Alexandra Forsterling of Germany
A huge final day score of five-under-par, helped German Alexandra Forsterling to fend off World No.8 Charley Hull and Solheim Cup superstar Carlota Ciganda at Feather Sound Country Club – on a thrilling championship Sunday at the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Tampa.
Three birdies on the front nine and three on the back raised the German to the summit of the leaderboard by close of play, all whilst setting the tone for the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF events – proving that the field need to bring their best game to be within a chance.
This win is the German’s third on the Ladies European Tour (LET), and the first on the global event series, and Forsterling was delighted to add her name to a prestigious list alongside some of golf’s biggest stars.
“I feel overwhelmed, I don’t know what to say, it’s just an amazing feeling,” said Forsterling moments after securing the title.
“I was definitely nervous, you always are in the final round. I just tried to learn from the last times when I won and just play my game, try to adjust to the wind and have fun.”
The German, who only turned professional last season, is still finding her feet alongside some of the legendary names on the LET, and today was no different when paired with Solheim Cup winners.
“I am not going to lie, I was a little bit intimidated in the beginning! It’s great to play with Charley [Hull] and Carlota [Ciganda], they play so well. I just tried to keep up with them. It was really fun.
“Playing in the Solheim Cup like they have would be a great honor. To play in that event and represent Europe would be amazing and mean a lot to me.”
Forsterling is giving herself a chance to represent Team Europe later this year in 2024’s Solheim Cup, which takes place at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, moving into the second qualifying spot based on points.
World No. 8 Charley Hull finishes in second place in Tampa
Europe’s top-ranked player, Charley Hull, went into the final day with the lead, and certainly put up the best fight, but the relentless Forsterling meant that Hull finished three shots back on nine-under-par.
Hull, who is looking to improve on a spectacular 2023, said “It wasn’t exactly the result that I wanted but it’s just one of those weeks. It was windier today and it was very tricky when I hit some good shots and they just bounced. But I feel good, and I played pretty solid throughout.”
Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law both finished inside the top five, with Team USA’s Lexi Thompson, who is no stranger to winning these events, finishing 11th in the standings, bouncing back from a bogeys on the front nine with two birdies on the back.
Diksha Dagar was the only non-European player to finish inside the top 10, marking her 15th top 10 finish on the LET. Setting the pace early with two birdies on the front nine, Dagar carded a 71 to confirm her place among the European contingent.
On her performance, and where women’s golf in India is going, she said, “It wasn’t easy but on some of the holes I had some very good shots. Because of the wind I struggled a bit, but I made some great up and downs and it was alright.
“Indian golfers are doing very well, looking at the few Indians in this field in front of me. Looking at the last 10 years there were no Indian top golfers there, but a few of them are coming up and it’s promoting growth of the game in the country.”
Team Winners: Team Roussin-Bouchard – Celine Herbin (FRA), LuJain Omar Khalil (Amateur, KSA), Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (FRA), Meghan MacLaren (ENG)
The team element of the tournament had an enthralling conclusion, with France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard leading her team to victory with a score of 68, retaining the team title after her 2023 win in Florida.
A nerve-wracking putt from their amateur LuJain Omar Khalil on the 18th sealed the deal for Team Roussin-Bouchard, with Celine Herbin and Meghan MacLaren making up the group as team champions.
The Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF’s next stop is South Korea, from 10-12 May, where the best of women’s golf will battle it out once again for glory, as bragging rights are on the line, and all is to play for in the all-new destination.
