Each season the LET Access Series ushers in a new class of rookies, ready to give it their all and earn a card on the LET, this season one such rookie is France’s Emily Mollard.
Whilst most tour professionals have dreamt of achieving golfing glory for years, Mollard previously yearned for success on the slopes.
The 24-year-old grew up competitive skiing and only in the last few years started to pursue golf seriously.
Mollard explained: “I started playing golf when I was about 10 years old. My mum got me into the game.
“Playing professional golf has been the dream for a couple of years. It wasn’t always the dream. I grew up competing in skiing, so I was more into the skiing and that side of sport.
“I competed in skiing until I was about 18, 17, and it came to a point where, you know, I was doing okay, but I wasn’t good enough to really make it. So, then I went into teaching, started doing my teaching qualification, and that’s when I thought, okay, you know, I knew skiing, my skiing career is over.”
Mollard, one for a challenge, took up playing speed golf after the French National Championships were held at her home course and has since being crowned a four-time champion.
“It’s kind of funny how I fell into it. A member from my club was really keen on running and playing golf, so he heard about speed golf and said, okay, I want this to happen in France.
“So he created the French Speed Golf Open in my home club, Chamonix.
“That was in 2018 and so I thought I might as well give it a go. So I did it and I’ve been defending my title ever since, so I kept going, and I have a lot of fun.”
In November, Mollard is looking to head to the World Championships held in Japan and believes speed golf can help her golf on tour.
“It makes me think, okay, if I can do it running with three clubs, then surely I should be able to do it with my full set of clubs and that’s a normal pace.
“It helps me realize that sometimes playing simple, you know, just playing middle of fairway, middle of green, two putts that’s enough to shoot a good score.
“It also makes me be a little bit more creative with my shots as well, because with only three clubs with me, if I’ve got 150m, I’ve got to be creative and figure out a way to hit it that distance. So yeah, I think it does help my golf to an extent.”
Mollard plans to spend a season on LETAS and discover life as a tour golfer having made the jump to professional in January.
“I’m just excited to discover LETAS. I got a taste of it last year as I got an invite for the Terre Blanche Ladies Open and I just really enjoyed the atmosphere.
“I just I just felt like this is, you know, this is what I want.
“I don’t know, honestly what my goals are I’m just here to see what it’s all about and see how it goes.
“I mean, obviously, I think performance will come on a bit later on. Once we get going right now, I have no idea, to be honest. I just want to have fun.”
Mollard’s season got off to a strong start at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open where she finished T-49th and made the cut at her first tournament as a professional.
Her next tournament will also be in her home country at the Montauban Ladies Open starting on June 7.
