Abu Dhabi: Beth Allen, the 2016 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner, is an institution and you got to trust her decision making — simply because of the way she has braced challenges on and off the greens.
Biding goodbye to California, the American-born golf professional, settled in Scotland trying to make a better mark on her game after joining the Ladies European Tour in 2008.
The going became tougher when in 2011, she decided to help her elder brother Dan by donating one of her kidneys. While most would have chosen to take a back seat following this life-changer and shun any form of rigorous activity, Allen was back at what she loved the most — golf.
After four years of relentless pursuit, the world was at her feet as she became the first player from the United States to win the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in the organisation’s 38-year history.
“I was settled in Edinburg when I was 11. Last year was my best year and you are 35. I don’t see why I can’t keep getting better because of my age. I hit it as far as most and usually that’s the kind of thing that goes with age. I can compete with anyone. I’m happy and my personal life is great. It’s all good,” said Allen, who is here in the capital to defend her title at the $550,000 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club starting November 1-4.
Unlike other golfers, Allen’s body is a lot different since the transplant. She needs to make a conscious effort to ensure that her fluid intake is more than a normal person. “I just have to drink tons of water and in the beginning, right after the operation it took me over a year to get my full strength back. Now it is fine but I have to make sure that I’m always hydrated especially in this heat. I get dehydrated quicker than most. I try to have four litres plus but in this heat I will have to have more. The caddie gets tired carrying it though,” said Allen.
With her success last year, it was understandable that Allen would set sights again at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour but her going wasn’t very easy. It has been a forgettable season so far. Her best performance, so far this season, has been a tied ninth-place finish that has come towards the end of season at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, where she had won the title in 2016.
Allen, however, begs to differ that the transition had nothing to do with her performance this season and she very much belongs at LPGA and it was just a matter of time for her.
“I think for this year, it was the right move as obviously I played well last year. As a professional athlete, you are always looking to challenge yourself. The LPGA probably is the strongest tour in the world and I wanted to see where I stand. I played there 10 years ago and I just thought I should play Solheim (Cup) but later I lost some confidence in the middle of the year,” said Allen, adding she was regaining form towards the end of the season.
“I started playing better now especially in France. I feel in golf everything is so close. Like I said it is just a confidence thing and I’m feeling better. It is also comfort obviously. I feel comfortable in Europe and LPGA wasn’t the same. I will try and play little bit on both tours next year and not focus on just one and that will be a perfect medium,” revealed Allen, who was upbeat of retaining her title in Abu Dhabi and was looking forward to the challenge here.
“I have good memories from last year and obviously I would like to keep it up. Since the golf is not that far away from last year and the form is coming back, I would say I can put up a good show and really try to defend the title.”
