kerr . . September 1, 2009 . September 7, 2009 . September 6, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090906090844/http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2009/09/cristie_kerr_interview . dead .
  19. Bergeron . Elena . If at First You Do Succeed... . . August 9, 2010 . 68.
  20. The Winning Edge . . Ron . Sirak . May 20, 2005 . April 28, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115322/http://www.lpga.com/content/KerrGW052605.pdf . September 29, 2007 . mdy-all .
  21. Web site: Cerio . Gregory . On and off course, Kerr enjoying the fine life . NBC Sports . June 29, 2010 . February 25, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009074856/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23338293/ns/sports-golf/page/3/ . October 9, 2012.
  22. Balter. Emma. March 2018. Cristie Kerr Tees Up Wine. Wine Spectator. 19.
  23. Web site: Oh Boy!! . www.cristiekerrgolf.com . October 31, 2017.
  24. Web site: Foregals . LPGA's 2018 Baby Boom: Could there be more coming in 2019? . January 2019 .
  25. Todisco . Eric . LPGA Star Cristie Kerr and Caddie Recovering After Being Hospitalized for Golf Cart Accident . People . December 10, 2020 . December 7, 2020.
  26. Schmitt . Tim . Cristie Kerr recalls cart accident, says pain is 'at a 6' after shooting even 71 at U.S. Women's Open . Golfweek . December 11, 2020 . December 10, 2020.
  27. News: Rogers . Amy . Still recovering from serious injuries, Cristie Kerr toughs out 71 at U.S. Women's Open . Golf Channel . December 11, 2020 . December 10, 2020.
  28. Web site: Piastowski . Nick . Days after being tossed from a cart, Cristie Kerr contending at the U.S. Open . Golf.com . December 11, 2020 . December 10, 2020.
  29. Web site: December 18, 2023 . Christie Kerr – Stats . LPGA .
  30. Web site: Christie Kerr – Results . LPGA . December 18, 2023.
  31. Web site: Career Money . LPGA . December 18, 2023.
  32. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 26, 2006.
  33. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 25, 2007.
  34. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 30, 2008.
  35. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 29, 2009.
  36. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 28, 2010.
  37. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 27, 2011.
  38. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 31, 2012.
  39. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 30, 2013.
  40. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 29, 2014.
  41. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 28, 2015.
  42. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 26, 2016.
  43. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 25, 2017.
  44. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 31, 2018.
  45. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 30, 2019.
  46. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 28, 2020.
  47. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 27, 2021.
  48. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 26, 2022.
  49. Web site: Women's World Golf Rankings . December 25, 2023.