A gleeful Kim Metraux is hoping to feed off the energy of the home crowds at this week’s VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open as she returns to Switzerland for her favourite event of the year.
The highest ranked Swiss player in the field knows Golfpark Holzhäusern all too well after finishing T3 consecutively at the track in 2020 and 2021.
A shorter, narrower course which suits Metraux’s eye, the lefty returns home this week beaming with excitement as prepares to tee up in front of friends and family in the 23rd event of the Ladies European Tour (LET) season.
“I always call it the best week of the year,” Metraux said. “There’s no such thing like playing on home soil and I’m really excited for it.”
“It’s great to have crowds coming out to support. Obviously, you want to do well in front of them, and it gives you that extra boost of energy having family and friends come out. My family, coaches, and a few friends will be coming out. I’m really excited.”
Metraux arrives in Switzerland ranked 64th in the Race to Costa del Sol standings and having made eight consecutive cuts in a row on the LET.
Just a few weeks ago, the Swiss star found form at the ISPS Handa World Invitational, holding the first round hole lead en route to finishing T9 in Northern Ireland – her best result of the 2023 season so far.
But despite the finish, on top of the fact Golfpark Holzhäusern has been a happy hunting ground for Metraux in recent years, the Olympian is refusing to put too much pressure on herself as she tees up as the home favourite this week.
She explains: “Obviously, I’ve had some great results the past few years here, last year it didn’t go great so I don’t want to put too much expectation on this week, just trying to feed off the home energy in the crowds and enjoy being at home.
“I guess the energy of being home [has helped in the past]. I enjoy the course, it’s quite tight off the tee at times which probably plays to my strengths. Hopefully I can hole a few extra putts [and do well again]. My putting stroke has been feeling good recently, hopefully it will heat up this week. We’ll see what happens.”
Metraux gets her VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open campaign underway at 12:47pm local time on Friday playing alongside recent LET winner Smilla Tarning Soenderby and Welsh player Lydia Hall.
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