Anna Foster’s second season on the Ladies European Tour has seen her retain her card at ease just like she did in her rookie year. Not keen on resting on her laurels, after a career high runner-up last week in Switzerland, she wants to close out the campaign with a victory as she eyes progression to the LPGA Tour.
The Elm Park star sits comfortably in 34th place on the Order of Merit knowing that a top-10 finish at the end of the season would clinch a spot at the Final Stage of LPGA Q-School. To do that, she will need to win at least once and next week’s €450,000 KPMG Women’s Irish Open at the K Club wouldn’t be a bad place to break the duck.
“Now that my card is retained. I can go out and play as free as I can and try put myself in contention as much as I can. It would be great to constantly put myself in that position and learn from that. If I can continuously do it hopefully I will win at some point,” says the 24-year-old.
“That would be amazing to do and something I would like to do before going to America. To be able to say that I have won and to have that would give me a lot of inner belief and confidence that I would need going to the States.
“Last year I was in the mix over the weekend and in the last few groups which was so much fun. To be able to bounce off the crowd and feel the home support was so special. If I can put myself in a similar position this year I will be happy enough.”
Foster is one of fifteen Irish players competing next week on the K Club South Course. Home fans will have plenty of players to support even if the absence of world number six Charley Hull and reigning champion and world number five Lottie Woad who are playing in the $4.4 million FM Championship on the LPGA Tour instead.
The Dubliner doesn’t see their absences as a negative for the event.
“The LPGA event is one of the bigger purses on their tour. The Irish Open is LET so you have to look at it that way. The prize funds are nowhere near each other and are two different tours. The Irish Open still brings an extremely strong field and the level of the LET is so strong and it is a favourite of a lot of the LET girls’s schedules. I definitely wouldn’t look at it as a negative. I have nothing to say about it negatively.”
The Women’s Irish Open dates back to 1994, but it wasn’t always a consistent fixture. After several gaps—including a full decade-long absence—the tournament made a highly anticipated return in 2022 and it’s fair to say it has been a huge success, becoming the best regular event on the LET.
Between 30-40,000 spectators are expected to pour through the gates next week and Foster can’t wait to see some familiar faces from the usually loud Elm Park support.
“It’s a tournament that is a highlight on most LET players’ schedules regardless if they are Irish or not. To be able to have the crowds that we have, it feels like such an elevated event. I want to enjoy that as much as I can and I am excited to see the K Club.
“It’s great to be able to look into the crowd and recognise a lot of faces. It’s so nice to have those people who want to come and support me, it means a lot. Playing at home brings an added pressure because you want to perform well for those people coming to watch you. This will be my third Irish Open now so having learned that side of things, at the end of the day it is just another tournament so just go out and stick to what I have been doing and not put more emphasis on that.
“We feel so well looked after and the player support we get that week and the benefits. The crowds make a huge difference, most of the year we are playing with little to no people watching us. To be able to have that many people come, we just enjoy it so much. We want that we want to play in front of people and feed off their energy. Between that and the whole set up with the grandstands, the food. Everything feels elevated, definitely feel looked after which makes a huge difference for us.”
Foster knows how to produce a blitz of birdies with 193 of them complimenting 9 eagles and she admits an all-round improvement in her short game has made her a stronger player compared to twelve months ago.
“I feel like I am a stronger player compared to last year in general. It comes in waves of form and you don’t know how long it’s going to last. I do feel my game is in a really good place at the moment and I have slowly gotten better over the last year.
“Honestly, everything has gotten a little bit better. My putting and short game has improved a lot just making more putts. I think that’s the main difference on tour is how many birdies can you make. I’ve put a lot of time into reading greens and trying to get that little bit better.”
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