England’s Annabel Dimmock is ready to rekindle her best form at the Jabra Ladies Open this week as she returns to the site of her solo victory on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
The 26-year-old was victorious at Evian Resort Golf Club in 2019 when she held off French amateur Pauline Roussin to win by one shot and qualify for the Amundi Evian Championship.
“It was unbelievable to win. I still can’t explain how it feels,” Dimmock remembers on the eve of this year’s tournament. “I had no expectations going in. I missed the cut the week before but for some reason there was a calmness over me which every now and again I get.
“I was obviously swinging well and it was just one of those weeks where it all clicked. I didn’t hit many bad shots. I putted decent which you have to do around Evian.”
One behind Roussin heading into Saturday, the Englishwoman produced some of her finest golf as she birdied four of her first seven holes before holding her nerve on the back nine to see out victory.
Dimmock says: “Every time Pauline did something good it was loud, and every time I did something good you could hear a penny drop!
“The whole thing was a blur, which is how I know I was in that calmness. I can’t really remember many shots I hit apart from that hybrid I hit on the last where I thought it went in the water until I got up there and realised it was in the bunker.”
Clearly at home on Évian-les-Bains’ picturesque fairways, Dimmock would finish second to Pia Babnik two years later when she defended her title in France.
“Because I’ve won it before, I told myself I can win it again,” she says. “I know this course well. It has a lot of subtle slopes so you have to be very imaginative around it. It’s like my home course Wentworth where you can see a slope and use it to your advantage.”
Now back at Evian Resort Golf Club again following a seven week break in the LET schedule, the 26-year-old will be hoping for a French renaissance at a course she knows all too well.
“The start of my season hasn’t been as good as I hoped,” Dimmock says – whose best finish in 2023 is a T36 at the Lalla Meryem Cup. “I haven’t missed a cut, but it’s been average so far, so I’ve been working on a few things at home. There’s been some positives and it’s been good for me to see where I’m at.
“Me and swing coach have been trying to make my swing a lot more simple. In the past I’ve hit it hard and swung it hard, which has meant my hands have got too far forward which pushes my body back and I get stuck.
“We’ve been working on making it wider and working in circles, instead of me trying to kill the ball all the time. I’m long enough, so this week I just need to focus on keeping the ball in play. I’ve now had seven weeks to work on my game and I’m ready for take two of the season!”
Dimmock is one of three past winners teeing up at the Jabra Ladies Open this week, joining Babnik and defending champion Tiia Koivisto in the line-up.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Matthieu Joffres
