Gwladys Nocera makes a welcome return to the Ladies European Tour this week for the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open at National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya.
The French star, who topped the 2008 Henderson Money List, is aiming to play her way onto Europe’s Solheim Cup team for the fourth time this September.
She has earned six points over three Cup appearances from 2005-2009 and is determined to help Europe regain The Cup from the Americans when the event takes place at Killeen Castle in Ireland from September 23-25.
“My goal this year is to win a tournament and be part of the Solheim Cup team,” she said. “I have organised my schedule in order to play as many events in Europe as possible while still playing on the LPGA in America.”
Nocera won 10 events on the LET from 2006-2008 with her most recent the 2008 Madrid Ladies Masters.
“All I can do is give my best and see what happens, but I’m definitely ready for my 11th!” said Nocera, who currently lies in 13th place on the LET’s European Solheim Cup team standings, from which the top four players will qualify on 28th August. Four players will be exempt from the Rolex World Rankings, while Captain Alison Nicholas will select four further players to complete the 12-woman team.
Nocera continued: “Turkey is a great event: a four-day event and it fits perfectly into my schedule. I have decided to play all the LET events in May and Turkey is the first one on the list. I’m very excited. This will be the first event of a long stretch for me and after a month off, I’m looking forward to teeing up again.”
Nocera has competed on the LPGA since 2009 with a career best finish of second at the 2010 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. This year her best result from five starts has been a tie for 54th at the HSBC Women’s Champions, but she is adamant that her form is coming together.
“I struggled in the very beginning of the season but things are starting to come around. I started to work with another coach, who has been a great help along my long term coach back home. I also worked out quite a bit, so overall I’m feeling pretty good,” she said.
“I have had times where I hit the ball really well, but golf is not about hitting the ball, it’s about playing with what comes to you on a specific day. The LPGA taught me a lot last year and I can feel that things have changed in my game. Right now I’m hitting the ball really good, but most importantly I feel confident and more patient than before.”
Nocera will tee up with fellow European Solheim Cup player Diana Luna and two-time United States team member Christina Kim for the first two rounds in Turkey, ahead of a cut to the leading 60 professionals and those tied going into the weekend.
