Spanish professional Belen Mozo has yet to win in her short time in the paid ranks, but the 22-year-old graduate from the University of Southern California comes to Pegasus for the New Zealand Women’s Open this week with the backing of Greg Norman and plenty of confidence after a stellar amateur career.
She is endorsing Norman’s clothing brand and the Australian `Shark’ is confident she will be the perfect role model both on and off the course.
Mozo last year qualified for the two main tours, the LPGA in the United States and the LET (European Tour), finishing eighth in America and third at the LET final Q-School. After having surgery on her shoulder, she turned professional and qualified for last year’s United States Open and had a handful of starts in Europe.
Mozo, a former British Ladies Open amateur champion and winner of the European equivalent, had her best professional finish, tied 13th at 15-under par, in the ANZ Masters in Queensland last Sunday, a third round 64 hinting at her true ability.
She said that being in the infancy of her professional career led to a lot of enthusiasm. “At the beginning you get more excited about it and work super hard. You have really big hopes and big dreams – you’re always positive and think big things are going to happen. I don’t know when, maybe soon or maybe later, but I’m pretty sure they will come.”
Mozo said she had met Greg Norman once – at a pro-am at Mission Hills in China – and they had played a practice round together. He told her it was important to have something or someone which gave her confidence to be strong.
“I’m very blessed to be in the Greg Norman team and working with them. We share the same agency and it’s great to work with super nice and respectful people.”
She said that having the backing of Norman did not add to her expectations but made her push herself harder. However, she added that she tried to keep things simple, not to get stressed, and to think objectively.
Away from the course she takes her mind off golf by walking or reading books.
Mozo liked what she saw of the Pegasus course, saying the greens were in excellent order and the fact that wind was predicted for the week was not of a concern. “I like to play in tough conditions and in wind.”
