Natalie Gulbis–The Kournikova of Golf
At 14, Natalie Gulbis became the youngest to qualify for an LPGA tournament. By age 18, she was already a professional, winning over just as many fans with her sex appeal as with her swing.
Natalie leapt into the media spotlight in 2005 as one of the most popular woman golfers in the United States. She distinguished herself not with victories but with swimsuit calendars and a TV show on the Golf Channel.
When Gulbis turned pro six years ago after a year at the University of Arizona — she was working toward a minor in philosophy and wanted to go to law school — she decided to keep the headcover of Wilbur the Wildcat, the UA mascot, on her driver until she won. Wilbur is still hanging around.
She put out her own racy calendars in 2004 and 2005, and posed in a bikini for FHM. But she is in danger of becoming golf’s Anna Kournikova—a beautiful, bankable woman who never wins.
In 2006, Gulbis began writing a monthly golf advice column in FHM. In November 2005, a reality television show, The Natalie Gulbis Show, made its debut on The Golf Channel. Gulbis has also appeared on the 2007 version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour by EA Sports along with fellow professionals Annika Sorenstam, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald, among others.
Gulbis proved herself to be a strong golfer, if not a tournament winner . She had become the first player in the LPGA to win more than a million dollars without a victory.
UPDATE: from nataliegulbis.com
2007
- Became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Evian Masters where she defeated Jeong Jang in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff; crossed the $3 million mark in career earnings with her victory
- Posted four additional top-10 finishes, including a runner-up finish at the ADT Championship; also finished tied for third at The Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions, tied for fourth at the Longs Drugs Challenge and tied for ninth at the LPGA Corning Classic
- Made her second appearance on the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team
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