Germany’s Alexandra Försterling believes there are similarities between Golfcrest Country Club and Feather Sound Country Club as she prepares to play in the Aramco Houston Championship.
The four-time LET winner is the defending champion heading into this week having secured victory in last year’s tournament, which was held at Feather Sound Country Club in Tampa.
Försterling secured a three-shot victory in Florida ahead of England’s Charley Hull and Bronte Law to win her third LET title and it is a week the German star looks back on with fondness.
“I just realised that I am defending champion because it feels so long ago,” said Försterling. “It was nearly one and a half years ago because last year it was so early in the season.
“The memories are great from that week. It was probably the best golf I’ve ever played. Just the three rounds, it was so, so pure and it felt great that week. That’s definitely one week, which I look back to a lot.
“It meant a lot for sure. It was just such a nice week, and I actually went back to play the course last year towards the end of the year. I wasn’t playing too far away on the LPGA, so I went down to play it once and it was honestly so nice to be back and be playing it again.”
This week sees the 20th stop of the LET season with the Aramco Houston Championship taking place between 5-7 September.
It is the fourth event of the PIF Global Series this year and sees 104 professionals compete in both the 36-hole Team competition and the 54-hole Individual stroke play competition.
Försterling played nine holes in practice around Golfcrest Country Club and believes it is a similar course to the one she triumphed on in Tampa last year.
Despite struggling with injuries this season, the 25-year-old has seen small signs of improvement in her game and is hoping to have fun in the team atmosphere this week.
“I feel like this week is quite similar, and the course also plays similar, it definitely reminds me a little bit of last year, so it’s a good sign,” she continued.
“I played nine holes and I really liked it. It’s a really nice course. It definitely plays quite long. We have a couple of really long shots into the green, so I would say hitting fairways, hitting greens would be quite important, and then just hopefully roll a couple putts in.
“I was struggling a bit this season, obviously with injury and stuff. It’s not quite gone yet, so I’m still recovering from it, but I’m just holding on to the little baby steps in the right direction.
“I’m still trying to trust myself and trust my abilities and obviously look back to a week like Florida and know it’s definitely still in me. I’m just going to try to have fun and really enjoy the week.
“I always really like these events. I really like playing as a team because I feel like there’s always a nice atmosphere within the group. You are cheering for the other girls when they make a putt. I always have really liked the tournaments and it’s definitely one of my favourite tournaments, plus they are always in really cool places.”
Försterling will tee it up as part of Team Spitz alongside Austria’s Emma Spitz, England’s Thalia Martin and Hong Kong’s Ginnie Ding at 8.54 am (local time) on Friday.
Follow the Tour on our socials at @letgolf (X and Instagram), Ladies European Tour (Facebook and YouTube), #AramcoHoustonChampionship.
