HOUSTON – Cristie Kerr plans to tee it up in the 75th U.S. Women’s Open. The 20-time LPGA winner played the back nine of the Cypress Course at Champions Golf Club on Wednesday and plans to be on the tee Thursday for her 11:26 a.m. EST grouping with Brittany Lincicome and Gerina Piller.
“I actually played alright,” said Kerr, who was on her way to cryotherapy. “Hitting it a little bit shorter today but that’s because I’m being cautious. There’s pain.”
Where is the pain?
“Everywhere,” Kerr replied.
Kerr, 43, was involved in an early-morning golf cart accident last Friday in dark conditions at the Volunteers of America Classic. She withdrew from the event with knee, arm and hand contusions as well as more serious rib injuries.
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Kerr and her caddie last week, Matt Gelczis, spent several hours in the emergency room. Gelczis is now back home in Philadelphia, and she has her former caddie, Brady Stockton, on the bag this week in Houston.
Kerr said she dislocated three ribs in the accident. She came out on Monday and chipped and putted on Cypress for nine holes but said it was too painful to even hit a flop shot. On Tuesday, she walked all 18 on the Jackrabbit Course, just working on short game.
Wednesday was the first time she hit full shots on the golf course in a week.
“It was in the middle here,” said Kerr of the pain, “but now that I’ve stopped, it’s gone to the back … just gonna do the best we can. And yes, pain medication.”
Kerr, the oldest player in the field this week, won the first of her two major championships at the 2007 USWO at Pine Needles. This will be her 94th consecutive major championship dating back to the 1999 season. The mother of two hasn’t missed a Women’s Open since 1998.
Kerr said she didn’t want to get into the details of the accident.
“Probably best not to go into that right now,” she said.
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