Sweden’s Isabel Ekstrom has the privilege this week of playing on the course she was brought up on.
Golf Uppsala Soderby is owned by her father who alongside his brother converted her grandfather’s old farm into a golf complex.
Speaking about her excitement for the tournament, Ekstrom said: “I’m super excited. It will be fun, and I know that everyone working here has been doing a great job in the last couple of weeks to prepare the course to make the event as good as possible.
“The course looks great, and a lot of people are excited as am I.”
It is not the first time Golf Uppsala Soderby has hosted a LETAS event, in 2021 they hosted the Golf Uppsala open, where last year’s Order of Merit winner Kajsa Arwefjall won as an amateur. Ekstrom came tied 16th that year.
“This week and event are a little bit more special because I feel like I’m better adjusted to playing as a professional.
“With Covid-19 it was a little bit different, but now we can just go all in with the event, which is fun.”
Ekstrom, who currently has 10 top 10 finishes on Tour, sits 46th on the LETAS Order of Merit with her highest finish being tied ninth this season in Portugal at the Super Bock Ladies Open.
Despite playing on the course she grew up on, Ekstrom is trying not to feel the pressure and instead wants to focus on her goal for the year, to earn LET playing rights by finishing in the top seven on the LETAS Order of Merit.
“I haven’t set any real goals. I have a goal this season to try to finish in the top seven, so that’s kind of what I’m striving for. I want to play as well as I can every single week. and I mean, even though I’m at home, it’s a little bit different, but I’m trying to just approach it as any other tournament.
“I think it’s a little bit more pressure, but I think it more comes from the pressure that I put on myself. I want to perform since I’m playing at home, but it’s still golf.”
Whilst there might be some pressure on her shoulders, Ekstrom is still relishing all the comforts which come from playing at home.
“The best thing is sleeping in your own bed and not having to travel, pack your bag and all that kind of stuff. I live here, so I just walk out the door and I’m on the course, which is just the best.”
Ekstrom tees it up at 13:45 local time alongside Australia’s Justice Bosio and Iceland’s Andrea Bergsdottir.
For more information on the tournament visit letaccess.com and follow @LETAccess on Facebook, Instagram and X – #Access2LET.
