When asked to sum up the season in one-word Dutch player Marit Harryvan said “heart-breaking.”
Three weeks later she insists she wouldn’t change that word, but the 26-year-old explained why she said it.
“The season was heart-breaking for me. A second place in a playoff that’s heart-breaking. I had a fourth place where I was co-leading with the other two girls after three holes. Then I bogeyed so many holes I couldn’t make par anymore. That was probably more heart-breaking.
“I’ve seen a lot of potential, but it is heart-breaking for me when you do quite well but not well enough.”
Harryvan had a solid start to the season with her best result coming at the first event of the season at the Santander Golf Tour- Girona where she lost out on the win to France’s Lucie Andre after beating three other players in a play-off.
Since then, she achieved another two top 10s one more than her rookie season in 2022.
However, the latter half of Harryvan’s season was tough for the Dutch player as she slipped down the Order of Merit tables following five consecutive missed cuts at the final five events.
Whilst mentally the golfer was struggling, Harryvan remarkably still radiated smiles to all others on tour and persevered with a wide smile on her face.
“I’m always very open and bubbly because I want to make others feel happy. For me it helps too, I would rather have a good time than be down all the time.
“I was struggling mentally. Golf is such a mental game. But I always knew no matter how tough it gets: I’ve been through worse and with resilience I will fight my way back.”
Harryvan has certainly had too much heartbreak than she deserves, at just 19-years-old Harryvan’s dad, who she described as her best friend, unexpectedly passed away.
“I still haven’t come out it, I even quit playing golf for a year. I couldn’t be on the golf course without thinking of him and bursting into tears. So, I decided to stop playing but I missed it. After a year I realised I loved the sport too much to quit,
“Then in 2019 I decided I wanted to start playing professionally and I had a good psychiatrist who helped me with the memories of my dad on the golf course, lots of therapy and luckily, we are back playing golf again.
“You must deal with the cards that are dealt to you. It’s still tough. When I play well I think of him, and I think of him when I don’t play well. I know he’s proud.”
Whilst Harryvan’s journey to becoming a professional was longer than the 16-year-old Marit planned, the she is ultimately happy to be living out her childhood dreams.
Putting this season behind her, Harryvan is now focussing on preparing for Q School Pre-Qualifiers by focussing on just herself and her happiness.
“The past Q Schools haven’t treated me well; Q School is a big thing but this year I’m trying to not make it a big thing. I will try to do my thing and go into it with a fresh mindset and enjoy it a bit more.”
To find out more about Harryvan’s golfing journey listen to her episode of the LETAS Golf Podcast below.
