Live From the LPGA Ford Championship with Lauren Coughlin

In this episode of the Tee Time with Tori podcast, host Tori sits down with Lauren Coughlin, an LPGA professional golfer known for her unwavering resilience on the green. Throughout the conversation, Lauren shares her inspiring journey, from her early days as a young golf enthusiast to the challenges and triumphs she's faced in her professional career.

Falling in Love with the Game

Lauren's love for golf began at a tender age, thanks to the influence of her father and grandfather. She recalls, "My dad and my grandfather, pretty much all the men on my dad's side, my uncle's cousins, they love golf. And so that's kind of how I got started."

Lauren's father, who traveled frequently for work, would bring her along to the golf course whenever he had the chance, sparking her passion for the sport.

It was when Lauren moved to Virginia at the age of 10 that she truly caught the golfing bug. She reminisces, "I moved to Virginia when I was about 10 years old, and that's when I really got the bug, I think, once we moved there, started out at the first tee, and yeah, just kind of got bit by the bug."

The College Years: A Journey of Growth

Despite not being highly recruited out of high school, Lauren's determination led her to walk on at the University of Virginia. After redshirting her first year, she stayed a fifth year to earn her master's degree. It was during this time that Lauren's skills flourished, and she became an all-American by her fifth year.

"By my fifth year I was an all-American and just kind of was like okay I guess I need to go play professional yeah I kind of see how good I can get up until then of course you know I dreamed of playing on the LPGA but never really thought that I was good enough to go do it until I had that fifth year," Lauren shares.

The Professional Journey: Challenges and Perseverance

Lauren's professional journey began in 2016 when she attended Q-School after graduating. She earned full Epson status (formerly known as the Symetra Tour) for the following year but faced financial struggles, making only around $8,000 in her first full year on tour.

However, with the encouragement of her coach, Kim Llewellyn, and her husband, Lauren persevered. She gave Q-School another shot and earned full LPGA status for 2018. Despite the challenges of her rookie year on the LPGA Tour, Lauren's support system continued to believe in her potential.

The Power of a Strong Support System

Lauren credits her husband and coaches for their unwavering belief in her abilities, even when she struggled to see it herself. She shares, 

Her husband, a former college football player, encouraged Lauren to keep pushing forward, not wanting her to quit too early and regret it later. This support proved crucial in Lauren's journey, as she continued to work hard and improve her game.

The Turning Point: Taking Fitness and Nutrition Seriously

In 2019, Lauren made a significant change in her approach to fitness and nutrition. After gaining 30 pounds since graduating college and not prioritizing self-care, she realized the importance of taking her physical health seriously.

Lauren's coach's husband, who is also her swing coach, offered to help her with strength training. She began working out three days a week during the off-season, focusing on building strength and increasing her clubhead speed. The results were remarkable—Lauren lost 15 to 20 pounds and gained 15 to 20 yards off the tee.

The Mental Game: Communication and Self-Awareness

Lauren and her husband have developed a routine of post-round check-ins, discussing her performance, feelings, and areas for improvement. This practice has helped Lauren become more in tune with her emotions and quick to address any issues that arise during a round.

"As soon as we started doing those, I just kind of got started getting a lot more in tune during the rounds, if I would start feeling, you know, a little anxious or a little, just quick sometimes out of rhythm, like being able to express it and get out of it quicker," Lauren shares.

The Importance of Proper Nutrition on Tour

While Lauren admits that nutrition can be challenging while traveling for tournaments, she recognizes the importance of making healthy choices. With her husband now traveling with her full-time as her manager and agent, he has been encouraging her to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into her diet to combat fatigue and maintain mental sharpness.

"It's a really simple thing that you can fix that should help that yeah, and so I'm this week I'm okay. I'm making sure I go get my fruits at breakfast and getting some vegetables at lunch and this little thing," Lauren says, acknowledging the positive impact of these small changes.

A Typical Tournament Week: Preparation and Practice

Lauren walks us through a typical tournament week, from Monday to Wednesday. Mondays are usually lighter days, focusing on travel, practice, and possibly playing nine holes if she hasn't seen the course before. Tuesdays are the busiest days, with extensive practice, putting, chipping, range work, and playing at least nine holes.

Wednesdays are pro-am days, and with Lauren's increasing participation in these events, she focuses on putting, chipping, and getting a feel for the green speeds and how the ball reacts around the greens.

Equipment Check-In and Fitting

As a member of the Ping staff, Lauren gets her lie angles and loft checked every four to six weeks. She's open to trying new equipment when it becomes available but only puts it in play if it proves to be better than her current setup.

During the Phoenix stop on tour, Lauren's husband had the opportunity to get fitted for a full set of Ping clubs, an experience she found enjoyable and a nice change of pace from the usual focus on her own game.

Reflecting on the Highs and Lows

Lauren's highest finish to date came at the 2022 Canadian Open, where she not only played exceptional golf but also formed a meaningful connection with the Musqueam band, the First Nation on whose land the tournament was held.

"It was a really cool start to the week. Just learning about the Musqueam band and The golf course and like we were on like the 11th tee box and they're like, oh, yeah, this was my great-grandfather's land This is where his long house was like overlooking this beautiful," Lauren recalls.

Despite missing the cut in the previous week's tournament, Lauren focuses on the positives, such as the strong communication with her husband on the course, her ability to bounce back from a poor start, and her solid putting performance on challenging greens.

Looking Ahead: Continuous Improvement

As Lauren looks ahead to the current tournament and future events, she remains focused on continuous improvement. Identifying areas for growth, such as her chipping and iron play, she approaches each week with a determined mindset, ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.

Throughout her journey, Lauren Coughlin has demonstrated remarkable resilience, determination, and the power of perseverance. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring golfers and anyone facing adversity in pursuit of their dreams. With a strong support system, a commitment to physical and mental well-being, and an unwavering passion for the game, Lauren continues to make her mark on the LPGA Tour, one shot at a time.

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