British women bid for Dutch glory
England’s Kirsty Taylor and Rebecca Hudson and Wales’ Becky Brewerton are hovering around the top 10 on the European Tour Order of Merit, and all three will be gunning for a breakthrough victory in the KLM Women’s Open, starting tomorrow in the Netherlands.
Hampshire’s Taylor has had top 10s in the Tenerife and French Opens in her best season to date, while Hudson, who was one of Britain’s best ever amateurs but has struggled to make a mark as a professional, has had four finishes in the top 15.
Brewerton, who twice finished runner-up as an amateur on Tour in 2002, has also had an impressive run, including a fourth place in the Spanish Open last month.
Hudson, who combines life on Tour with working in an hotel at home in Yorkshire, said: “I think I’m finally beginning to feel comfortable and enjoy golf as a professional.
“I loved amateur team golf and don’t think I was quite so suited to playing solely for myself. But, so far, this year has been very good.”
French player Virginie Lagoutte defends the title in a field headed by her compatriot, Gwladys Nocera, who won the Swiss Open two weeks ago and heads the Order of Merit and Solheim Cup rankings.
England’s Laura Davies, who finished second in the Swiss and French Opens on a fleeting return to Europe, will be hoping to maintain the same form in tomorrow’s ShopRite Classic on the LPGA Tour in America.
The 42-year-old missed seven out of eight cuts in America at the start of the season, but goes into the 54-hole tournament in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with her confidence relatively restored.
