Editor’s note: Brittany Altomare first came onto the Epson Tour scene in 2013 as a shy, unassuming player ready to make a name after capping her career at Virginia as the ACC’s Player of the Year. She finished 16th on the Epson Tour money list in 2014 and 22nd in 2015. LPGA success still seemed off in the distance. Fast-forward to this season and Altomare is one of the rising stars in the game. She is having a spectacular season highlighted by a solo second at The Evian Championship. Altomare ranks 28th on the LPGA’s money list and No. 39 in the world according to the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Exactly one year ago, she was No. 164 in the world. Exactly two years ago, she ranked No. 494 world. What a climb.
LPGA.com caught up with Altomare, who is playing the Asia stretch this year for the first time, to find out how she’s gone from a relative unknown to someone that could very well be in the conversation to make the 2019 U.S. Solheim Cup team.
LPGA.com: How has life changed since the solo second in France? Any big purchases?
Brittany: I haven't purchased anything, but maybe this off-season! I currently have a vacation planned, which I'm really excited about because I haven't been on a vacation without my golf clubs in a long time. I would tell you where I am going but I'm trying to keep the location a surprise to my boyfriend!
LPGA.com: Did you ever think you’d be the 8th highest ranked American in the world right now?
Brittany: I didn't think that I would be the 8th highest ranked American right now. I'm not exactly sure, but I think I was around 150 to start the year and one of my goals was to finish inside the top 100 by the end of the year and then next year I was aiming to move inside the top 50. I hope I can keep playing well because I would really like to make the Solheim Cup team. It has always been a goal of mine!
LPGA.com: What do you contribute your strong season to?
Brittany: I just feel like I am working with the right people. I have been working with Mark Sweeney, my putting coach, for a long time now and have seen great improvements in my putting from college until now. I started working with my swing coach, Justin Sheehan, three years ago and he has done a really great job with my swing and helping me understand more about my swing. We've continued to work on my distance off the tee, which has helped me get from Epson to the LPGA. I've also started training at Diesel Fitness in Tampa this spring. They have really helped me to get stronger and stay healthy throughout the season whereas last year I left really tired and fatigued at the end of the season. I really think having the right people around you helping you is so beneficial and I think I am starting to see the benefit of it in my golf game.
LPGA.com: How did you get connected with your caddie Dewi Claire Schreefel?
Brittany: I got connected with Dewi through mutual friends who thought we would be a good fit and they were definitely right! I thought it was really helpful that she had played out here on tour. She was really good at instilling confidence in me before each shot and keeping me relaxed especially in tough situations. Having her on the bag, I realized how valuable it is to have someone you trust and mesh with because over the course of a tournament a good caddie saves you a few shots and in golf that's huge.
LPGA.com: Any goals towards the end of the season?
Brittany: I haven't really thought about it, but I would like to put myself in contention a few more times before the season is over. I really enjoyed being in that situation and I feel now I have more experience with it.
LPGA.com: How much better have you got since your first year on the Epson Tour?
Brittany: I think I have steadily improved since Epson (Tour), I feel as though every part of my game has gotten a little better each year and working with my coaches Mark and Justin have really helped with that.
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