France’s Chloe Salort faced a full-on rookie season in 2023 complete with narrow misses, injury setbacks and many fond memories made on the LET Access Series (LETAS).
The 25-year-old missed no cuts and secured two top five finishes to finish 20th on the LETAS Order of Merit, earning her a coveted exemption into the final stage of Q School.
A rib inflammation painfully cut short Salort’s 2023 rookie season but the Frenchwoman is now ready and fighting fit for whatever 2024 throws at her.
Reflecting on her first year on tour, Salort said: “Last season was full of experience, I feel like I almost experienced everything in one year, injury and ups and downs.
“The season was good, but it was not everything I dreamed of. So, I decided for this season to just go 100 percent in everything. It’s now or never.
“You have to do everything you can, try as hard as you can, practice as much as you can. I want to have the chance to play on the LET next year and no Q School because Q School is a strange week.”
Off season has not been without challenges already for Salort who has had to return to full golf mode later than expected due to a family loss.
“My grandpa passed away in mid-January, so I had to stop for 10 days and be with my family. So, it’s the beginning of practice time now.”
“I was thinking about playing in South Africa, but it’s very far away and I don’t think mentally wise I’m ready.
“I like challenges, I like competition. That’s why I am ready to kick off, but I know in my head financially and mentally, those tournaments are not worth it for me.”
Many professional golfers must maintain a part-time job in the off season to fund their dreams and Salort has worked at McDonalds since turning professional.
“It’s not fun but it’s what I have to do. It’s a sacrifice for this career.”
Commenting on the bigger prize funds on LETAS this year, Salort said: “I know players who struggle with sponsors and it’s becoming even harder to find them.
“It’s not a simple pathway to the LET, so to see bigger prize funds on LETAS is great motivation.
“But at the end of the day, we play for the trophy we don’t play for the money. Well for me it’s the trophy.
“To get a win would give me confidence and more motivation. A trophy for all the efforts and sacrifices I make every day because I’m working hard.”
Whilst mentally Salort has moved on from last year, the former rookie reflected on the biggest lesson she learnt- the kindness of other players on tour.
“I was surprised that even if we were playing against each other or for money, I met friends and I would never imagine that I could have friends on the tour, real friends.”
Salort can enjoy a couple more months of practice under her belt before the season opener, the Terre Blanche Ladies Open in her home country.
In 2023 Salort finished fourth and admits to feeling a little more pressure this year.
“It’s a little pressure because last year there was one of my best performances and it wasn’t the first tournament last year, so I had a little time to get tournament ready.
“It will be a good test and I just hope the weather will be better this year.”
—
Follow all the action and our players on @letaccess on Instagram, X and TikTok and LET Access Series on Facebook, #raiseourgame
