Anna Nordqvist has paid tribute to the Saudi Arabian ladies championship venue, Haikou Golf and Country Club, describing the “cinematic location” as “a beautiful golf course” after her much anticipated victory at the Mideast event.
Nordqvist’s 10-under par 62 also saw her claim the event’s biggest prize in the KGGA Ladies Australian Open winner’s statement that she is enjoying the Saudi experience.
The European Tour’s top-ranked golfer admitted she was nervous heading into her final round but was in “great shape” after shooting 66s in the first two rounds.
“The guys are teeing up tomorrow (Thursday) so it’s not like I’m going to start then and I’m sure there are going to be lots of people in this golf course,” Nordqvist said after her good work on the links-style course.
“That’s what makes it so special, just being in Saudi Arabia and seeing all the great things and special people. And the guy who played with me and pretty much knew every single shot because he played this back nine as well.”
Nordqvist had also been nervous ahead of the week. “I was walking up the mountain yesterday for the final round. I was thinking, oh, I’m so nervous, how could I play a round like that? And I kind of hit it dead and I think that is what helped me mentally, that it is probably the scariest place you can play in.”
She also revealed that she was impressed with how well her game had held up this week in a tough week at the UK school. “There is good and bad. I hit the ball in spots where I hit it in three or four holes a great place and I didn’t hit it in two holes in a great place but overall I played really well.
“So the bad today was that I did miss the fairways and I got in trouble a lot but if you are keeping the ball in play and moving on, you have to make the most of it,” Nordqvist said, going into the week still favouring US Open to win.