Don’t give a crap and power nap: How Stephanie Kyriacou soared to lead at women’s major in France

Stephanie Kyriacou has a golden chance to become Australia’s fifth women’s major winner. The 23-year-old tournament leader explains her approach to nerves at the Evian Championship.

Stephanie Kyriacou tees off at the Evian course cloaked in history and beautiful scenery. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Stephanie Kyriacou has a simple plan for the nerves she will need to overcome to win a maiden major championship, having ended an extended day three of the Evian Championship with a one-shot lead.

Kyriacou, who was two shots behind Japan’s Ayaka Furue in a tie for second after the completion of the delayed second round in France, took a quick nap before shooting her third round, four-under par 67.

The 23-year-old from Sydney is in the box seat to become the fifth Australian female golfer to win a major, joining the illustrious quartet of Karrie Webb, Jan Stephenson, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green.

The prize money for the tournament was boosted to $US8 million (11.84m AUD) this year, with the winner taking home $US1.2 million (1.78m AUD).

Caddie Wei Wang’s advice and Kyriacou’s simple mantra will be at the forefront of her mind throughout the final round at the iconic course that has a backdrop of Lake Geneva and the French Alps.

“I probably shouldn’t say it. It has swear words in it,” Kyriacou said of her mantra.

“Basically, if you didn’t give a crap about everything else, how would you play this?

“Along those lines. That kind of gets me through it.

Stephanie Kyriacou was all smiles after completing her second round on a busy Saturday. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

“Obviously I know I’m in the lead, so that’s nice.

“Being in contention on Sunday is not something – I don’t think I’ve been in contention in a major before, so it’s exciting.

“This is a different kind of nerves. Sometimes when you’re near the cut line you really want to make the cut, there is like a few thoughts there. This is completely different. Physical things like your heart rate goes up. You get a little bit numb. At least I do.

“It’s a different kind of nerves. It’s a good thing. It’s a good thing to experience.”

Play on Friday had to be suspended due to dangerous weather conditions.

It set the stage for a marathon Saturday in which Kyriacou, who only had two holes to complete from her second round, snuck in a 30-minute power nap before making her move with birdies on the second, third and fourth holes of her third round.

Kyriacou added a 67 to her brace of 66s to go 14 under for the tournament, taking a one-shot lead over Furue and Lauren Coughlin of the United States.

Furue said her shot-making was not as good as the first two days.

“But I had huge par saves today so that was kind of good for me,” she noted.

“Steph made a lot of birdies today, and otherwise I couldn’t get any like birdie chances today. So that was a little bit frustrating.”

Minjee Lee is six under in a tie for 19th, with a double bogey on 11 ruining her hopes of clambering further up the leaderboard on Saturday.