Sandra Gal, 29, is a native of Cologne, Germany, and a former All-American at the University of Florida who has earned $2,403,238 in seven years on the LPGA Tour. She won her lone LPGA tournament title in 2011 at the Kia Classic and was a member of the European team that won the Solheim Cup in 2011.
Q: You celebrated Martin Kaymer’s victory in the men’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 by showering him with champagne. How cool was that experience?
A: That was neat. I enjoyed celebrating that with him very much.
Q: You and Martin are both from Germany. Were you close friends before the U.S. Open or was your celebration just support for a fellow countryman?
A: No, but I just followed him that final round Sunday, and it was neat having an attachment to someone winning the tournament. So I wanted to celebrate that.
Q: The men and women played in back-to-back weeks on the same course at the U.S. Open in Pinehurst, N.C., which allowed you to be there for Kaymer’s victory. How was that, following the men on the same course?
A: It’s something we’ve never done before. It was good.
Q: As we speak, Germany, your home country, is playing the United States in the World Cup. Is that a distraction? Do you plan on getting updates on the match while you’re out here?
A: Oh, for sure. I’ll watch that as soon as I’m done with practice and lunch.