Home comforts could be key for Kirsten Rudgeley this week as the Aussie star looks to go one better at the Ford Women’s NSW Open and land a maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) victory.
The ever-relaxed figure finished T2 in Wollongong last time out ending the tournament two shots behind winner Mimi Rhodes.
“The wind was definitely a factor [to me playing well last year]”, Rudgeley said. “I just love being by the water and I know the golf course well. You have to change your ball flight which for me is quite easy. I’ll have to get the driver going again. But it’s a nice golf course and the people are really nice here. I’ll just go out there, play my best and see what happens.”
This week’s tournament is the first of four co-sanctioned events with the WPGA Tour of Australasia where Rudgeley is a one-time winner. The 25-year-old will be teeing up in all four tournaments where home advantage could prove to be a key factor.
“I love playing at home,” Rudgeley said. “Everyone is so nice and you’re always guaranteed good coffee in Australia. That’s definitely a perk and something I miss when I’m in Europe… the terrible coffee!
“It’s always nice being in Aus and seeing familiar faces. Obviously these events are run really well and I’m really looking to it. I’ve just got my mum here. She’s caddying. We’ve got an apartment and have just been chilling out. It’s so nice. We’re looking forward to the week. It’s going to be fun.
“I’m playing all four weeks in Australia. I can’t wait for the Aus Open. The golf course [Kooyonga] is unbelievable. It’s phenomenal. It will be interesting to see what the girls think of it. The greens are rapid so it will be a test. It’s a completely different golf course to this week and next.”
One of 30 Australians in the field this week, Rudgeley is her nation’s highest ranked player teeing up at Wollongong Golf Club sitting 123rd in the Rolex Rankings.
The Western Australian has had several close calls to a first LET win recording 16 top-10 finishes since joining the circuit in 2023. This includes runner-up finishes in Wollongong, France, and Spain, the latter coming at last year’s season finale.
Going one better on home soil is no doubt on Rudgeley’s mind as the Aussie tees up in the first of four co-sanctioned events this month.
“It would be great to win here in Australia,” she said. “But I know the win will come when it comes. I’ll just keep knocking at the door and hopefully I’ll get the win.”
Rudgeley gets underway at the Ford Women’s NSW Open at 13:14 on Thursday playing alongside Klara Davidson Spilkova from the Czech Republic and New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey.
You can watch the final two rounds of action right here on the LET website as well as around the world via your local broadcaster.
