Norwegian golfing ace Suzann Pettersen remains on a roll after snaring a hole-in-one, winning her fourth major tournament this year and the 14th of her career over the weekend. The money is rolling in, too.
By early this week, Pettersen could claim winnings so far this year of around NOK 12.5 million (USD 2.24 million). On top of that comes sponsor income and other earnings, after she pocketed USD 300,000 for winning her latest LPGA tournament in Taiwan.
She’s never earned so much money in a single season, with her previous income record amounting to USD 1.8 million in her breakthrough season of 2007. That’s when she won five tournaments.
Pettersen, age 32, led last weekend’s tournament from start to finish, winning by five holes ahead of Azahara Munoz of Spain. On Thursday she finished four under par at 68 and on Friday she nailed the hole-in-one.
“When I first took the lead it still didn’t feel comfortable, but I had control,” she told news bureau NTB. “I tried not to let myself be affected by Munoz’ score.”
Now Pettersen is moving rapidly towards a ranking as the best woman golfer in the world. She wants to grab the spot away from Park In-bee of South Korea by the end of the year.
Pettersen herself attributes her success on the golf course simply to “hard work.”
“It’s not luck or the tour or that the margins are on my side,” Pettersen said. “If I put in the work that’s needed, I know that’s good enough. Then the results come afterwards. It’s all up to me.”
newsinenglish.no/Nina Berglund
