Johanna Gustavsson finished as runner-up the last time the LET co-sanctioned the Women’s NSW Open.
The Swedish star ended the week in second place five shots behind compatriot Maja Stark in the 2022 edition.
That season was a breakthrough year for Gustavsson in terms of consistency on Tour – after she finished third in the Race to Costa del Sol, and she finally got her maiden LET win last year.
“Two years ago, it was great,” she said. “I played so well early on in that season, I had a few top-10s and a few runner-up finishes.
“The course this week is very different, it’s links golf. I really like the course, it’s going to be a great challenge and I look forward to playing it.”
After playing at the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Tampa, the LET winner headed straight to Australia in preparation for the next two weeks.
She is joined by husband and coach Alex Wrigley and the duo have been on holiday while getting some practice in too.
Gustavsson explained: “I have been here for two weeks, I came from Tampa to here. We have had a holiday and been doing a bit of practice in-between the holiday stuff.
“We’ve had a great time, have spent a lot of time in Sydney and then went up to the Blue Mountains and did some walking enjoyed the views.
“It is a lot of travel early on in the season which is quite tough on the body. That’s why I wanted to come early to Australia because we really enjoy it over here, we love Australia and we’ve had a great time.”
Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club is the venue for this week’s tournament and is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
The links golf course will provide a different test for the field of 132 players who are all vying to win the event.
Gustavsson will begin her title challenge on Friday at 7.37 am (local time) alongside defending champion Momoka Kobori of New Zealand and Czechia’s Klara Davidson Splikova.
“I think you have to strike the ball quite well,” she continued. “The tees are narrow, but not too bad but I think you have to really think around the greens.
“A lot of middle of the greens is good. There is a lot of runoffs, so you don’t want to short side yourself. I think you need to be a bit strategic and maybe not play for birdies all the time.
“This season has been a bit of a mix so far, we have done some changes this winter trying to get better. The process continues and the hunt to get better. It has felt good, but it has also felt bad at times.
“I came home after Morocco, obviously missed the cut there and spent a week just indoors getting back to the technique and things we had been changing. Then I came out to Tampa, I felt I played well – even the last round where I shot really high, it felt okay.
“I’m patient and I think there’s some good results in there, you can’t chase the result you just have to chase the process of being out there and enjoying it.”
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