Vanessa Knecht is back in action at her home event this week the local favourite tees up at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open for the first time since 2023.
The Swiss star did not feature at her home open in 2024 or 2025 due to a medical exemption after she suffered chronic wrist inflammation which required autologous blood therapy.
Having skipped the majority of the 2025 season, Knecht improved her Ladies European Tour (LET) status at Q-School in December and is now enjoying a fit and healthy year on the circuit for the first time since 2023.
Registering one top-10 and three top-30 finishes to position herself 69th on the LET Order of Merit heading into this week, Knecht is excited for the test at Golfpark Holzhäusern – a course she knows all to well coming from the neighbouring Zurich.
The 28-year-old said: “It’s definitely my favourite event of the year because it’s so amazing that all my friends, family and sponsors can come and watch. The whole event is always done really well and the golf course is in great shape. Playing at home is always a special feeling and it’s going to be a good test. I think that special feeling is going to carry me on this week.
“The course is 40 minutes away from home for me. I live on the other side of the lake and we had junior events here all the time. I would come out here a lot with Swiss Golf growing up so it’s like a home course for me. My boyfriend is going be caddying but only starting Friday because he needs to work on Thursday!“
Knecht has been in contention twice this season playing her way into the final group alongside Hannah Green and Casandra Alexander at the Australian WPGA Championship in Queensland where she eventually finished T9. This was followed by a solid week at the Tipsport Czech Ladies where rounds of 64-70-71 at Royal Beroun saw her place T24.
On her 2026 campaign, the Swiss star said: “I had a good start to the season followed by a little bit of a rough patch. I’ve worked hard to get back to where I was. Now I just need to keep the red numbers coming more. I’ve been working hard and I’m feeling good. Every week is different. I think my game is trending in the right direction so I’m really excited for this week.”
Knecht is one of seven Swiss players competing at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open this week. The group includes Elena Colombo as well as five amateurs. The likes of Morgane Metraux, Kim Metraux and Chiara Tamburlini are sadly absent at Golfpark Holzhäusern.
Very much the home favourite this week as a result, Knecht will get underway on Thursday at 13:17 local time playing alongside England’s Meghan MacLaren and Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard.
“I’ll just go out there and try to enjoy it,” Knecht said on the task ahead. “Play my golf. Play my game. I’ll see what the golf brings. I don’t want to have any high expectations. I’ll try to just shoot as low as I can every day.”
Watch the VP Bank Swiss Ladiess Open live and can keep up to date with the tournament on our socials: @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #SwissLadiesOpen.
