PULLING no punches

The ‘Lioness’ on her game, sponsorships, coming out and the determination to fullfil her potential.

- Tim Southwell

Life has been up and down for Melissa Reid. Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour (LET) in 2008, the following 11 years saw her record six wins and have three Solheim Cup appearances (in which her passionate, Poulter esque performances earned her the nickname ‘Lioness’). In June this year she completed her best finish in a major – a tie for third at the KPMG USPGA.

But there has also been tragedy. Her mother, Joy, was killed in a head on car accident in 2012 in Germany while following her daughter on tour. The following couple of years saw a griefstricken Reid tumble out of the limelight as she, quite simply, fell out of love with the game.

Last year, Mel made the courageous step to come out as gay, risking sponsor backlash and potentially creating an uncertain future. The road to the LPGA has been a slow and often turbulent one, but now she’s there, she intends to make the most of her undoubted potential.

You’ve had a topsy turvy year, a lot of missed cuts and then Bam! You finish third at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

“Yeah, I knew things were going to take a while to sort themselves out this year because I literally changed everything in the Winter: New coach, new trainer, new caddie, new management company, moved to Jupiter in Florida… so it was nice to put it all together for such a big week as the KPMG. Honestly, I came out of a long term relationship end of last year and I just took a look at myself and thought ‘This is my one chance to do something in the sport I love.