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PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – On the ride up to meet the media at Erin Hills last year, after the trophy ceremony, Maja Stark told her agent, Jeff Chilcoat, that she was going to be able to accomplish her goal.
Stark, 26, wasn’t referring to winning the U.S. Women’s Open, which she’d just done. She was talking about the career-long goal she’d set for herself of giving away $1 million before the end of her career.
The winner’s check of $2.4 million certainly set her up nicely to for that.
“I’m just going to keep it,” said Stark of the victory spoils on the set of the Golf Channel’s Live From. “I feel very comfortable right now, and I have all the things I need. I’m not really a shopaholic or anything, so I’ll just spend the money on cats.”
Stark doesn't have the details planned out yet on where she'll donate, but rescue animals are close to her heart. The good-natured Swede began fostering cats to help her get out of a bad head space after capturing the biggest title in women’s golf.
“When I got my first cat Dolly, I was just supposed to foster her because I felt like I am not having a good time, but I need to focus on something other than myself,” said Stark.
She ended up keeping Dolly and adopted a second cat that she named Kenny (Rogers). Now she’s fostering a third cat named Earl.
“It kind of sucks leaving them, but it’s nice to look forward to things all the time,” said Stark, “whereas before it was kind of boring. You come off such a high when you’re at tournaments and you’re having so much fun, and you’re around all tour friends, and then you come home and you don’t really … I don’t know. It’s hard to commit to a place.”
The cats have made her new place in Nashville feel like home. She’s made human friends too, and knows that ultimately it’s a good thing to have people and places to miss.
The 80th U.S. Women’s Open champion has been unusually open about the difficulties that come with winning. She struggled with motivation after clinching the tournament she wanted the most, a common sentiment among players that’s not often discussed.
It’s the proverbial, what now?
Stark hired a sports psychologist and a therapist to go along with her mental coach and swing coach, and between the team of supporters, managed to climb her way out. She comes into this week’s championship at historic Riviera Country Club off three consecutive top-25 finishes and said she might be even more motivated now.
U.S. Wome's Open: Leaderboard, tee times, headlines, breaking news
“It was fun to have it,” she said of giving back the trophy earlier this week, “but it’s more fun to play for it than to have it, I guess.”
She had to climb the mountaintop to find that out. But the belief that it’s better to give than receive ... that, she already knew.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: U.S. Open champion Maja Stark has plan to donate $1 million
Continue reading...
Stark, 26, wasn’t referring to winning the U.S. Women’s Open, which she’d just done. She was talking about the career-long goal she’d set for herself of giving away $1 million before the end of her career.
The winner’s check of $2.4 million certainly set her up nicely to for that.
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“I’m just going to keep it,” said Stark of the victory spoils on the set of the Golf Channel’s Live From. “I feel very comfortable right now, and I have all the things I need. I’m not really a shopaholic or anything, so I’ll just spend the money on cats.”
Stark doesn't have the details planned out yet on where she'll donate, but rescue animals are close to her heart. The good-natured Swede began fostering cats to help her get out of a bad head space after capturing the biggest title in women’s golf.
“When I got my first cat Dolly, I was just supposed to foster her because I felt like I am not having a good time, but I need to focus on something other than myself,” said Stark.
She ended up keeping Dolly and adopted a second cat that she named Kenny (Rogers). Now she’s fostering a third cat named Earl.
“It kind of sucks leaving them, but it’s nice to look forward to things all the time,” said Stark, “whereas before it was kind of boring. You come off such a high when you’re at tournaments and you’re having so much fun, and you’re around all tour friends, and then you come home and you don’t really … I don’t know. It’s hard to commit to a place.”
The cats have made her new place in Nashville feel like home. She’s made human friends too, and knows that ultimately it’s a good thing to have people and places to miss.
You must be registered for see images
The 80th U.S. Women’s Open champion has been unusually open about the difficulties that come with winning. She struggled with motivation after clinching the tournament she wanted the most, a common sentiment among players that’s not often discussed.
It’s the proverbial, what now?
Stark hired a sports psychologist and a therapist to go along with her mental coach and swing coach, and between the team of supporters, managed to climb her way out. She comes into this week’s championship at historic Riviera Country Club off three consecutive top-25 finishes and said she might be even more motivated now.
U.S. Wome's Open: Leaderboard, tee times, headlines, breaking news
“It was fun to have it,” she said of giving back the trophy earlier this week, “but it’s more fun to play for it than to have it, I guess.”
She had to climb the mountaintop to find that out. But the belief that it’s better to give than receive ... that, she already knew.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: U.S. Open champion Maja Stark has plan to donate $1 million
Continue reading...
