After some sensational golf at last year’s Lacoste Ladies Open de France Meghan MacLaren’s pursuit of a fourth Ladies European Tour (LET) title came up agonisingly short as she was defeated by Ines Laklalech in a playoff.
Now back in Deauville for the 2023 edition and feeling hungrier than ever, the Englishwoman is determined to go one better on a course which clearly suits her game.
“It’s bittersweet to be back,” MacLaren said, who carded rounds of 65-67-67 at Golf Barrière last time out. “It was obviously quite an intense week last year. I have really really good memories from here but it was also quite gutting as well. It’s nice to be back at somewhere where you’ve played so well.”
The three-time LET winner made 16 birdies and dropped just two shots en route to losing to Laklalech on the first playoff hole in 2022 – a sudden death defeat which was hindered by MacLaren having to take a drop after a wayward tee shot on the 18th.
She explained: “It probably goes without saying but I feel as determined as I ever have to kind of put that one to bed and go one better.
“I kind of felt the course suited me last year. You have to be quite precise off the tee because it was so firm. I didn’t make many mistakes. I think I had two bogeys all week. It was just one of those weeks where everything clicked. It’s a lot softer this year. I think it will play tougher but we’ll see.”
As for form, MacLaren currently sits 65th in the Race to Costa del Sol but arrives in France off the back of her best result of 2023 so far – a T7 finish at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open two weeks ago.
“The game is feeling good,” the 29-year-old continued. “It feels as if the last month or so things have started to fall into place a little bit. You get used to scoring well again and the confidence comes from there. My game is in a good place but we’ll see.”
MacLaren’s shot at redemption at this year’s Lacoste Ladies Open de France gets under way at 9:43 local time on Thursday where she will tee up alongside Vani Kapoor of India and home favourite Yvie Chaucheprat.
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