Coming back from injury is never easy, but Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck has seen many positives in the past few months and now has a trophy in her hands.
The 28-year-old was out with injury for approximately 12 months from August 2021 until August 2022.
Since then, she’s been on the road back to finding form but admittedly has struggled and was not enjoying the game.
“The year since I started playing again, so August up until just a few months ago, it was really tough,” she said.
“I didn’t play well at all. I didn’t enjoy it. It was terrible out on the golf course, if I’m being honest. I was just struggling on all ends, if it’s physically or emotionally, but I just hung in there.
“I knew if I just keep working on my progress. If I keep working on the things that I think I need to be doing, then maybe I’ll get to the end of the tunnel.”
Fuenfstueck made the cut in the first two events of the 2023 season but didn’t do so again until the Individual event of the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Florida.
A T18 finish at the Ladies Open by Pickala Rock Resort was another step of progress before the German player found herself in a playoff at La Sella Open.
Despite losing to Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz, it was the start of a change in form for Fuenfstueck in recent weeks.
A T14 result at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open was followed by T50 at the Big Green Egg Open, T11 at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open and T4 at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
She explained: “It’s been a lot of fun over the last few weeks. I’ve seen a lot of light in the last few weeks. Obviously, Spain really got me started and then I had a few top tens.
“I was just scratching on the top ten and I think I just really enjoy being in that position again. Being able to contend.”
At last week’s Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Hong Kong, Fuenfstueck was chosen by captain Kristyna Napoleaova to be part of her team.
The duo were also joined by Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher and amateur John Hyun as they claimed the Team title after a sensational second round of -21.
And for Fuenfstueck, being able to get her hands on some silverware has made all the hard work worth it.
She added: “Now being able to take a trophy home. I just love it. It just makes so much fun. It makes it worth all the hard work. All the sweat and tears. Lots of sweat this week as well, because it’s very hot out there. I’m just absolutely buzzing to take a win home.”
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