On a cloudless April night in Manhattan a few years ago, Cristie Kerr put on a simple, silky, sexy black evening gownto attend the Evelyn Lauder’s "Red Hot Pink Party," a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Foundationat the Waldorf-Astoria.
The annual gala is the type of high-wattage, black-tie gala that (with apologies to Los Angeles) could only be held in New York. On a weekly basis. In recent years, Elton John has performed. Fashion designers Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger and Vera Wang routinely attend. On this particular night, Kerr posed for photos with Elizabeth Hurley and Melania and Donald Trump, whom she counts a friend.
It’s the kind of affair — be it at The Plaza, The Pierre, The Waldorf — the Lauders and Trumps probably attend on a bi-weekly basis.
But Cristie Kerr? Why not? Even before she was the U.S. Open champion, she and her husband maintained a residence in New York. She’s at ease discussing vitacultural trends and vintages as she is talking birdies and eagles.
So what does styledtoatee.com make of it all. Only this:would there were more.
As Cristie began the defense of her title Thursday at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn., are we the only ones who see a year that might have been, a U.S. Open champion who flew just slightly under the radar, whose victory — heralded properly as her first major title but her tenth win overall on the LPGA Tour — didn’t quite break through the clutter? (Sorry, being on the cover ofGolf for Womendoesn’t count. Who else are they going to put on the cover?An actress. Oh right. They just did that.)
In the wake of the victory, Kerr posed for a single ad that her luxury watch sponsor created and she dropped a puck at a hockey game in Arizona. On behalf of her apparel sponsor, she made an in-store appearance in Scottsdale. (Gee, how creative. Was it catered?) Where, we ask, was the luncheon — on behalf of her chosen charity, breast cancer research — in a city she calls home at least part of the time, honoring Kerr?
Opportunity Lost
Tom Wolfe once observed that big cities had long since outlived their usefulness as centers of commerce and productivity. And that the only reason it made sense to live and work in New York was, quite simply, the proximity of other rich and powerful people and the daily commercial intercourse known as the business lunch. The evening corollary to the noon-time circuit is the world of the gala function, be it of the rubber chicken or filet mignon variety. New York’s big hotels, its caterers, chefs and line cooks, its flower district and party planners are an army unto themselves. The big rooms — for 750, 1000 — are booked three or four nights and five days a week, eight months in advance: Galas, fundraisers, parties, charities, soirees.
As often as not, they’re women’s events. The beauty industry has so many parties and non-event events, a woman of a certain means needs a social secretary just to sort through the invitations.
What does any of this have to do with Cristie Kerr? Lots, from where we sit. Instead of the same rota of tired, marginally talented actresses, socialites, fashionistas and trendoids who serve as honored guests, did anyone think that it might be nice to have the reigning U.S. Open Champion on the dais or at the head table? A woman whoactuallyearned something.
Kerr has worked creatively and generously on behalf of breast cancer research. She funds her own "Birdies for Breast Cancer," contributing $50 for every birdie she cards (157 so far this year). She presented a check for $50K to BCRF earlier this year and has donated more than $300K during her career. She volunteered to play a round of golf with the high bidder, raising another $30K for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at a previous Pink Party. Her inspiration is her mother, Linda, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 but fortunately, through early detection and treatment, has made a full recovery.
What’s more, Kerr is absolutely dynamic. She’s the embodiment of that tried and true women’s magazine staple: the makeover, of self-empowerment, having arrived on tour an overweight, insecure, outwardly combative teen-ager. That was 60 pounds, a pair of bad eyeglasses and a stringy perm ago. (She’s anOprahepisode unto herself.) Now, well, the camera doesn’t lie. The fact that she doesn’t seek the limelight, moth to flame, only makes her that much more credible.
But as my partner, Robert Lohrer,wrote on Golfweek.com after Cristie’s victory last year, “This story will not be easily told unless Kerr chooses to tell it. Or unless fashion and her fashionable sponsors (Lacoste, Audemars Piguet) encourage her the way sponsors can.”
Her husband (and manager), Erik Stevens, cleverly pointed to the power of her title and the perceived difference between being just a golfer and a U.S. Open Women’s Champion. “It’s like the difference between being Elton John and Sir Elton John. Cristie was good before. But now she was being acknowledged for having achieved the highest honor her sport can offer.”
And in the year that she actually is the U.S. Open champ, what became of her? Was she the honored guest on a single invitation, one event? Might have sold a few more tables. ("Hello, Mutual of Omaha. Oh, you’ll buy a table at the luncheon honoring the golfer you’ve sponsored for years. Great. We’ll put you down for three. Don’t worry, you’ll find some customers in New York to fill them." "Lacoste. Oh, you have an in-store event that day. We’ll put you down for a table.")
To the victor belongs the spoils. Maybe it’s too much to ask anyone to supplant the Annika-Lorena axis, what with the former playing through her well earned retirement tour and the latter so dominant. Sorenstam exists in her own solar system when it comes to her competitive records. She has 10 majors and more than 80 victories worldwide. So where does Kerr fit in?
Since the women’s world rankings debuted in February 2006, she’s never been out of the top ten. Since 2004, she’s finished fifth, third, fifth and sixth on the money list. She’s played on the last four Solheim Cup teams. Pardon our jingoism, she’s America’s best female golfer. Make of that what you will. — Rico Williams
