Diaz learned the game from golf-pro father Ron Philo and cut her chops against older brother Ron Jr. -- and the boys on her high school golf team.
Born: Scotia, New York
Lives: Amelia Island, Florida
Married to Kevin Diaz, a teaching pro
Career highlights: 1998 Rookie of the Year on the Women Professional Golfers' European Tour
Driving average: 258.1 yards
Stats: T30 in rounds under par; 31st in greens in regulation; T41 in driving accuracy
Age: 29
Height: 5'8"
Turned Pro: 1997
Career earnings: $2,499,614
Wins: 2002 Welch's Circle K; 2002 LPGA Corning Classic
"I prefer men who don't say too many vulgar things, but if you're going to play with guys, you've got to roll with it. It's cool to be one of the guys for a while.... 'Hit it, Alice!' That's a good one. It's funny that men think women don't putt aggressively. When my pro-am partners leave a putt short, I say, 'Get it to the hole, Jack!'"
What's good etiquette for guys when there's a woman in their foursome?
I don't think women need to be treated any differently. I grew up playing golf with my brother and father and on the boys' golf team. I was just treated like any boy. One thing — it's funny when men make fun of other men by saying — if they don't get a putt to the hole — Hit it Alice! What I say to my pro am partners is, That's a compliment! I don't want to be treated any differently when I'm out there. I prefer guys don't say too many vulgar things, but if you're going to go out and play with a bunch of guys you have be prepared for a little more vulgar talk. But it's cool to just go out and be one of the guys.
What's your best tip for the average guy golfer? Do you see a lot of guys with the same flaws?
Alignment is the biggest thing. I play with four amateurs every week in our scrambles. One of four aligns poorly.
What do you tell them?
The clubface goes at the target, if clubface is at the target your body can't be at the target, focus on keeping your clubface at the target and looking back and forth back and forth, clubface-target, clubface-target. When you do that you set up slightly open, you're not totally parallel but a little to the left, if your body is at the target and the clubface is at the target, too, you'll be coming over the top.
Mentally, where are most amateurs weak?
They want to know what they're shooting at all times. I tell them to try to make numbers and not birdies, bogeys, pars or eagles. You don't need to know if you're one over or two over. People get ahead of themselves instead of staying in the present and working on making the lowest number they can.
How much golf should you talk with your spouse or significant other?
Either play it or watch it together; too much golf is boring. And if you're talking about it in bed—that's definitely too much.
Is it ok to compete with your significant other? Does it liven things up?
Competition is healthy. I love to compete and my husband loves to compete. It's all about having a good time. Focusing on who can make the most birdies or putts makes a round more fun. Then at dinner you laugh about it. My husband gets harassed a lot because everyone wants to know if he's ever beaten me. I always say if he can beat me I shouldn't be playing. I'm lucky because he's easy going, he doesn't care if people harrass him.
