Coming back to play in Europe is always a special occasion for Anna Nordqvist, and the Swedish superstar is looking to start her summer in the best possible way at the Big Green Egg Open this week.
The three-time Major champion is the star attraction at Rosendaelsche Golf Club this week, as she looks to head into the crunch part of the season in the finest form.
With the Amundi Evian Championship just around the corner, Nordqvist has taken the opportunity to adjust back to familiar surroundings earlier than most, with two weeks spent with family back in Sweden before teeing it up this week.
And the 2009 LET Rookie of the Year is looking forward to competing in the Netherlands, and getting back in the swing of things after some time away from the course.
“This is the perfect warm-up for the big tournaments in the coming weeks,” Nordqvist said.
“The course brings back memories from Sweden where I grew up. It is also nice to see the passion in the organization. The facilities here are incredible, so I’m really looking forward to playing.
“My games been feeling pretty good, I’ve been in Europe the last two weeks and I got to see my family for the first time since November.
“I’m excited to be here this week. I love coming back to Europe and to spend time with friends and family. I feel like it’s the perfect warm up for the stretch to come with Evian and the Scottish Open and British Open, so I’m grateful to be here.
“Hopefully I can play some good golf this week, I don’t want to put too many expectations on myself but I hope to get ready for a strong end to the year as well.”
The innovative format at Rosendaelsche Golf Club this week sees local amateurs join the field over the weekend once the cut has been made, with young Dutch talent able to tee it up with some of the world’s best.
The chance to inspire the next generation isn’t lost on Nordqvist, who is looking forward to seeing the future of Dutch golf with her own eyes in the final two rounds.
She continued: “If I had been in their shoes, I would have loved it. It’s a great initiative for young girls and boys to get this experience from within the ropes.
“I think it’s a great initiative and something different, for young girls and boys I don’t think you can find a better inspiration, it’s such a great feeling to be inside the ropes and I’m excited for them as well.
“It’s nice to see how much the federation has put into this event and the commitment to women’s golf from Big Green Egg to make this tournament better every year. I’m just looking forward to being back in Europe and playing on the Ladies European Tour.”
There will be a number of Dutch stars on show this week in Arnhem, with Pasqualle Coffa among those eager to impress in front of the home crowd this week.
The 25-year-old seems to thrive when playing in familiar surroundings, with one of her best performances of 2021 coming at the Big Green Egg Open, as she finished T19 on home soil.
And despite struggles with injury in recent weeks, Coffa is ready for action, as she lines up alongside Nordqvist and two-time Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew for the opening two rounds.
“I am coming from a minor injury to my elbow. There are a few question marks because of that, but my drives are feeling seriously good,” Coffa said.
“I love to play at home in the Netherlands, I get a lot of energy when everyone is looking at me, so I’m ready to go!”
One player who will be looking to continue her good form this week is Laura Beveridge, with the Scottish star coming off back-to-back career-best finishes in the past two weeks.
A fourth-place finish at the Amundi German Masters was swiftly followed up with a second-place showing at the Estrella Damm Ladies Open last week, as she finished two shots off champion Carlota Ciganda in Sitges.
The effervescent 33-year-old comes into the week on a run of eleven consecutive rounds under-par, and is in buoyant spirits heading into the week’s action.
“The course is nice here, it plays quite tough in places because it’s quite long and tight, so I’m going to have to be careful how I hit shots off the tee, I need to be accurate with my lines,” Beveridge said.
“You just have to accept you’re going to be in the trees at some point, I’m pretty sure everyone is going to be, it’s just a matter of how many times you’re going to be, and you’ve got to try and minimise that as much as possible.
“I’m trying to be a bit more relaxed about it, you just have to be accepting of what happens on the golf course, if it happens it’s great and if it doesn’t we go again.
“I’m just a bit more comfortable on the golf course, and if it happens this week again that would be great.
“I’m hitting the ball quite nicely and I’ve got a good rhythm within myself, and if I can take that into this week I’m laughing.”
Beveridge will be teeing up at 8.44 on the opening day in the Netherlands alongside 2020 Investec South African Women’s Open champion Alice Hewson, as well as Swedish star Elin Arvidsson.
Nordqvist and Coffa will be lining up alongside two-time Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew at 8.22 on Thursday, in an eye-catching group for the first two days.
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