Iceland’s Valdis Thora Jonsdottir may have warmed up for the LET’s Australian swing by practising indoors, but she is gradually thawing out after four weeks in the sunshine.
The 28-year-old from Akranes finished 53rd, 50th and 57th in the Oates Vic Open, ActewAGL Canberra Classic and ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open respectively, which proved to be the perfect warm-up for a third-place finish in the Australian Ladies Classic Bonville at the weekend.
The second-year LET member heads into this week’s Women’s New South Wales Open at Coffs Harbour Golf Club placed sixth on the order of merit and in prime form to become Iceland’s first winner on the LET.
“Obviously I would like to win on the LET. It would be a great honour to get on the Solheim Cup team: that would be really fun!” she said, on Wednesday.
“It’s always fun when you’re playing well and I think I can keep it up. I have put in a lot of work over the last two years and it’s finally paying off and coming through in my game.
“I’m feeling confident with my driver and 3-wood off the tee and my irons as well. I hit a lot of greens last week and I believe I can hit a lot of greens this week. I just need to figure out the green speed and grain.”
Jonsdottir is gradually reeling in Olafia Kristinsdottir in the rankings and although she played down the rivalry between the pair, it is clearly being hyped up back at home.
“Everybody is really excited. We get a little crazy when Icelandic athletes are playing well, especially the national team or us golfers. The support has been really nice and we are grateful to have all that support from such a small country. Olafia and I support each other and we are still friends. It’s always nice to see the Icelandic flag up on the scoreboard.”
Iceland’s Birgir Hafthorsson won on the Challenge Tour last year, but so far, there has not been a victory for the country on the top tier professional tours and Jonsdottir wants to be the first.
“I think it can expand the golf world a little bit more and hopefully inspire some young girls to start golfing. The boys are coming up now as well. We are showing that it’s possible to play on the big tour if you put the work in.”
Her mission begins in the first round on Thursday, when she tees off from the 10th hole at 1pm local time.
