Jennifer Kupcho reacts after winning the 2019 Augusta National Women's Amateur.
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Long days on the golf course call for smart pre- and mid-round snacks. Certain foods and drinks have proven to be better for performance than others, and most pro golfers have their go-tos.
Rickie Fowler goes with protein balls, Bryson DeChambeau famously downs protein shakes and Tiger Woods, the defending Masters champ, has his crunchy peanut butter and banana sandwiches. And with a nod to the 2020 Masters just weeks away, with its rare November date, it seemed like a good time to check in with another pro who made history at Augusta National last year — Jennifer Kupcho.
Kupcho battled Maria Fassi in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur last April, which came a year after she won the NCAA title. Her go-to course fuel? Simple. And useful. A banana.
“I grew up always having some kind of fruit,” Kupcho said. “And bananas were always my favorite because they filled me up and lasted me a while in the round.”
Kupcho, who turned pro in May 2019 and is now ranked 21st in the world, said she snacked on a banana during her epic final round of the ANWA, too. There’s never a specific time she reaches for one from her bag, but it’s long been her go-to. According to Jaclyn London, WW’s head of nutrition & wellness, MS, RD, CDN, it’s a smart move.
London says it’s important for golfers to have snacks that have complex carbs, protein and some healthy fat. Bananas are perfect to provide energy.
“I typically recommend having a meal or snack around every 3-4 hours,” London said. “This means you’ll want to have at least two snacks or mini-meals on hand to keep your energy stable without feeling so full that you want to lay down for a nap in the middle.”
As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of the sport’s most-read news and service websites. He spends most of his days writing, editing, planning and wondering if he’ll ever break 80. Before joining GOLF.com in 2015, he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and two kids. You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com.
