 |
Helsingborg-based Caroline Hedwall hopes to celebrate her Solheim Cup win with another victory at her homecoming event this week.
The Swede’s European team triumph follows a fantastic season but now she hopes to step it up with a win at the Helsingborg Open at Vasatorp: her first professional tournament in Sweden.
“It’s great to be playing in Sweden for the first time as a professional and I’m looking forward to it because it’s just 15 minutes from my house,” said the 24-year-old five-time winner on the LET.
“I’ve played 36 holes this week and 36 holes here before, so total 72 holes on this golf course. I think it’s in great shape and it’s a fun track.
“Hopefully we don’t get more rain because right now it’s fairly wet out there. It’s all about fairways, greens and making putts. It’s a strong field and I hope to have a good week and be up there on Sunday.”
Hedwall last won at the 2012 UNIQA Ladies Golf Open in Austria after two months out from the game with hip surgery. However, she showed that she is back to her best form by becoming the first ever player to win all five matches at The Solheim Cup in Colorado and it’s been non-stop ever since, with a tie for third in Canada followed by a week at home in Sweden.
“It’s been quite busy after Solheim but I was home last week and tried to relax a bit on Sunday. It’s just great to be in Sweden. For me, it’s two weeks at home,” she said.
“People do recognise me more now. When I was in Canada and went into a supermarket, a lady said: Oh, you’re the golfer that holed that putt against the Americans.’ I was surprised that they would recognise me in a regular supermarket in Edmonton.”
Hedwall will face stiff competition from the rest of the field, which includes her non-identical twin sister Jacqueline. “It’s fun that she gets the opportunity to play here so I’m happy for her but I still want to beat her!” said Caroline.
Jacqueline, a rookie on the LET but with a limited playing category, caddied for her sister for a season in 2011 but has already been part of one Solheim Cup victory: as a caddie at Killeen Castle in Ireland.
