Manon GIDALI
Golfer

Manon received a scholarship to finance her participation in international competitions.

What is your sporting background ?
I started golf at the age of eight and it immediately became the thread of my life. My training club, the Racing Club de France, allowed me to discover the sporting spirit of golf as well as the rigour needed at the top level. I then joined the Pôle France Girls in 2009, which acquainted me with the highest level worldwide. The French team gave me the chance to take part in incredible tournaments all over the world, the most memorable being the bronze medal we brought back from the World Championships in Argentina in 2010. For four years now, I have been representing one of the best American universities, the University of Arizona. This gives me the opportunity to enrich my cultural knowledge, to obtain a degree in Economics and to compete against the best players in the world on championship courses in order to prepare for my professional life.

How do you see your profession today ?
Today, at the age of 21, I have achieved everything I wanted at amateur level. During these years, I have accumulated a lot of experience that has prepared me for the next stage of my life, which will be my professional transition in July 2015. I am truly fortunate to be able to make my passion my profession and I look forward to this next chapter of my life.

How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
In 5 years, I see myself on the LPGA and my main goal, once I become a professional, is to participate in the Solheim Cup. I was lucky enough to be able to play the Junior Solheim Cup as an amateur and my dream is to play it as a professional. One of my main goals is to win on the LPGA and in the longer term to be able to win majors and in particular the British Open. In 10 years, my goals will be the same. Golf is a sport that can be played over the long term and if I am successful on the LPGA I would like to play on the circuit for far more than 10 years.  

This interview was conducted in 2014
Photo credit: Emilie Arfeuil