Chiara Tamburlini recorded her second Ladies European Tour (LET) title at last week’s Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
The Swiss star defeated Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley in a playoff in France and extended her advantage at the top of the LET Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year standings.
Despite coming away with victory, Tamburlini had to work hard for her second title as she didn’t feel her game was at its absolute best.
“It was a bit of a grind week in France,” she said. “In Joburg, things felt really easy when I won but last week, I didn’t feel 100% with my putter. I was searching for some things and same with my long game.
“It was good and solid, but it wasn’t the game of my life. What made it so special for me to win last week was having the game that didn’t feel like it was the best it’s ever been, I was still able to grind it out and stick through it and that’s so rewarding when it works out.
“I think coming off a win puts more extra pressure on you because that’s how I felt last time I won. I have experienced it once, so I think I’d like to know a bit more of how to handle it.
“It’s incredible to win, but what I learned last time was to reset again and go back to your basics and get back to work right away. It’s a new week this week and everything starts again.”
With a 393.98-point lead at the top of the LET Order of Merit, the two-time LET winner is in pole position to claim both season-long crowns at the end of the year.
However, the rookie admits she wasn’t necessarily thinking about the Order of Merit at the start of year, but rather she had Rookie of the Year in her mind instead.
She explained: “It would be a huge accomplishment to win the Order of Merit and not really something I had in mind at the beginning of the year. Once you’re up there, you get a little taste of it, but it would be incredible.
“There are so many good girls out here playing. To come out on top in Spain at the end of the season really shows how consistent the player is as well, winning a tournament is special but winning the Order of Merit proves you had the game the whole year long.
“Rookie of the Year was more in mind, a very high set goal but somewhat achievable. That was more of a goal that I had set myself at the beginning of the year. It’s crazy to see who has won both titles and to be associated with some of these people would be incredible.
“It shows how good they are, to have won this and made it to Solheim Cups and won majors and tournaments on the LPGA. That would be cool to be associated to them.”
This week sees the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Shenzhen take place from 4-6 October on the World Cup Course at Mission Hills Resort.
It is the fourth Aramco Team Series presented by PIF event of the year and the first time the tournament has been held in mainland China.
There will be two competitions taking place alongside one another with the 36-hole Team competition and the 54-hole Individual competition.
Tamburlini has played at all the Aramco Team Series events in 2024 and is looking forward to the team vibe this week.
She added: “The team thing is really my thing, I love playing in a team. I loved it in college and all the ATS events have been super fun so far. It’s good vibes, that’s what I’ve been trying to do all year.
“It makes me play well and I think it makes a lot of people play well, so if I can just people to have good vibes, be positive and have fun then we will do well as a team.”
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