(Helsinki, Finland – 27th August 2009) -- Solheim Cup star Becky Brewerton tees up at the Finnair Masters in Helsinki this week with a new goal in mind: to win the Ladies European Tour’s 2009 Henderson Money List.
The Welsh 26-year-old said: “At the start of the year a massive goal was to get into The Solheim and to win another tournament and I’ve done that already. Now looking at the position that I’m in, I have got a pretty good chance of winning the money list and that would be a huge thing to do.
“That’s what my aim is for the rest of the season: to play in as many events as possible and keep doing well. While I’m confident I’ll keep playing as much as possible and hopefully try and win the money list.”
Brewerton – currently fifth on the LET’s Henderson Money List – finished equal seventh in Finland last year. This time she is determined to improve and with €145,669.48 already banked, largely thanks to her second LET win at the Open de Espana Femenino, a tie for 13th place at the Evian Masters and fourth place finish at the S4/C Wales Ladies Championship, she sits €127,946 behind top ranked Sophie Gustafson from Sweden.
This week’s €30,000 first prize would see her leapfrog Solheim Cup teammate Italian Diana Luna, who is taking the week off, into third position. However Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord, the current number four, is playing in the tournament.
“I’m 30,000 behind Diana Luna at the moment so I could make that up this week with a win. Even if it wasn’t a (money list) win, if it was a top three, that gains you entry into a few extra tournaments next year. It’s a big thing,” she added.
With five top 10 finishes from her last eight tournaments, Brewerton has not been outside the top 20 places since May’s HVB Ladies German Open.
She also intends to get off to a fast start in The 2011 Solheim Cup qualification process, which begins this week.
“I’m already just desperate to get to Ireland because I so want to win it more than anything and get some revenge,” said Brewerton, who won two points for the European team in their 16-12 defeat against the Americans at Rich Harvest Farms, Illinois, on Sunday.
“It’s a shame because we came so close and I don’t know if it came across to everyone how close it was in the end. After the front nine on the last day it looked like we were going to win. I think we gave them a good run for their money,” she added.
Brewerton says she is reaping the rewards of the work she has put in on her short game with Dr. Paul Hurrion and on her swing with PGA professional Stewart Craig, part of a long overall process.
“I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing and play well and keep putting well because that’s what’s made the difference,” said Brewerton, who said she enjoyed the Helsinki course layout.
“I think it suits me. The par fives, you can get up on in two. There are a lot of par fours where you can hit good drives and hit short shots into the greens,” she said.
The 5918 yard par 71 course at Helsinki Golf Club is hosting the €200,000 event for the fifth time and all four former champions are competing, namely Denmark’s Lisa Holm Sorensen (2005), Frenchwoman Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (2006), Germany’s Bettina Hauert (2007) and Finland’s Minea Blomqvist (2008).
Blomqvist and Brewerton are playing in a marquee group with Spaniard Paula Marti at 9am in the first round on Friday. Day one action begins at 8.30am.
