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Ladies European Tour rookie Ariane Provot from France is making her first appearance in the Evian Championship. Here we get to know her a little better.
Where are you born and where is it exactly in the country?
Metz in Lorraine, north eastern France.
Tell us more about where you were born.
I was born in my parents’ bed. My mother told my father ‘I am ready, we can go to the hospital.’ Two minutes after she said, ‘I think it’s too late,’ so my father delivered me. My mother told me it was an easy birth.
What is the best thing about your country?
The best thing is where I live now in Biarritz because the landscape is absolutely beautiful, everywhere. It is the opposite of Metz. I play at Chiberta and train in Golf d’Ilbarritz, a training centre.
Give some examples of the traditions from your home town/area that you like or love doing.
We cook, a Quiche Lorraine is like a pizza but with cream and pork is a typical dish from my region.
Tell us something about any of your festivities… what do you do and where do you go?
I don’t like going to a discotech much, I prefer to stay at home with around 10 friends and play music. I like cooking, especially patisserie, so I make some good cookies for my friends.
Typical food and drinks from your area that you love?
Lasagne.
Be our travel guide… what places would you recommend us to visit in your country and things to do?
In Biarritz, the landscape and sea and golf… there is nothing better than this place. Le Phare, the Rocher de la Vierge. In Paris of course all the museums, the Louvre, the Musée Grevin. In Metz, the cathedral is very nice: a big one and inside its impressive.
When you are not on tour and you are not preparing for any tournament. What’s your typical weekend?
Have some fun with my friends, because it’s very important.
Which is the most popular sport in your country? Give us an example of how popular it is.
Football and rugby and in the south, rugby, rugby, rugby. I prefer watching rugby. In Birritz they are crazy about it and in the stadium they sing the national anthem and scream a lot.
Who is your favourite celebrity/personality/idol from your country?
Vanessa Paradis, because she is discrete, nice, cool and I like her.
Who is your favourite golf player from your country? And sportsmen/women?
Women, I think it’s Patricia Meunier Lebouc. She was my coach for the European Team Championship so I have talked to her a lot and she is very nice with you. She tries to understand you very well and then, she will give you some advice, but not before. She is the head coach for the women’s national team. I felt something special with her and she was a very good player. I was too young to remember when she won her major but she recounted when she won and her experiences on tour. Not in a boastful way but in a nice way to listen to.
On the men’s side, from my generation, but he is not a professional yet, his name is Julian Brun. I have been his caddie for just one day and I was impressed because every shot he hit, there was no reaction and he shot seven-under, but it was like nothing special. Afterwards he was very happy but not on the course. He was calm and cool. I am very emotional so I am very impressed when I see someone like him. He is from Cannes in the south east of France.
What do you miss from home when you travel?
My friends, because I don’t see them anymore and we are six or seven in Biarritz who are very close. My best friend lives in Metz.
Is there something unusual from your country that you could explain to us?
We eat escargot (snails) and grenouille (frogs’ legs) which I like! In Metz we have a special plate called Le Trou Lorraine, its lemon, ice cream with Liquer de Mirabel on top and we eat it between two plates and we have many plates during Christmas dinner!
