Samantha Bruce from the Philippines is set to make history in 2024 as she becomes her country’s third player to take up Ladies European Tour (LET) membership and compete on the circuit.
Hailing from Makati City in the Manilla region, the 23-year-old will follow in the footsteps of Mary Estuesta and Mia Piccio this season after finishing T27 at Lalla Aicha Marrakech Q-School to earn Category 16 status.
A member of the Philippine National Team, Bruce enjoyed a successful junior career winning the 2015 Kartini Cup at the South East Asian Team Golf Championships before competing at the 2017 and 2018 Girls Junior PGA Championship.
With aspirations of becoming a professional golfer, the Filipino would enrol at Seattle University where she studied Computer Science alongside her sporting endeavours.
Excited for the season ahead and ready to fly the Philippine flag in 2024, we caught up with Samantha following an intense two weeks at Q-School to hear all about her journey to the LET…
I started playing golf when I was eight years old. The funny thing is I actually started playing because of my older sister. I never knew what golf was, I just started tagging along because of her. A few months later I started getting the hang of it and I’ve been hooked ever since. I played a little basketball before but I was never really committed. In the Philippines it was really hard to play multiple sports. When I was about 13 years old I really had to commit to golf and I’m really happy that I did. It’s taken me really far.
It took me a while to realise that this was what I really wanted to do. I fully committed to it when I got to college, when I had the freedom to practice and be at a different level of competition. The environment at college really allowed me to do that. I studied computer science so it was difficult to manage! But Seattle was a great environment for me.
I have basically played everywhere! I played in the US a lot over the summers and when I was 13 I started playing for the national team. We played all over Asia and that after that in a lot of AJGA and USGA events.
I best thing I have done so far is earn status for the LET next year! Last summer I also played Q Series in the States [on the LPGA] so I gained some status on the Epson Tour. That was a great achievement. My fall season at Seattle I average under par every round and had a chance to win every tournament. That really boosted my confidence for sure.
There has been one girl from the Philippines before! This was 10 years ago [in 2014], Mia Piccio, she actually got the same status that I just got. We played together before and had the same coach but she’s slightly older than me. She was a very strong hitter and I always admired how she played. It’s crazy because I’m now the next Filipino to qualify for the LET! I’m following in her footsteps a little. It’s come very full circle. Knowing she was able to do it gave me a lot of confidence for the upcoming season.
My parents are my heroes. I know that’s cliché to say, but growing up they always told me to always dream big. In everything you do, always try to be the best version of yourself. When you achieve something, know there’s always something greater out there. Honestly, when I understood that, I saw how so many doors can open up. I never thought I would be out here playing golf, three years ago I thought I might have been done. I didn’t think I was good enough to turn pro but then I fell in love with the game again and it’s opened up to many doors for me. I’m so grateful.
Samantha Bruce gets her rookie season underway on the LET at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open which tees off on February 8. Follow all the action throughout the year on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram, TikTok and X, and Ladies European Tour on YouTube and Facebook – #RaiseOurGame
