Tournaments involve many commitments for players, particularly during a sponsor week. Talking with the media, getting practice rounds in, scouting out the course, and in a team event, having a strategy meeting.
606 days after finishing her last LPGA start, Suzanne Pettersen was most surprised by how she felt at a non-competitive moment.
“I was most nervous when they announced my name in the pro-am on the first tee.”
Pettersen had to reacclimate to mingling with sponsors. The 15-time winner, who is sponsored by Dow, was paired alongside LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and Dow Ceo Jim Fitterling.
Being partnered with her fellow Solheim Captain Catriona Matthew helped keep the nerves of the return to competitive play in check. She walked off the ninth green at Midland Country Club Thursday after finishing 36 holes with a smile on her face, reflecting on the joy of being back in the fold after such a long break.
“I just really enjoyed playing, actually. I mean, it was a tough start to come off the back with a foursome stroke play, you can't ask any more difficulty. But I really enjoyed yesterday and I really enjoyed today,” Pettersen explained.
Her teammate was impressed with Pettersen’s ability in her return.
“She played well these last couple of days. Just a little rusty, which you expect, but if you can get out there in four rounds with your own ball, it's amazing how quickly it comes back,” Matthew said.
Pettersen felt her game was close to being back to in only two rounds of varying formats.
“I think one thing is to come back from and you don't quite know where your game is at. You're tested under the gun but you can't drop another ball. But I feel like -- it feels like my game is almost right there, putting is fairly sharp. Just a few sloppy shots here and there, but I can't really expect it to be spot on.”
While she hasn’t been willing to say when she’ll return, the week reinforced to the Norway native that she is not done with the LPGA Tour yet.
“I feel like I have too much golf in me to hang up the clubs. You'll definitely see me out here. I'm not quite sure when, but you'll see me when you see me.”
For now, she’ll add chasing her young son Herman to chasing a white ball around a course.
)
)
)
)
