Krista Puisite (Riga, Latvia) has had a busy first year as a professional. She played the first half of the year on the Epson Tour and then took a break to go film Big Break Myrtle Beach. She returned after filming and completed the season on Tour.
She was recently eliminated from Big Break, but she advanced to Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament (December 3-7).
Puisite took time to answer fans questions submitted through social media.
She is currently spending time traveling between Austin, Texas and Jacksonville, Florida preparing for final stage.
Q: What is your favorite course to play?
Krista: When we were in the Hamptons (New York) two weeks ago we played at the Atlantic Golf Club and it was so nice. I told someone that this is officially my favorite course to play. The course is just perfect. The quality of the grass is the highest I have ever played on. The greens were super fast and it was so pretty.
Q: What was it like watching yourself on national television during Big Break?
Krista: It was very different. You never get to see yourself and how you look after certain shots. I could see some attitude after shots that I would like to change. It is obviously really cool to see yourself on national television. I wish it was for a longer period of time (Krista was eliminated after the second episode), but it was a good experience.
Q: In preparation for Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament, what are you working on?
Krista: I want to improve a little bit of everything in my game. I just changed my woods from playing Taylormade and now I decided to go with Ping. I’m definitely switching my driver and 3-wood, because I wasn’t even using my 3-wood. If you watched Big Break, my bad shot was with my 3-wood. At the Epson event in Daytona (Epson Tour Championship), I realized that I really need the 3-wood for some of the par-5 holes that I could go for in two shots. I also thought that if I change my driver, I could gain some distance. I am definitely focusing on getting used to those two clubs. I want to be more consistent getting the ball closer to the pin and make more putts.
Q: When was the first time you realized you want to play on the LPGA Tour?
Krista: I always thought that I want to play on the LPGA Tour because I played golf everyday growing up but when I came to college (Texas State) I didn’t really believe that I could do it. At the end of my sophomore year into the beginning of my junior year, I realized that it was a real possibility. I think that is when I really decided that I want to go for it.
Q: How does a girl from Latvia get into golf?
Krista: Our dad used to get us golf clubs as Christmas presents that we absolutely hated when I was nine and my sister was eight (Krista’s sister also played golf at Texas State and will be her caddie at Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament). That was a long time ago.
Q: Did you have any golfing role models growing up?
Krista: I never really had one golfer that I would consider my role model growing up in Latvia. In Latvia, you don’t get access to golf that much. You don’t watch golf on television, you don’t get any golf magazines. Maybe now you do, but when we were growing up it wasn’t as easily accessible. I didn’t know much about the professional golfers.
One golfer we always knew about was Natalie Gulbis because her dad is Latvian and her last name is a Latvian last name. She was always the person in golf that people would mention in Latvia. We went to watch the Evian Championship one time and we met her so that was nice.
Q: What is it like having your sister on the bag?
Krista: It is awesome to have her. We’ve always been pretty close growing up. We played together, practiced together and went to school together. In college, during my freshman year, I was alone when she was finishing high school in Latvia and we never thought we would go to the same school. After my freshman year, I realized how much I missed family and home and she thought she would feel the same way so she decided to come to Texas State and we got even closer. After college, she decided she didn’t want to play golf anyone more so she is working (software developer), but I am very lucky that she takes vacation days to come caddie for me.
Q: What is your favorite club?
Krista: I can’t decide between driver and putter. Hopefully, the new driver is also my favorite. My driver tends to be so consistent and I rarely get into trouble off the tee so that makes the game easier. I feel like when I have to, I manage to make putts.
Q: If you weren’t playing professional golf what would you be doing?
Krista: People ask me this all the time, but I don’t really have a back up plan. I went to college and studied finance, which I like. I do like economics. Right now, if I stop playing I would probably get my masters degree in economics and finance. I would probably want to own my own business. I don’t really like working for someone else.
Other Quick Questions
Favorite Food: SushiFavorite Place to Visit: Las Vegas
Favorite Movie: The Heat
Favorite Sport (other than golf): Ice Hockey
Favorite Store: Outlet mall in San Marcos
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