Cristie Kerr
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Cristie Kerr wasted little time establishing herself as a rising star on the golf course. Cristie, whose family originates from Long Island, New York, started playing competitive golf at age 9 and quickly climbed to the top of the player rankings in the state of Florida while playing on her High School’s Boys golf team. Her amateur career is considered by many to be one of the most decorated in the game’s history, punctuated by a Curtis Cup appearance in 1996 and winning Low-Amateur honors at the U.S. Women’s Open (1996).
In 1996 Cristie turned Professional at the age of 18 and received exempt status on the LPGA Tour after finishing tied for 6th in the Tour’s Qualifying school that year. Cristie gained momentum year after year in the early stages of her career on tour and in 2002 captured her first LPGA victory. Over the next seven years on Tour, Cristie captured 11 titles and 87 top-ten finishes. After winning the 2010 LPGA Championship by a record 12 shots, Cristie had ascended to the top of the LPGA Tour, becoming the first American player to be #1 in the Official Rolex World Golf Rankings.
To-date, Cristie has accumulated 20 LPGA victories, including two major Championships (2007 U.S. Women’s Open and 2010 LPGA Championship), 9 Solheim Cup appearances, 4 Wendy’s Three tour victories and over 180 top ten finishes. Her career earnings of over $19 million make her the highest earning American women’s golfer of all-time and 3rd overall in the history of the LPGA Tour. In 2011 Cristie was honored with the Muhammad Ali Award for Sportsperson of the year and is a two-time ESPY winner for Female Golfer of the Year.
Cristie is also one of today’s most prominent breast cancer activists. Having witnessed her mother, aunt and godmother fight the disease; in 2003 she founded the non-for-profit organization Birdies for Breast Cancer, which raises money and awareness to fight the disease. Since its inception, Birdies for Breast Cancer has raised millions of dollars. For her efforts, Cristie was presented with the prestigious Komen Award in 2006 to honor her personal contribution in the fight against breast cancer. In 2010, Birdies for Breast Cancer partnered with Jersey City Medical Center to create the region’s foremost comprehensive center specializing in women’s health issues. The Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center offers breast cancer screening, diagnostic testing and treatment programs available to all women regardless of their ability to pay. The center has performed hundreds of thousands of procedures since opening in 2010.
In addition to golf and her philanthropic efforts off the course, Cristie expanded her entrepreneurial resume by partnering with Pride Mountain Vineyards (Napa Valley, CA) to create Curvature Wines. Offering vintages of 2006-2014 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2009-2015 Chardonnay, 100% of Curvature Wines proceeds go to breast cancer research. Curvature’s 2007 cabernet was served at the White House in 2012, which Cristie considers to be a “huge honor.” In addition to the Curvature Wine project, Cristie started her second wine label, Kerr Cellars in 2012, partnering with 2014 Food and Wine Magazine’s Wine Maker of the Year, Helen Heplinger. Kerr Cellars currently produces three varietals, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and a Reserve Red, all of which have been met with critical acclaim.
Cristie is a brand ambassador for Lacoste, Richard Mille, Titleist, Constellation/Corona Premier, MGM and Double Cross Vodka. Cristie is represented by The Montag Group.
Cristie is married to Erik Stevens and together they have two sons, Mason and Griffin. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona.