As an amateur, Carlota Ciganda won in every Spanish Championship category – novice, junior, youth and open. She was also victorious in the Spanish professionals championship but one title has eluded her. In seven appearances in the Spanish Ladies Open, including two as an amateur, she has never finished outside the top-10 – but her best result is second in 2014.
This week at Royal Guadalmina in Marbella, she hopes to rectify that situation with victory in the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino.
The 2012 Ladies European Tour order of merit winner and rookie of the year is happy to be back on “home turf”, enjoying the Spanish cooking, sunny weather and family time on her agenda.
“I’m very excited because I always love playing in Spain with all the people here. My family is here and some friends are coming. I love playing with the crowds and some great weather, a great golf course, so I’m very excited.”
Currently ranked number 22 in the world, the 27-year-old finished second in the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open near Barcelona five months ago, after a play-off against the eventual winner Florentyna Parker and Anna Nordqvist.
Other than that, she has had a mixed year with six top-10 finishes, including a tie for fourth in the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open and joint fifth in the U.S. Women’s Open, but she is keen to add to her trophy cabinet, which includes two wins on the LPGA last year and three wins on the LET (including the German Open, which was reduced to 27 holes and therefore unofficial).
“Obviously, I would like to win the tournament but whoever plays best deserves to win. Azahara is playing on her home course, so she will be tough to beat. We have rented a house with my family so looking forward to some quality time with them, because I am always travelling in the U.S. We will have some nice dinners, good food and it’s all easy here,” she said.
Ciganda made her third Solheim Cup appearance in Des Moines (Iowa) last month, where she earned a point for the European team in her singles match with a 4&3 win against Brittany Lincicome, but it came just too late.
“Obviously the result wasn’t what we wanted, but in the end only one team can win and we had a great week,” she said. “It’s always nice to represent Europe. You make great friendships and I think Annika did a great job. When I think of the Solheim Cup it’s always good things and I would love to see it come to Spain one day.”
She is facing a strong field in the Spanish Open, with her Solheim teammates Florentyna Parker and Georgia Hall joined by Muñoz and Suzann Pettersen and 10 recent tournament winners.
