Melissa Reid: Swingin' Siren

Melissa Reid is every golfer’s dreamboat. Very pretty, and brilliant at golf. As she strikes a pose for our photographer, the whole room gasps. This is no ordinary golfer photo-shoot. It’s like Cameron Diaz has entered the room. She has us all transfixed. Even Mel’s dog, Freddy, looks impressed.

‘Sizzling’ is a word that is often over-used to describe such a moment but it hardly does this scene any justice at all. With her good looks and amiable disposition, she is a marketing department’s dream.

As she gets her GP makeover, Mel gives us the lowdown.

How well suited to matchplay are you?

Well, to be honest you don’t get to play it too much as a pro. I haven’t played it that much for the last couple of years. The main thing is you can just go for it. You have to know when to go for it and when not to but, y’know, it doesn’t matter if you make a double bogey, it’s only one hole and you can bounce back. You can play more aggressively.

This is going straight in the US chops!

Who is the toughest match player in history?

Seve. Massively. He’s the absolute legend of match play, isn’t he? Even when he was hitting it bad he still managed to somehow get a birdie. Imagine playing against him when he was like that, hitting it all over the place whist you’re on the green in two only to lose the hole as he produces some unbelievable magic. It must have driven his opponents nuts. He’s the heart and soul of match play.

Golfing Heroes?

Well, it was always Seve when I was younger. He has been such a huge influence on the game of golf and I was shocked and saddened by the news of his passing, as was everyone in golf. Then, when I was just taking up the game, Tiger was in his prime and I always looked up to him. I’ve always loved the way that Laura Davies plays and she’s been a hero. And then Annika, of course, who got me into the fitness side of it. These are my golfing heroes.

The best shot you’ve ever hit?

Probably a 3-wood over water into the final green, in the third round of the Swiss Open. I needed an eagle to tie the lead and I hit it 220 yards over the water to four feet and holed the putt. I finished second in the end but that was a big shot.

Solheim Superstar

What’s your favourite club?

I have a couple, actually. I love hitting my driver, that’s one of my strongest clubs. I also love hitting my 58-degree wedge. I just love the different things you can do with it and the imagination you can use – the spinning, high, low shots, you can do so much with it.!

Favourite three golf courses?

Kingsbarns is definitely one, I love the fact it’s on the coastline, it’s gorgeous. St Andrews, the home of golf, is amazing. Then probably The Metropolitan in Melbourne.

Who inspires you outside of golf?

Roger Federer. I try to be as much like him as possible in terms of how he conducts himself and how professional he is.

Favourite music artists

Foster The People, Kings Of Leon, Razorlite. You Me At Six, Kasabian, Florence & TheMachine. I like edgy stuff.

What would you change of you were PM for the day?

I’d get rid of pigeons. I really don’t like pigeons!’

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