This installment of “In Their Words,” golfer Kathryn Imrie is interviewed by JJ Weber (Co-Founder and Director of Sports Psychology).
Kathryn competed on the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour for 18 years. Kathryn attended the University of Arizona, where she earned All-America honors. In 1995, Kathryn became the first Scottish golfer to win on the LPGA Tour. In addition, Kathryn carded a record 11 birdies during a round at the 1997 State Farm Rail Classic, shooting 62 to equal the LPGA scoring mark.
However, Kathryn is more than a golfer; she is an advocate for women’s sports and serves as an inspiration for all.
In the interview, Kathyn offers a candid look into the realities of turning pro, the pressure of sustaining a career on tour, and the often-overlooked mental health challenges that come with elite performance. Kathryn also speaks with clarity and conviction on issues like the disparity in prize money and the need for stronger advocacy for women’s sports.
JJW: Could you tell me a little bit about your youth background in golf?
Kathryn: I’m from the East Coast of Scotland, and anyone who grows up in Scotland knows that golf has been played in basically every household. As a junior, I learn to play on the links course. It’s one of my favorite courses in the world. I’ve played all over the world and still love the links course where I learned to play.
As a junior, I had access to golf. It was easy. I would just jump on a bus. When I was eight years old, I would cycle to the course on my bike. It was a two-mile ride to the golf course with my clubs on my back. It was just that kind of way of life. We’re talking 45 years ago now. It was just what kids did back then. It was a great social hub. We were very much left to our own devices until we did something wrong, you know?
My typical summer day would be playing two or three rounds, or just playing. Then, I would spend the evening with my parents after my father finished his workday. Once I got independence, and I’m talking about 10 or 11, I’d be out on the course on my own. It was a great way to grow up.
JJW: You attended college in the US. Did a particular University recruit you?
Kathryn: So that is a great story in itself. When I was in high school, one of my good friends was training to be an Olympic swimmer. She attended the University of Arizona on a partial scholarship. We would write letters back and forth to each other. It was right around the time Title IX benefited women’s sports. All those written letters eventually led to me receiving a full ride to UA.
JJW: How was your experience playing golf in college?
Kathryn: I ended up being the number one player on my team pretty quickly. However, transitioning from playing the Links to desert golf courses was quite different for me.
I loved my experience. However, the last thing my dad said to me before I left for the US was, “We’ll support you in anything you do, but you have to get your degree so you have something to fall back on.” It was great advice because you don’t know how long your professional golf career will last.
Both of my parents were teachers, so education was very much at the forefront. It was a wise decision because, at one point, I had a little stumble. I got really homesick and thought I couldn’t do it. Then, my dad said to me, “The easiest thing you can do is quit.” That was the perfect line for me. It’s like, “Okay, stick it out.” I really enjoyed my experience in college. Happily, I graduated in four years.
Being the top player on the team really opened the floodgates for the coach to recruit from Europe. Annika Sorenstam followed suit and went to the University of Arizona after I graduated. It changed the University of Arizona’s golf program. Our program really developed afterward. I like to think I helped kick-start the move to a solid program a bit. That’s how programs develop. They get one person in, and then the floodgates open.
JJW: Many collegiate athletes are focused more on their sport than their education. What was your mindset?
Kathryn: I was very much the opposite of that. I was going to earn my degree, and that was my first and foremost goal. It’s important to focus, knuckle down, and get your degree. I think that still should be the way. Many athletes excel in their sport, but if they don’t pursue their education, they miss out on great years at school. That’s what people tend to forget.
JJW: What year did you turn pro? How old were you?
Kathryn: I turned professional in 1991, so I was 23 or 24 years old. I played in Europe for a couple of years. But my goal was always to be on the LPGA Tour. That was the best tour in the world.
I earned my LPGA card on my second attempt. However, the first attempt was a real eye-opener because it was like, “Wow, you’re not good enough.” It was helpful to identify areas for improvement, create a plan, and work on the necessary changes to become better. So, that’s what I did, and I earned my card the following year. Then, I played on tour for the next 18 years.
JJW: What is it like to handle the pressure on the Tour? In college, you were elite, and suddenly you’re a professional and everyone is elite. What was it like to be in that position?
Kathryn: That was a real awakening. It’s something that needs to be taught better or forewarned. One week, I was an amateur superstar, and then all of a sudden, I became the newbie professional who no one knew and no one really cared about.
That was a hard learning curve for me. I know you’re in it for yourself and no one else. That’s part and parcel. But no one told me that would happen. It’s as if no one taught me to understand that.
If you’re coached about transitioning into the pro ranks, you’d be better prepared for it.
JJW: How was life on the tour?
Kathryn: Playing on the European Tour my first few years was fun. I was playing well, and there’s obviously a strong correlation between performance and your enjoyment.
I wasn’t from a family that had enough wealth to travel with me all the time, but I did have good sponsorships. However, when I started on the Tour, I was pretty much left to my own devices. I didn’t have a management company, so I had to make my own travel plans.
As far as making arrangements and tour life goes, I just learned by doing. We had a fact sheet back then with phone numbers and information for the following tournament. All of us golfers travelled as a group. You travelled and bunked with your friends. It made it a bit easier, but it’s a very different lifestyle.
When I teach golfers, I know there will be some players who are cut out for it and some who are absolutely not.
JJW: How is the pressure of dealing with a lack of financial stability?
Kathryn: That’s a great question. It’s a question I’m frequently asked. You worry about finances because they are performance-related. I was lucky enough to have good sponsorship. My sponsorship included a company credit card that covered my expenses. I also had an equipment company that would double my money when I won on the tour.
Nowadays, deals are very different. Deals today go to the superstar golfer, not the journeyman pro, which I was. Although I had my moments of greatness, I never ranked number one or in the top ten. I think the highest ranking I achieved was 30, which is obviously good. If you finish in the top, you’re set; you don’t have to worry financially. For me, I needed to stay in the top 90, so I could maintain my playing rights for the following year. So, that was more of a worry. It’s more like, “Can I sustain this? Will I still have a job next year?”
What do you think about the disparity of prize money between men and women?
Kathryn: It’s crazy. Back then, the men roughly earned five times as much, if not six times as much, as the LPGA. And guess what? It’s the same today; even though we’re playing for more money, the vast difference in prize money remains.
I think it ultimately comes down to the TV rights and the number of viewers. However, it’s how you build and promote women’s golf. In South Korea, they produce great golfers because their players are promoted. It’s like the ‘if they build it, they will come’ type of thing.
These young women work extremely hard, as hard as the men. And we are paid nowhere near the same as the men. We are playing for good money, don’t get me wrong, but the money difference is vast. When you peel back the onion, the money disparity is because people don’t promote women’s golf as well. Clearly, people won’t watch it if it’s not promoted.
JJW: How do you change that culture, though?
Kathryn: I think we need more than just the women’s voices standing up for women. It’s not just a female issue. That’s the problem for me. It’s not enough. Men should speak up and support the women’s game as well.
JJW: What are your thoughts about the mental game of golf and mental health on the Tour?
Kathryn: It’s a huge part of the game, especially in a game like golf, where you have so much downtime during a round. I mean, you literally play 30 minutes out of the five hours you’re on the course. So, there is a lot of time when your mind can wander. It’s a bit unique in that way.
Additionally, there are definitely a lot more mental health issues than people are aware of. There’s Pak Se-Ri, who played 25-30 years ago. She took the LPGA by storm and was so much better than everyone else. Towards the end of her career, she spent time in a hospital for mental exhaustion and burnout. Now, she has a place in Korea, where she works with young women to promote work-life balance.
I think it’s just the pressure to perform, I’ve seen it at the college level where top women experienced pressure since they were young. As soon as they become freshmen in college, it’s a shock. There’s another life. Some recognize it right away, while others don’t. It’s just getting that balanced right. Sports are a great way to earn a living, but not at the cost of your relationships or mental health.
JJW: What advice would you give your younger self? What would you do differently?
Kathryn: The advice I would give to myself is not to be so hard on yourself. It’s just a game at the end of the day. Yes, it’s your job. However, you are a person who happens to play golf. It should not be the be-all, end-all. I would tell myself to have a better work-life balance.
Even during tournament weeks, you have a lot of downtime. You usually arrive at the tournament on Monday, but don’t play until Thursday. So, during that downtime, you should try visiting the Eiffel Tower, see a statue, or do something that’s typically a tourist attraction.
When I played, I’d come off the course and my head would be absolutely splitting. I was so intensely focused that I would get migraines. There are ways to stay focused without breaking your brain and having these headaches hamper your performance.
And then there is mental exercise. I was pretty good about a mental exercise program halfway through my career. When I performed mental exercises, I did well and achieved a lot of my goals. I wish I’d started that as a daily routine earlier in my career, just in some form of meditation or relaxation.
Another thing would be acceptance. I wish I had told myself, “You’re such a great golfer. What has gotten you to the Tour is good enough to sustain and keep you here. You don’t have to continually worry that you have to change or freak out about getting better.”
JJW: Do you have any advice for coaches and parents?
Kathryn: I see it so much in the golf world from parents, “My kid is gonna be the next Tiger Woods, the next Michelle Wie. So we are gonna dedicate everything to golf.” Every time I hear it, I’m like, “Don’t do it!”
For parents, the best advice I can give them is to let their kids have fun. Have them play other sports too, like tennis. Some say the tennis swing will ruin their golf swing. That’s rubbish! I think when you only play golf from a young age, you’re straining the same muscles. By training those same muscles over time, they’re going to break down, just like what happened to Tiger Woods. Most people don’t realize that, despite how he trained when he was young, who knows, Tiger would probably still have succeeded. That’s not talked about enough.
JJW: So, what are you up to now?
Kathryn: Currently, I’m back in my hometown in Scotland, where I’m teaching a junior program at one of my local clubs. Can’t get away from the coaching. I’m actually going to play a little bit more senior women’s golf.
I’m getting back into golf fitness, which includes a mental program, by the way. July and August will be my busy time. So I’m in the middle of getting ready for that now.
I am also based in California, where I teach part-time at a local club. I love teaching. I love coaching. It’s always going to be my blood, and I’m going to do that until my dying day.
JJW: I hear you have a podcast. Can you tell me a bit about it?
Kathryn: When I’m not working full-time, I’m diving into other stuff, like teaching a little bit more online with the live golf app I’m associated with. It’s a great way to do remote teaching.
Everyone’s listening to podcasts now, which is great. I love podcasts. My podcast is called “The Punch Shot”. I think I have a lot of good things to share. “The Punch Shot” podcast is with Catriona Matthew and Karen Stupples. We’re just kind of scratching the surface of our podcast. We want to get some guests who have great stories to tell. I just love talking about golf, current golf topics, and other interesting subjects. Karen is a fantastic broadcaster. Catriona is getting into that, too, and her background is second to none. We’ve got some good tales to talk about.
CLOSING
Kathryn Imrie’s journey reminds us that a career in sport is never just about trophies and scorecards—it’s about balance, adaptability, and the courage to stay true to yourself. Her reflections on perseverance, education, and mental health serve as a powerful reminder that success in athletics must be accompanied by well-being and purpose.
As she continues to mentor the next generation and amplify women’s voices in golf, Kathryn is leaving a legacy far beyond the fairways. Her advocacy for equity in women’s sports underscores the importance of building a game where opportunities, recognition, and prize money reflect the dedication of female athletes.
As she continues to mentor the next generation and amplify women’s voices in golf, Kathryn is leaving a legacy far beyond the fairways. Her story is a call to athletes, coaches, and families alike: chase excellence, but never lose sight of the bigger picture.
At Player Support Services, we know that every athlete’s journey is filled with defining moments—the triumphs, the setbacks, the doubts, and the growth that comes from navigating them all. Kathryn Imrie’s story reminds us that success in sport isn’t just measured by wins and records, but also by resilience, balance, and the ability to stay grounded through it all.
Our role is to walk alongside athletes on that journey—whether it’s providing performance psychology, guidance through transitions, support for emotional well-being, or tools to prepare for life beyond competition.
No one succeeds alone. That is why PSS is fully committed to supporting athletes, families, and organizations with discreet, tailored care that helps athletes not just perform, but truly thrive.
At Player Support Services, we partner with clubs, federations, academies, and agencies to ensure that athletes receive support throughout every stage of their careers.
For more information about Player Support Services or to schedule a meeting, email JJ Weber, M.Ed. (joe@player-support.com)
JJ is a Co-Founder of Player Support Services and a sports psychology specialist with 20 years of experience working with professional and Olympic athletes worldwide. JJ focuses on athletic peak performance, injury recovery, and holistic well-being on and off the field.
