BOCA RATON, Fla. – Jennifer Kupcho tried something new as she readied for her fourth LPGA season. She rested. On Thursday, she felt fresh as she opened a new season with a bogey-free round of 68. It marked the first time she had walked 18 holes since the CME Group Tour Championship in November.
“Definitely a little bit tired,” she said afterward. Kupcho had concerns that her chipping might be a bit rusty, but took care of that by not missing many greens. When she did miss one, she found herself on the fringe, and could putt.
She didn’t start practicing for her 2022 debut until about 10 days ago. The break was nice. She was sick for part of it, but also took some time to go home for Christmas. She didn’t miss the grind of practicing. She feels very fresh. Maybe this is the season – perhaps the week – that she gets that first LPGA victory.
“It’s very beneficial,” she said regarding her time off. “It’s really hard to come out here and play that much golf (23 starts in 2021, plus the Solheim Cup) when you’re used to playing a few events every couple weeks in college.
“I had never taken off more than two days before I came out here, so it’s definitely a big difference.”
In addition to getting her season started, Kupcho has plenty to distract her these days. She is getting married next month in a small ceremony in Arizona. Her boyfriend, Jay Monahan (no relation to the PGA Tour commissioner) proposed to Kupcho just before last year’s Solheim Cup. He caddied for her in her first professional triumph when she won the Colorado Open.
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