Your upbringing and heritage are obviously very important to you. Can you explain to us what it means to represent New Zealand?

I am a very proud New Zealander. We are not a big country in terms of population or area but we certainly punch above our weight, not only in sport but other disciplines too. It has always been very important for me not to forget who I am and where I’m from – and my family are the most important people in the world to me. They give me strength. When I holed my final putt at Pinehurst and looked to the skies, I was thanking all my ancestors for the strength they had given me to go out and win the tournament. It was very important to me to go back home to New Zealand after Pinehurst and share my victory with everyone and I am so happy we found the time in my schedule to be able to do that.

What does your Maori logo mean?
Is it belonging to a tribe or a modern interpretation of an historical design?

I don’t have one specific Maori design. There are a variety of motifs and designs on my Cambo clothing range which Kia Kaha’s creative director, Charmaine Love, designed. The ‘Mangopare’ on the back of the shirt I wore when I won the US Open signifies the Hammerhead Shark, one of thehardest fish in the ocean to kill and one that will fight to the death until it is void of life. Because of this, the Mangopare is very sacred to the Maori of New Zealand.
It is also a design that Maori will take into war with them.

The new season range incorporates new Maori designs. Designs such as the Manaia, Mangopare, Ta Moko and Kowhaiwhai all feature and I’ll be showcasing these new designs at the Majors this year. The designs all have unique meanings. The Manaia is a mythical Maori figure that is part man, fish and bird. It is seen as a guardian and protector over those who wear it and offers good luck. The new Mangopare design symbolizes strength, determination and a never give up attitude. Ta Moko is a traditional Maori Tattoo and this particular design symbolizes new beginnings. Kowhaiwhai are traditional Maori patterns and this contemporary design incorporates the koru frond and symbolizes new life.