For Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer, the 2025 LET Access Series (LETAS) season was more than a breakthrough, it was the culmination of years of persistence, heartbreak, rebuilding, and belief.
After narrowly missing out on promotion three seasons in a row the 28-year-old finally secured her first full LET card back in October and placed third in the LETAS rankings.
We sat down to catch up with Kathi in this week’s episode of LETAS Chat. Listen here.
Muehlbauer has been a fixture on LETAS since 2021, finishing agonisingly close to promotion multiple times: 10th in 2021, 11th in 2022, and 10th again in 2023.
Each time, the dream slipped just out of reach ending in disappointment at Q-School.
But 2025 was different. A year ago, the Austrian was missing nearly half her cuts; this season she produced seven top 10 finishes, climbed the Order of Merit, and finally secured that long-awaited LET card. As she put it simply, “Finally the dream has come true.”
Reflecting on the moment everything changed, Muehlbauer admits the achievement is still sinking in as well as having huge relief of no longer facing Q-School this year and enjoying her first Christmas at home for years.
How did she keep coming back after so many near misses? For Muehlbauer, the answer is simple: a love for the sport and a belief that there is always something to improve.
Yet this season, a major turning point came with a bold decision, changing her long-time coach after 15 years. Muehlbauer is now coached by Christoph Bausek.
“It was an incredibly difficult choice. It was really, hard. My parents and like my whole team were not telling me to do it, but like told me the years before, do you think it might be at one point good to change?
“I guess the results speak for itself. The impact was massive. I was obviously very thankful for my old coach that he got me to the point where I was. But I felt like I needed a bit more professionalism.
“I think because Christoph had a few players on the DP World Tour, he knew what I needed to get to the next stage and to the next level. He raised my level.
“At the beginning, he was a bit sceptical as well, because he never really practiced or like trained females. And he said, I don’t know the numbers and figures and all that type of stuff and statistics. But I think if you ask him now, he really enjoyed the work and I’m really looking forward to next year with him.”
Kathi’s three-stroke victory at the PGA of Sweden Championship in Gothenburg became the highlight of her dream season. Played across two very different courses over four days, it provided proof of both her consistency and her maturity under pressure.
With a sizeable lead heading into the final round, the nerves were real. Even her coach warned her that big leads can be dangerous. But Muehlbauer stayed composed especially helped by a crowd of friends and fellow players who came out to support her down the stretch.
“Seeing all my friends coming towards me and celebrating with me was really, really cool… It gave me the boost—showing I can do it again.”
The win reaffirmed that her success wasn’t a one-off, as Muehlbauer had previously won the 2023 Trust Golf event at Ramside Hall.
As if the results weren’t enough, Muehlbauer was voted Player’s Player of the Year becomingonly the second person ever to win the award.
“It was totally unexpected and it was the cherry on top of the season.”
A surprise 11-minute tribute video featuring fellow players from across the tour left her in happy tears at the final event.
It captured exactly what makes Muehlbauer beloved, not just her golf, but her kindness, humility, and presence on tour.
Another milestone this season came with the tour’s first-ever stop in Austria. Playing in front of home crowds, some who had never got to see her compete live, was emotional and energizing
Her parents attended, something that rarely happens, and she felt the added attention lift her rather than overwhelm her:
“I think it gives me extra motivation… maybe even more focus.”
Muehlbauer finished solo second, losing to LETAS Order of Merit winner Gemma Clews.
Though golf is individual, Muehlbauer emphasises the importance of her friendships on LETAS. Quiet nights in with card games, music-guessing battles, shared dinners, and supportive conversations helped her stay grounded.
Even her relationship with Max, her partner, occasional caddie, and former pro, plays a big role.
“Without him, I’m pretty sure I would not be where I am.”
With her card secured, Muehlbauer is preparing for a year full of firsts: bigger events, new countries, and the chance to compete against Europe’s best.
“I’m probably the most excited for Australia next year, just because I always wanted to go there.
“So that one is really, really something I can like finally to tick off my bucket list. I’ve heard rumours that there’s going to be a tournament in Mauritius. So, if that’s really the case, then that’s really, cool.
“It’s nice knowing I can play nearly all the tournaments… I can’t wait for next year on the LET.”
We are incredibly proud of Muehlbauer’s fantastic achievements on LETAS. Muehlbauer does rank second on the most top 10s of all-time list, one tournament behind Gemma Clews.
Learn more about Muehlbauer in this week’s episode of LETAS chat.
