DUBAI // Buoyed by sealing the Ladies European Tour rookie of the year award, Emily Kristine Pedersen quickly allowed the mind to cast forward to a couple of grander targets.
“I want to be the world No 1 one day, hopefully,” said the Dane after finishing tied-17th at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, 23 places above compatriot Nanna Koerstz Madsen, her main rival for the seasonal title.
“Hopefully I’ll win the Order of Merit, and hopefully I’ll win the CME Globe on the LPGA Tour,” Pedersen added. “Hopefully a lot more victories, both on the European Tour and LPGA.”
Plenty to keep her occupied, then. Pedersen, 19, had been kept busy by Madsen in the tour’s season finale this week, with the two long-time competitors duking it out for the rookie crown.
Pedersen was always the favourite, admittedly, coming into Emirates Golf Club with a healthy €32,434 (Dh128,814) lead, but endured a difficult second-round 78 to almost hand the initiative to Madsen.
However, rounds of 70 and 69 lifted her to 2-under for the tournament and eventually held off Madsen, who needed a top-two placing but ended the week on 3-over. Much have been made of the pair’s rivalry: they grew up playing at the same club in Denmark and, naturally, do not enjoy the friendliest of relationships.
It can be help, not just a hindrance.
Read more: John McAuley reports on a proposal-capped round for Ashleigh Simon at the Dubai Ladies Masters
“Well, it’s always been there, like the last eight years,” Pedersen said. “But obviously it’s making me better and she’s pushing me. She’s a very good player. That’s why we are both in a really good place and good players now.
“It’s always going to be there. I just don’t think about it that much anymore. Like when we were kids, it was all about her and it’s not that now because there’s so many good players out here. I think it’s just something there is, but not something I think about that much.”
It obviously still plays its part. Madsen was leading the rookie race for most of the season, but stuttered as the campaign swept to its conclusion, while Pedersen’s victory at the Indian Open in October swung the momentum in her favour. Understandably, Madsen rued a genuine opportunity missed.
“In the middle of the season I was leading by €80,000 or something like that, so when she won she caught me and then I haven’t played good since,” Madsen said. “I’m looking forward to a new season just to start over again. I’m pretty tired of this season now.”
Pedersen, though, had a little extra spring in her step.
“I might go to the after party tonight,” she said. “It feels very good. It’s something I’ve wanted. It’s something you only get once in your life, so it’s a very big honour for me to be the rookie of the year. I’m very, very happy.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
