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While two familiar faces threatened to "three-peat" The Legends Tour's
signature event, two fiery competitors refused to fall victim to the charge.
Sherri Turner and Cindy Figg-Currier followed a first round 62 with an even
more spectacular final round 61 and never looked back. Besting the legendary
field by four shots, Turner and Figg ended Scranton and Johnson's reign and
ushered in a new approach to an old game: stay loose, have fun and don't
forget to check your e-mail.
You've been in the hunt before at the BJCC.
How did it feel to finally close the deal?
Turner: It was awesome. Cindy and I have been a good team and
have been in contention each year, and we finally pulled it together and won
by 4 over a lot of great teams.
Figg: Justice is served. It's total exhilaration. The first time
Scranton and Johnson beat us, they eagled right on top of us at the end.
They made some really long shots the whole final round we played with them
that year - 60-foot putts, 25-foot chip-ins. They were sinking everything
and we were like, what do we have to do?! So this year it was our turn.
What brought you two together as teammates for the BJCC? What do you like
about the format?
Turner:
Jane Crafter, my former partner, retired and Myra, Figg's partner wasn't
eligible. Rosie Jones actually told us the other was looking for a partner.
We hooked up at the Women's Open in 2006 in Rhode Island and the rest is
history. The format is great for us. Our games compliment each other so
well, but most of all, we bring out the best in each other's personalities.
We keep each other loose.
Figg: We've always been friends and we've known each other for a
long time. In fact, we both qualified for the LPGA the same year - October
1983. Our first year on the LPGA Tour was 1984.
Rumor has it both your mother's initials
are BJ. What are your mom's full names and do you think it's just a crazy
coincidence?
Turner: Barbara Jeraldine Turner. It is crazy. Figg was on the
phone after the tournament and hung up after talking to her mom. She said
her mom made her realize her initials were BJ and I replied, my mom's
are, too. How weird!
Figg: It gets weirder. My mom AND my mother-in-law are both Betty
Jeans. The next week after BJ's I was in Jackson, Michigan for the Wendy's
Charity Challenge and went out to dinner at Daryl's Downtown. My waitress's
name was Betty Jean!! It was destiny. The next day I won that tournament,
too.
Weather made the BJ's event more of a
challenge than ever. How did you keep your mojo through the weather delays?
Turner: Well, I spent the final weather delay looking all
over for my partner, who decided to go to the deep dark dungeon in the cart
barn to answer her emails, so I was certainly distracted. Then out of
nowhere she appeared, and I jokingly said, "Oh, you must have gotten my
email saying 'Where the heck are you? Its time to play!'"
Figg: I think we were just good at adapting to adversity. And I
needed to check my e-mail, so it worked out good to have that time. But I
had to go down into the cart barn to get a signal. I told the guy to come
get me if play started up again, but no one came to get me! I started to
feel like it was a long delay, so I headed up and then I saw feet on 9
green. I got it together quick!
What was
your strategy going into the BJCC? Did you do anything differently than in
past years?
Turner:
The only strategy we have is that I always play first, which is the same to
past years. We didn't do anything differently. We always try to stay loose
and have FUN.
Figg: Make lots of birdies. We did play more aggressively, but
Sherri was really on her game. I helped out, but she played fantastic. She
putted and chipped the best I've ever seen her. Also, I went to see the
Eagles in concert the week of the tournament and it was very inspirational!
I played golf with Glenn Frey once in a pro-am so it was good to see him
again.
What was your most memorable shot of the BJCC tournament?
Turner: On Sunday morning when we went out to finish our
round and Cindy holed out her first shot of the day on 16 for eagle. We
finished with another 2 birdies to have a 4 shot lead going into the
scramble.
Figg: Oh, we went out on Sunday to finish Saturday's round and we
were in the middle of 16 fairway. It was my first shot of the day I holed it
out. Eagle! Sherri played awesome the whole time, but I tell ya, I can light
a fire.
Why do you think the two of you ham-and-egged so well together? What
parts of your individual games strengthened the pairing overall?
Turner: My driver and length helps us to have shorter shots
to the green. Knowing Cindy is there behind me allows me the freedom to
swing away and play my game.
Figg: I look at it like pieces of a puzzle. Separately, they
don't look like anything special but put them together and it makes total
sense. Sherri has a lot of game, but her number one strength is her
attitude. We were just so happy to be there! Our personalities are similar.
We love Boston and we love the BJ's event. |
