Sweden’s Emma Nilsson has won the 2018 LET Access Series Order of Merit, as the top points scorer, with 22,494 points, ensuring her Ladies European Tour card is secure for 2019.
The Swede was delighted with her achievement, rewarding her consistency throughout the season, highlighted by her fourth title in the Belfius Ladies Open in Belgium and six further top-10 finishes. She burst into tears when Tour Director Di Barnard told her the news.
Nilsson said: “I am very happy. To win the LET Access Series OOM is definitely one of my biggest achievements. I have played the PING Junior Solheim Cup, won a gold medal for Sweden in the European Amateur Team Championships and am a four-time winner on the LET Access Series, but to be the best player on a tour for a whole season definitely feels special.”
Having overcome a hip injury at the end of the 2017 season, Nilsson didn’t finish outside the top 30 over her 11 appearances in 2018.
She explained: “In my first year on tour, in 2014, I had two wins on LETAS but I also missed a lot of cuts. This year, I’ve made all the cuts on LETAS with six top 10 places, so I have become a more stable player. I hit the ball straighter more often, which leads to more greens and fairways hit, which makes it easier to score over time.
“I have been very consistent on the tour this year. I really enjoy playing on the LET Access Series. LETAS provides us players with good possibilities to develop our golf through a good schedule of tournaments that are very well arranged. It’s a good tour!
“My favourite moment was definitely winning in Belgium. My whole family and a lot of friends on the tour were there when I won on the 18th green, so it was a special moment.
“In every tournament I learn new things; that’s the only way to get better. Both good and less good things are valuable experiences. This year I have been in the final group three times and that is a good experience to have, which you can only get when you play in a tournament.
“I’ll keep working hard with my game and hopefully that will result in many birdies which will lead to great results. My goal is always to continue to improve my game and learn every day. I have a great team around me and I’ll keep working hard to improve all parts of my game and try to be even better next year. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
