The roller coaster that has been Andrews’ life on the LPGA Tour reached the pinnacle in 1994 when she won three times and was fifth on the money list with $429,015. It bottomed out the next year when she had only one top 20 finish and won just $25,346.
That’s the way it’s been for the almost-golden girl who obviously has the talent to be a force on the Tour. She won the Longs Drugs Challenge in 1998 and soared to $715,428. In 1999, she had only two top 10 finishes and won $140,440. Last year she won $124,712.
But now, just in time for the 56th U.S. Women’s Open that is being played in the backyard of her Southern Pines home, Andrews appears headed for another high note. The fluid swing that she almost ruined from trying to come back too soon after a shoulder injury is feeling natural again.
Don’t be surprised if this is the week that Andrews pushes the “up” button again. She has a track record of playing well in major championships, and there is no one in the field who is more familiar with a Donald Ross-designed golf course than she. The University of North Carolina graduate won the North and South Amateur at Pinehurst Country Club in 1988 and has enjoyed a close relationship with the club since turning professional.
But there is no prediction forthcoming from her, even after a couple of practice rounds. Like other golfers in the field who feel the course is playing tougher this year than in 1996, Andrews is reluctant to pick a target score.
Annika Sorenstam shot 8-under-par 272 when she won here in 1996, and that’s a record that still stands.
“I have no idea what it will take to win,” Andrews said. “After playing it a couple of times, though, I do think it’s tougher this year. It’s definitely playing longer, and they seem to be watering the areas in front of the greens. Hopefully, that’s just from the rain, but it is pretty wet.”
Does Andrews, who owns a horse farm in Southern Pines, feel her familiarity with the Pine Needles course and the Donald Ross style of domed greens, think she will have home-court advantage?
“I’m probably a little more comfortable putting from the fringes than some,” she said. “But there are some places I’ve found that even I can’t putt from this week.”
Andrews’ injury resulted from a fall from a horse, and she complicated things by trying to return to playing before it had completely healed.
“I’ve struggled to rebuild my swing since the injury,” she said, “but I do feel that it’s coming back now. I’ve worked with my teacher and had a putting lesson last week, and things seem to be coming together.”
There was no permanent swing-altering damage to the shoulder, according to Andrews.
“I just tried to come back too soon and developed some bad swing habits,” she said. “I just wasn’t strong enough to do what I needed to do with my swing.”
Andrews has played in 13 events this year and earned $45,139. Her best finish came in The Office Depot, where she tied for 16th.
But even as her comeback gathers momentum, she admits that she doesn’t have the same enthusiasm that she had during the late ’90s.
“I’m not playing as many tournaments now as I did when I was younger,” she said. “Having gone through the injuries and some other things that have happened in my life over the past few years, I’ve learned that there are more important things in life than golf. I’m just spending some time at home and enjoying myself a little. No, I’m not as pumped up as I used to get.”
She may find that missing link this week, though. It is a U.S. Open, a Donald Ross golf course, and just a couple of miles from her home.
“I’m a little more nervous here than normal,” she said, “but I’m just going to take it one swing at a time.”
