Tiger Woods is a near neighbour at home in Isleworth, Florida, and two of California's best known courses, Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, are emblazoned on her golf bag. Well, by golly, isn't Janice Moodie just your typical all-American girl? But looks can be deceptive. While admitting that she loves the American way of life, the Windyhill golfer remains true to her roots. Hence a new partnership with a Scottish caddie and a fiercely pro-European outlook. She would enjoy nothing more than to be playing for her continent against America in the Solheim Cup in September.
After an impressive few weeks on the LPGA American Tour, including a fourth place in an event in South Carolina, a possible Solheim debut in September is just one of many opportunities that have suddenly opened up for the Scot who celebrates her twenty-fifth birthday on the last day of this month.
She has moved into the top 45 on the Order of Merit with almost $55,000 in earnings and is leading the race for the Rookie of the Year title. Her nearest challenger, Korean Se Ri Pak, is almost $15,000 behind.
Holder of a conditional card at the start of the season, the fast rise for the former Curtis Cup player has guaranteed a full schedule, with the exception of the three remaining majors, for the rest of 1998. That's where her new caddie, Mike Paterson comes in.
''I couldn't afford to employ someone full time when I didn't know how many events I was going to get into so I was just using local caddies,'' she explained. ''But now the situation has changed, and it's great to have another Scot beside you out on the course. We can talk about home.''
Paterson, who caddied for Joanne Morley at the 1996 Solheim Cup, started the year with Austria's Natascha Fink. ''I enjoyed working for her, but was not making much money,'' he said. With Fink having made only two cuts from nine starts it is understandable that he was delighted to switch bags.
On their debut, at the Mercury Titleholders in Florida last week, the Scottish partnership finished in the top 50: a final-round 75 putting a slight dampener on an otherwise good week.
''I'm sure Janice is going to do really well on the tour,'' said Mike, whose background is uncannily similar to that of Colin Montgomerie's caddie, Alastair McLean.
They both come from Kirkcaldy, are graduates of Dundee University and are low handicap golfers. Paterson, who has a degree in politics, plays off four at Mortonhall in Edinburgh, and is proud to relate how he led the Europeans to victory over their US counterparts in the recent LPGA caddie's equivalent of the Solheim Cup. But will his boss be playing in the real thing at Muirfield Village in Ohio in four months' time? She has certainly attracted the attention of Europe's Solheim Cup captain, Pia Nilsson.
''Janice is definitely one of the young prospects for the Solheim Cup who I am interested in,'' said the Swede. ''I really like her style of play.''
Moodie's problem is that she needs to have played five events over this season and last to meet the qualification requirements. Last year, she played in only the Weetabix British Open.
''My priority this season is to make sure I get my full LPGA card and I reckon I'll need about another $15,000,'' said Moodie. ''To commit myself to four of the eight European events is asking a bit much.
''But if I do really well over the next couple of weeks in America then I may go back. It would certainly be fantastic to play in the Solheim.''
But it is to the LPGA Tour that she is committed. And having spent four years at San Jose State University in California she sees herself staying in America no matter what happens in her golf career.
''I really fancy the lifestyle out here. I don't know how long I'll keep playing the tour, but I think this is where my future lies,'' she said.
Since the start of the year, she has been living with friends of her long-time coach, Cawder professional Ken Stevely, at exclusive Isleworth - Masters champion Mark O'Meara is another resident - near Orlando, and she also returns regularly to stay with old college mates and practise in California: hence the Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill connections.
But over the next few months, it's going to be a life on the road as she chases more of the $32m of prize-money available on this year's record-breaking LPGA circuit.
''Next year I plan to buy my own place in Florida,'' she added. The way she's going, she should have no difficulty keeping up with the mortgage payments.
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