Spain’s Ana Peláez Triviño says her mindset has “definitely changed” over the past few months as the Race to Costa del Sol number one prepares for a home event at this week’s La Sella Open.
It’s been a fantastic 2023 for Peláez so far with three runner-up finishes helping catapult the Spanish star to the top of the season long standings on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
But with plenty on the line this year – including a potential spot at a home Solheim Cup in September – Peláez insists she is now dialling back the expectations and focusing on herself and her happiness.
“My mindset has definitely changed,” the 25 year-old explained. “It’s been maybe three or four months since I’ve started to focus more on myself. Sometimes I play golf and I try to do very well, not for me, but to be number one, to play Solheim Cup.
“I realised that’s not real, that’s not who I want to be. I want to focus on me, my happiness and what I enjoy, which is playing golf. If that means winning, being number one and playing Solheim Cup then great. But [I want to focus on] becoming a player that does not depend on a score or a win or a ranking to be happy. I would say I’m a different Ana and I hope this process keeps going for the rest of my life.”
Peláez is one of 15 Spanish players teeing up at the La Sella Open this week – a brand new tournament on the circuit boasting a prize fund of €1 million – and is hopeful the home crowds can provide a similar atmosphere to the one she experienced when she won her maiden LET title at the Madrid Ladies Open.
“It’s very nice to be home,” Peláez said. “I enjoy playing at home. It’s always a pleasure being in front of the Spanish crowds. It’s so nice to be here. My parents are coming out this week, my brother and his girlfriend, my coach, my manager, my mental coach, and hopefully a lot of local players from here!
“Madrid is a tournament I will never forget. I was playing, but the crowd being part of the game and played a big part in the victory. I always enjoy sharing everything with the crowds so hopefully this week I get to experience something similar.”
On top of local support, Peláez will also be drawing on an element of nostalgia this week having previously competed at the Final Lacoste Promesas at La Sella Golf Resort & Spa in 2013 – a junior golf series hosted by Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
She said: “I arrived here a couple of days ago and stepped out on the range and then the course, and the only thing I could think about was the tournament I played in 10 years go with Jose Maria Olazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Nacho [Garrido]. It was amazing. So today, yes, I had to practice and get the information I needed for the tournament, but at the same time I was enjoying the walk and remembering the great memories I had with them.
“I think the course suits my game pretty well. It’s quite short but it has some challenges coming into the greens because of the shape of the greens. The tee shots are also challenging. I think it will fit a bunch of players but hopefully I get all the secrets necessary to finish on top of the leaderboard.”
As for the Race to Costa del Sol, Peláez can once again extend her lead at the top of the standings this week with India’s Aditi Ashok absent in Spain. But while the Spaniard’s position in the rankings bears well for her tremendous form in 2013, Peláez insists her focus remains elsewhere for now.
“I still have the same confidence,” she explained. “I think my team and I do a really good job of not focusing on the rankings. I know it’s something that’s there. It’s a good reference to know we’re moving in the right direction, but at the same time I try to build confidence out of practice and plenty of other things, not just the rankings. Obviously it’s a good thing, but I try not to focus too much on that.
“This week I’m going to keep things very simple. Obviously I wish to win, so I think just keeping things very simple, not trying to put too much pressure on myself on winning. I’m going to take things one step at a time, take things easy and trust that my game is there and that this could be my week. And if it’s not this one then it might be the next one.”
Peláez gets underway at the La Sella Open at 10:50am local time on Thursday alongside Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson and Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt.
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