In 2010, Fiona Puyo ’09 had just wrapped up an internship with a bank in Frankfurt, Germany, and was staying up late with her boyfriend to prepare for an interview that might lead to a permanent job. She was well experienced, having worked for months with portfolio managers at the bank, analyzing companies and meeting with a slew of CEOs and CFOs from major corporations. Now she just had to nail the interview.

The next day, the French native met with her boss. He asked a straightforward question: What do you want for a career? Puyo’s answer surprised him. Heck, it even surprised herself.

“I want to play golf,” she said.

So began an unconventional start to a professional golfing career, leaving behind the world of finance for glory on the links. Considering Puyo had played for the Cougars, it wasn’t a total pipe dream to think she could make the LPGA Tour. But she also knew she had to change some habits to improve her performance. By her own account, she had been a “decent” golfer at the College, but not outstanding, and was the second-ranked player on the team.

She discussed her dream with her boyfriend, Eike Seja, whom she had met at the College when he was an exchange student. He told her that if she wanted to get better, she needed to set specific goals and work to accomplish them, much like one has to do when starting a business. This disciplined approach motivated Puyo, who soon developed a training regimen, practice schedule and list of tournaments in which she would compete. She decided she would practice six days of the week and train for three, jogging and performing balance exercises. By focusing her attention and energy, she happily discovered, she could accomplish more goals in less time.

“It was a shock, in a way, to get results so fast,” she admits. “One of the things that scared me was the idea that you have to go hit balls from eight to eight. But it’s not necessary.”

This wasn’t the first time Puyo felt renewed enthusiasm for the sport. As a teenager in Venezuela, she initially had been thrilled when her father introduced her to golf and bought her a set of clubs, but the sport soon lost its appeal when she realized no one her age seemed to play. Soon enough, the mango and passionfruit trees that lined the golf courses became more interesting than the ball and tee. When Puyo’s family moved back to France, however, she started playing again, eventually earning a scholarship to play at the College.

Years later, when she told her parents that she wanted to give up a career in the business world for another shot at golf, they were supportive.

“Do you believe you can do it?” they’d asked.

Fiona said she did.

“Well, go for it,” they said.

A year after that conversation, and with 12 months of training and practice under her belt, Puyo captured the French championship.

Encouraged by that result, she set her sights on the LPGA Qualifying Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla., in late November, hoping to make the tour as an amateur. Unfortunately, she came up just short. Nevertheless, her strong performance in 2011 earned her a spot on the Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s development circuit for young players. An even stronger showing on this tour would guarantee Puyo a spot in the big league.

“My goal for 2012 is and has to be to receive LPGA Tour status,” says Puyo. “By playing as many tournaments as reasonable, I will be able to gain further experience, which I believe will be essential for me to be successful on the tour.”

So onward she charges, aware she could be behind a desk right now, in front of a computer screen, analyzing spreadsheets. Instead, she’s driving, chipping and putting her way to the top, unwilling to forever wonder what might have been.

“In the back of my mind, I really wanted to see how far I could get with golf. I had the feeling that I could do better,” says Puyo. “I have the game. Now it’s going to be how much I want it.”

– Jason Ryan
Photos by Mike Ledford