Na was a gymnast as a young kid and then turned to golf, coached at a youngster by her father. “He taught me everything I know about golf,” she says.
Steph Na doesn’t hold back when reflecting on how uncompromising and tough the professional golf tour is.
She was a gymnast as a young kid and then turned to golf, coached at a young age by her father. “He taught me everything I know about golf,” she says.
When she turned professional at age 19, Steph Na was the top-ranked Australian amateur in 2007 and 2008, having also represented Australia.
So, it would make sense that she was accustomed to winning reasonably regularly. Turning pro then was a big challenge. A culture shock, as she puts it.
In her first year in 2009, automatic card was given to top 30 and by years end she came in at around 35, so her entry into every tournament was conditional.
On the European Tour, she struggled playing in the cold of Europe.
“Easy to put too much pressure on yourself,” Na reflects now. “High-performance athletes need pressure and have the capability to rise to the occasion, but you can also put too much pressure on yourself.”
There were good times too – and success. In 2012 she made her first cut in her first major at the British Open, playing alongside great players like Karrie Webb.
However, the year of 2015 which had been affected by injury, illness, loss of sponsorship and lack of prizemoney became a cause for retreat, rest and reflection.
“On reflection, I was an obsessive practiser. It made sense to me at the time but burn out is a real thing. I definitely reached that burnt out phase in 2015.”
In 2017 Na went back to the US Tour, playing on the Epson Tour – described by Na as ‘travelling circus’. In fact, it is the qualifying circuit for the LPGA.
“As players we drove to every event and heavily relied on host families to accommodate us. The entry fees were US$500, but it was a wonderful real-life experience, and I got to know all these wonderful families across the US.”
In 2024, transitioning away from competing and into a new role with Golf Australia’s High-Performance program, including some caddying for and mentoring of upcoming Australian female golfers. “The next best thing to doing it yourself,” Na says
