Left: Caroline Larsson with her sister, Louise
Sweden’s Caroline Larsson is competing in the Sölvesborg Ladies Open this week and is happy to be back on tour after recently finishing runner-up at the SA Nedbank Disabled Open.
This is Carro’s first appearance on the LET Access Series this season and her second on the tour since she lost her leg through chondrosarcoma (a cancer of the cartilage) in May 2011.
She played in three tournaments on the Nordea Tour last year, including one event which also featured on the LET Access Series: the Ljungbyhed Park PGA Ladies Open and said: “I’m really looking forward to this season and happy to be back on tour!”
She explained: “Last year when I played Nordea Tour it was about getting used to the feeling of playing again so I didn’t get too many results. My goals are a bit different this year. It’s more about making some good scores out there. This year I have higher expectations because it’s not about the leg anymore, it’s more about the golf.”
This year, she plans to play in more events on the LETAS, Nordea and American Handi Tours.
“I just want to feel really consistent in my play and find my zone,” she said. “I feel that I have the game but I need to work on it to get consistent. If I play well, I will be happy because my game was good. I want to feel secure about low scores, like around par.
“After I lost the leg I have been under par but not able to finish the round under par, so to post an under par score in a tournament would be a real success.”
At the SA Nedbank Disabled Open, Carro was delighted with her rounds of 76 and 78 on a tough golf course.
“They said it was the longest course in the world for women because I played from the white and yellow tees as there weren’t enough women I was in the men’s class with no par four under 400 metres – but it was good fun and I played good!” she said.
Although she still feels tired walking 18 holes and uses a buggy on course, her coach says that her golf swing has never been better and a visit to LET Tour School could even be on the cards in the future.
“I don’t feel ready but maybe in a couple of years when I can make those scores then maybe I will go for it. I won’t go until I feel ready.”
For now, Carro will continue to test herself on the Access Series and Nordea Tours while her sister Louise competes in her third year on the Ladies European Tour.
