WOMEN'S IRISH OPEN SUZANN PETTERSEN INTERVIEW: PAUL GALLAGHERtalks to the 2008 winner, who regards the Irish Open as one of the best events on the schedule
SUZANN PETTERSEN arrived in Ireland for this week's AIB Women's Irish Open as the top-ranked player in the field, and though the Norwegian was "unable to get the job done" at last week's British Open she is convinced it's open season in the women's game and would like nothing better than to notch up another win in Ireland at Killeen Castle.
This time of the year is undoubtedly the busiest period on the women's international schedule with a seemingly endless run of high-profile events in close proximity. The Irish Open comes immediately after a five-week stretch which took in three majors, the LPGA Championship, US Open and last week's British Open at Birkdale. Throw in the prestigious Evian Masters and there's hardly time to take breath for the game's leading lights.
Not that the top players are complaining but somewhere down the line a review of the schedules might reveal the women's game is best served spreading these tournaments, a viewpoint Pettersen certainly subscribes to.
"I don't think they have the schedule right at the moment, it's a lot to demand of the players," says Pettersen, one of the figureheads in the game with an opinion worth listening to. "We've had three majors - plus the Evian - in almost six weeks, that's a lot of golf and a lot of energy in a short space of time."
"That said I don't think we can complain, it is what it is and the tour in general is looking very strong. It's the key part of the season where you just hope to play your best golf to give yourself a chance of winning.
"In such a busy period, once your head is in the zone you never really let go. The body keeps going but mentally it can be draining. It's still a great stretch of tournaments and the Irish Open is one of the best events we play in all year."
The world number four's season has been littered with good results, eight top 10s from 12 starts, including second-place finishes in two majors, the Kraft Nabisco in April and last month's US Open. She has already broke through the $1 million (€765,00) barrier in prize money this season. At Birkdale the 29-year-old was in the mix until a final round 75 dropped her back into a tie for 14th, with Taiwan's Yani Tseng securing her second major of the season.
Pettersen believes the women's game has never been more competitive; one, because of the strength-in-depth which exists and also because former world number one Lorena Ochoa decided to bow out at the top. The Mexican golfer had a stranglehold on the number one spot for the best part of three years but played her last tournament in May to spend more time with her family and work on her Foundation.
As a result players like Pettersen believe her profession is wide open now and any of the top players could assume the top spot on any given week (Korea's Jiyai Shin is currently number one).
"I thought it was a shame when Lorena left the game; it's always nice to take down the best player at the time," explains Pettersen, who has been as high as number two in the world.
Annika Sorenstam did something similar after the record-breaking Swede dominated the game. "I think that's the single biggest difference in the game now compared to say the last 10 years when a couple of players dominated at the top," adds Pettersen. "There are so many good players now who can win on any given week. With such strong competition that makes us all better players."
An integral part of Pettersen's success has been the rigorous fitness regime of a self-confessed "sports freak". Not only one of the best players in the world, she is super-fit and thinks nothing of "going for it" in the gym. "I've always been that way, it's part of me and I get restless quickly," she explains. "Technique is one thing but your body is your main tool. You can talk all day about clubs and equipment but if you don't have your body working with you then you're missing a big link.
"I'm a sports freak and love to do everything. In winter I get away to the mountains and ski, play tennis or whatever goes. You play a game of football, I'll play. I hate to do nothing. If it's an off week then I'm in the gym every day, I'll go after it and hit it. Cardio is good and always nice to get those legs moving and the heart rate up. At a tournament I might only get one or two easy sessions on the bike along with light weight and stretching. Right now my body and technique go hand in hand. Not only do you feel better but you recover faster in between," adds Pettersen, who has a gym at her residence in Orlando, Florida.
Pettersen turned professional in 2000, with her breakout year coming in 2007 by winning five times, including a major at the LPGA Championship, but insists she is playing better golf now.
"That was a great year (2007) but I'm definitely a better player now. The secret has been consistency. If there is one area to improve it's my putting. You can never work too hard on your short game and I often leave a few putts out there. When you count those up at the end of the week it can be the difference between winning and losing, it's the fine margins."
Pettersen won the Irish Open at Portmarnock Links in 2008 and would gladly add to that at Killeen, next year's Solheim Cup venue. "Never mind the Solheim Cup being played at Killeen; I'm playing the Irish Open because it's a great tournament. I always look forward to competing in Ireland and this is one of the best events on our schedule," adds Pettersen, who will start as favourite for the €500,000 event, €75,000 going to the winner. "Sure I'm curious to see the course ahead of next year. However, I never just show up to a tournament. I always try to bring my A-game and play my heart out.
"My best memories on the golf course are from the Solheim Cup. It's very special and definitely the highlight of my career so far," says Pettersen, who has played five times and enjoyed many highs playing alongside Sorenstam, particularly in the 2003 win at Barsebäck. "There's a special bond with your team-mates and like the Ryder Cup it's unique in such an individual sport."
Fresh off the back of the men's equivalent in Killarney where Pádraig Harrington put on a heroic final day effort, there's a buoyancy in Irish golf at present.
"There is one formula that works for golf events in Ireland - bring the best players in the world and the people will come to see them," said Roddy Carr, tournament organiser and 2011 Solheim Cup promoter.
"This is what we set out to do at this year's Irish Open with the move to the splendid Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Killeen Castle. We were thrilled with the response from quality Americans, who obviously see the event as a curtain raiser for the 2011 Solheim Cup."
Flamboyant American Christina Kim will bring plenty to the party as will compatriot Brittany Lincicome. European number one Laura Davies will attempt to make it a hat-trick of Irish Opens to add to her 1994 and '95 hauls. Three-time champion Sophie Gustafson and last week's British Open runner-up Katherine Hull are just some of the other stars on show.
There will be plenty of Irish interest, especially as the Curtis Cup trio of the Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, and Danielle McVeigh get the chance to test themselves against their professional counterparts. It didn't faze Leona last year when she played alongside Davies. Team Ireland is well represented by Hazel Kavanagh, Rebecca Coakley, US-based Alison Walsh, Martina Gillen and Tara Delaney.
