Matharu makes season bow

Ladies European Tour rookie Kiran Matharu makes her first appearance of the year at this week’s Tenerife Ladies Open at Golf del Sur having set herself a target of winning three times this season.

The Leeds 18-year-old is playing in her first tournament as an official member of the tour, having featured in five events after turning professional in August last year after winning the English Ladies’ Amateur Championship in May.

“My main goals this season are firstly to get off to a good start. I always aim high so I’m looking to win three tournaments and have some good finishes,” said Matharu, a Yorkshire born-and-bred Sikh.

“I’m looking forward to all the tournaments but I really enjoyed the Dubai Ladies Masters. I’m really excited about playing the Women’s British Open especially because it’s at St Andrews.”

During the winter she played a tournament each in South Africa and India, even practising with men’s world number six Henrik Stenson in Dubai.

And Matharu believes her experiences of playing in professional tournaments last year will help her to contend for more titles this year.

“It will help me for this season because playing European Tour events isn’t new to me now,” she said.

“I think I can win! It’s tough competition on the European Tour but I’m definitely hoping to be the rookie of the year because I think it’s important to have a good start to my career.”

Sophie Walker, 22, the 2003 English strokeplay champion from Grimsby, and Felicity Johnson, 20, the 2005 English amateur champion from Birmingham, also make their first appearances in Europe as members of the Ladies European Tour.

The 17-year-old English amateur Henrietta Brockway, from Mere, is also in the field having received a sponsor’s invitation.

Finland’s Riikka Hakkarainen defends the title she won last year, while the field also includes former champions Ludivine Kreutz, Diana Luna, Elisabeth Esterl and current European number one Spain’s Paula Marti.