Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen has capped an impressive year by winning the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España and dominating the inaugural season of the Race to Costa del Sol, the Ladies European Tour’s order of merit sponsored by Turismo Costa del Sol, with a lead of more than 800 points over second-placed Julia Engstrom of Sweden.
The best Spaniard in the ranking was Azahara Muñoz from Malaga, sixth in the ranking and also in the tournament that ended on Sunday, November 29 at the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina. Behind, Nuria Iturrioz finished seventh in the Race to Costa del Sol and Luna Sobrón closed her participation in twelfth place, so the season ends with three Spaniards among the top twelve in the ranking. There remains for 2021 the possibility that one of our women will follow in the footsteps of Raquel Carriedo, Paula Martí and Carlota Ciganda, compatriots who previously won this ranking in 2001, 2002 and 2012.
Emily Kristine Pedersen has tripled her nearest rival’s points totaling €415,617.32. The 23-year-old Dane, unstoppable throughout the season, has achieved four victories (five if you count the team variant of the Saudi Ladies International) and three other top ten in twelve tournaments played, in addition to achieving her best result in a major by finishing eleventh in the AIG Women’s Open.
Following in the footsteps of the likes of Laura Davies, Suzann Petersen, Annika Sorenstam, Georgia Hall and Carlota Ciganda, Pedersen becomes only the second Danish player to finish as the leader on the professional golf money list, something Iben Tinning achieved in 2005.
“I can’t believe I won the Race to Costa del Sol. It has always been one of my dreams and I am so happy to have played well and won a few trophies. There were times when I doubted if I would ever get my game back, but thanks to the work I’ve done with my team we have focused on not only reaching the same level I had, but surpassing it. The last few months have been impressive,” Pedersen explained.
After a quiet start to the season in Australia, Pedersen achieved her first top-ten finish in March at the Investec SA Women’s Open before restrictions due to COVID-19 forced the competition to be postponed.
The spirited Danish player added a great second place in the first event held after the resumption of the season, the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, and then finished eleventh in the AIG Women’s Open.
After reaching first place in the Race to Costa del Sol, Pedersen began to separate herself from her rivals by winning the Tipsort Czech Ladies Masters title, her first LET victory since 2015.
After a third place finish the following week in Switzerland, Pedersen made history in Saudi Arabia by signing three consecutive wins in the Aramco Saudi Ladies International Powered by Golf Saudi and the Saudi Ladies Team International (both the individual and team pruebs versions).
His victory by four strokes in the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España allowed him to win his fourth trophy (three of them individual) in three weeks, a historic feat.
Pedersen, who began the year ranked 509th in the Rolex Rankings (the women’s world rankings), is now firmly entrenched in the top 100 of these rankings and has her sights set on playing in the 2021 Solheim Cup in Toledo, Ohio.
“It is a pride for me to fly the flag of Danish golf and I have received a lot of messages from LET teammates and players from our country who are on the European Tour. This year I have really enjoyed myself on the golf courses and winning the Race to Costa del Sol gives me a lot of confidence for 2021, as one of my goals is to qualify for the Solheim Cup and the Olympic Games,” Pedersen concluded.
The president of Turismo Costa del Sol, Francisco Salado, who presented the trophy of the Race to Costa del Sol designed by David Marshall, Scottish sculptor based in Benahavís, wanted to congratulate Emily Kristine Pedersen and remember the impact of this competition.
“This event is giving us much satisfaction with the different tournaments of the Ladies European Tour ranking linked to our destination, a strong commitment to women’s golf, both at professional and amateur level, which is already giving us an important brand and image diffusion in markets of special interest for the destination, which have a high percentage of women golfers such as Germany, Switzerland, France, USA, Canada, Asia”.
Turismo Costa del Sol has been betting on golf as a tourist product for many years and Francisco Salado insisted that the entity will continue along this line.
“We will continue to do so, with a personalized offer that influences loyalty to grow, because everyone finds a Costa del Sol to suit them and, therefore, we will continue to work to show them that we have a perfect destination, all year round.”
In addition, the representative of the entity pointed out that “the Costa del Sol is clear, the promotion of women’s golf is especially interesting because women golfers spend more and enjoy a wider complementary offer”.
Alexandra Armas, executive director of the Ladies European Tour, congratulated the Danish player and thanked Turismo Costa del Sol for its support.
“Emily is a worthy winner of the first Race to Costa del Sol and we are delighted to present her with this award. She has performed at a high level throughout the year and this title rewards how hard she has worked to become a champion. I would also like to thank Turismo Costa del Sol for their continued support in a difficult year for golf. We are looking forward to the start of the 2021 season”.
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About Turismo y Planificación Costa del Sol, partner of the Ladies European Tour
In 2020 Costa Del Sol Tourism and Planning has partnered with the Ladies European Tour to sponsor the circuit’s order of merit, which is now called Race to Costa Del Sol.
The work of Costa del Sol Tourism and Planning is focused on promoting the Costa del Sol Golf Coast by advising and supporting all institutions and entities related to this industry. The Costa del Sol is a priority region for the IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators), which has always emphasized its predominant role in continental Europe.
The Costa del Sol, located in the Andalusian province of Malaga and the Mediterranean area of the coast of Cadiz, is the preferred destination for all golfers looking for first class courses and ideal weather for the practice of this sport throughout the year. With more than seventy golf courses, many of them considered masterpieces in terms of their design, the Costa del Sol is recognized for its prestige worldwide. In addition, its courses have hosted historic and unforgettable competitions such as the 1997 Ryder Cup, several editions of the World Golf Championships, the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters and the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España of the Ladies European Tour, among others.
Year after year, golfers of all levels come to this unique destination to enjoy golf and its many attractions, such as the top class restaurants, its dynamic nightlife, the magnificent commercial establishments or the wide range of hotels, apartments and villas that stand out for their wide range of services, without forgetting the wonderful Andalusian landscapes or the countless cultural attractions of the area.
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