Matthew Defends Ochoa Title

2012 Ladies Irish Open winner, Catriona Matthew, looks to defend her title for her 5th career victory following a powerful performance at last year’s event where she won by four-strokes over Anna Nordqvist and I.K. Kim. 

The 18-year veteran enters the week after adding her fifth straight top-10 finish to her résumé this season at the Sunrise LPGA Championship presented by Audi.

The second to last event of the 2012 season kicks off this week in Mexico at the Guadalajara Country Club where tournament host and 27-time winner on the LPGA Tour Lorena Ochoa makes her first appearance since 2010. 

The fifth annual Lorena Ochoa Invitational presented by Banamex and Jalisco highlights a star-studded field of 36 players vying for a $150,000 first-place prize from its $1 million purse. 

The field also consists of six of the top-10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings including No. 1 Yani Tseng, No. 2 Stacy Lewis and No. 4 Inbee Park.

Lewis is coming off her fifth-career LPGA victory at the Mizuno Classic where she came from a seven-stroke deficit to defeat second-round leader and JLPGA member Bo-Mee Lee. Lewis strengthened her lead in the Rolex Player of the Year race to 214 points giving her a 58 point lead over Park, who leads the 2012 Official Money list with more than $2.1 million.

Tseng also had strong performances throughout the Asia swing with back-to-back third place finishes in Korea and Taiwan, finishing with a fourth-place finish in Japan.

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Irish Open Winner Readies for Ricoh

Following her outstanding win at the Ladies’ Irish Open 2012, Carnoustie Country Ambassador Catriona Matthew has her sights firmly fixed on the 2012 Ricoh Women’s British Open, which tees off on September 13.

“I was delighted to claim victory in the Ladies Irish Open last month,” said Catriona. “This was my second win since being appointed Carnoustie Country Ambassador for a second year and bodes well for my chances at this year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open.

“After Britain’s successes at the Olympics, it’s good to be leading the home challenge at a Major. I won the Women’s British Open three years ago and, having now won nine Professional golf tournaments, I’m hoping to clinch number ten at Royal Liverpool in a couple of weeks.”

Carnoustie Country encompasses 30 golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship and Catriona was named Ambassador for this top golfing brand in April 2011 – an appointment which was extended for a further 12 months earlier this year. “I’m honoured to be continuing my role as Carnoustie Country Ambassador,” said Catriona. “I’ve enjoyed some fabulous rounds of golf on many Carnoustie Country courses, including, of course, Carnoustie Championship. It’s wonderful to be able to spread the word about how good golf is in Carnoustie Country.”

Cllr Mairi Evans, Angus Council golf spokesperson, revealed that Catriona’s endorsement of Carnoustie Country and its golf courses had further increased awareness of the brand across the globe. “We couldn’t have asked for a better ambassador for the brand or the county,” said Cllr Evans. “For example, since her appointment in April 2011, Catriona, who wears the Carnoustie Country logo on her golf shirts, has generated almost 10,000 press articles in at least 50 countries across the globe.

“In addition, as one of the world’s top women golfers, Catriona regularly appears on television – with her Carnoustie Country logo on display. In fact, during the 2011 Ricoh Women’s British Open, the Carnoustie Country logo on Catriona’s shirt received 2,040 seconds of coverage around the world, which has been estimated as being the equivalent of £24,500 of advertising.”

In April, Catriona spent two days in Carnoustie Country, hosting golf clinics, taking part in a Beat The Golf Pro competition, coaching junior golfers and visiting local golf courses, including Forbes of Kingennie. “We were delighted to make Catriona an honorary member of Kingennie during her visit here,” said Mike Forbes of Forbes of Kingennie.

Mike Forbes was very positive about how Catriona’s ambassadorship was promoting the Carnoustie Country brand. “It’s wonderful to see such a high profile golfer, especially one with such a loyal following amongst golfers, wearing the Carnoustie Country logo and mentioning Carnoustie Country during television, newspaper and magazine interviews.

“During the Women’s Open, Catriona will undoubtedly be one of the golfers the world’s media will focus upon, guaranteeing coverage for the Carnoustie Country logo. And the more exposure Carnoustie Country receives, the more golfers who will be tempted to come here and play a round or two of golf on our excellent courses.”

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Matthew Queen of Killeen Castle

Scotland’s Solheim Cup star Catriona Matthew continued her love affair with Killeen Castle as she recorded a one stroke victory in the Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland.

Matthew could afford a bogey five on the final hole to seal the win with a three round total of 209, seven under par, after a second successive round of 71.

Her European Solheim Cup teammate Suzann Pettersen of Norway ended a stroke back after her second straight round of 69, with another Solheim Cup star, Laura Davies, three shots further behind in third.

The finishing holes provided drama in The 2011 Solheim Cup and it again proved the case as Pettersen pushed Matthew all the way on a warm and sunny afternoon mixed with showers in County Meath.

The 2011 event champion, Pettersen, began the final round three shots behind Matthew but was tied for the lead after 15, where she found the bunker left of the green with her second shot but made a crucial birdie putt from 20 feet.

After Matthew birdied the same hole, Pettersen made an eight foot birdie putt on the par-three 16th to stay level with Matthew, but she then dropped a shot on 17 after hitting her second shot into the bunker short of the green and missed a 20-foot putt.

There was a two shot swing when Matthew, playing in the last group behind Pettersen, holed a tricky five-footer to reach eight under with a hole to play.

Pettersen missed her downhill birdie putt on 18 and although Matthew dropped a shot, finding the bunker right, behind the green, two putts were enough to seal the win and the €52,500 first prize. 

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Matthew, claiming her fifth victory on the Ladies European Tour and her ninth in total. “It’s always difficult going out in the lead. I was just kind of trotting along there at seven under and saw Suzann making some birdies. I think she thought she was in The Solheim Cup again.

“I made a good birdie on 15 and then the one on 17 just gave a little bit of a cushion coming up the last, which was nice. I knew I had a two shot lead and I had seen what Suzann had done on 17 and 18 so I knew she was two behind so I reckoned I could make five from there.”

On her love affair with Killeen Castle, where she played a key role in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory in September, the World No.27 added: “I think it was always going to be difficult coming back here in a way with so many good memories being here. It could have worked either way but maybe I was a little bit inspired by some of my play from last year in The Solheim Cup.”

Pettersen was understandably disappointed with her finish after mounting a superb challenge. After dropping a shot on the sixth hole, she birdied three holes in a row and compensated for a bogey on 10 with a birdie on 13. 

“I played good. I made a silly bogey on 17 and had to give it a go. I thought I could hit a very hard sand wedge and it was just a misjudgement of the wind. I made a run at it,” said Pettersen, the World No.6.

England’s Davies also made a final round charge with a 68 that contained seven birdies and three bogeys, despite suffering from a painful Achilles injury sustained whilst playing football three months ago. It was exacerbated when playing in the charity football match during the Evian Masters, but there will be no time to rest as Davies is teeing up in Toledo on the LPGA next week.

Another Englishwoman, Liz Bennett, was lying in joint third with Davies after 17 holes, but eventually signed for a 74 after slipping back into a share of ninth with four others after taking a costly triple bogey seven at the 18th.

Bennett lost her ball in the water hazard off the tee and then sent her approach shot through the back of the green, but despite that, there will be positives to take away from the tournament. Her putting has improved considerably since she installed a Huxley putting green in her back garden a week ago and will be one to watch at the forthcoming ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters in a fortnight.

England’s Curtis Cup winner Charley Hull is another player to watch and she ended in a share of 18th place, taking home the Philomena Garvey trophy as the leading amateur.

Matthew is Ladies Irish Open Leader

Catriona Matthew fed off the memory of her Solheim Cup triumph at Killeen Castle to open up a one stroke lead after the first round of the Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland.

The 42-year-old Scot fired a five under par 67 in fine but windy conditions to end the day a stroke ahead of Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg.

The 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open champion shot to the top of the leader board thanks to seven birdies in her last eight holes.

“It was very strange, actually,” said Matthew, the World No.27. “I played very steadily on the front nine and then just a silly three-putt on 18 for a bogey and I was out in one over. I made a good par on the first and then had seven birdies on the next eight holes and one bogey so kind of a strange nine but I’ll take it. It’s always nice when you see the putts dropping in.”

Matthew hit it close on holes two, three and four; made a three-putt bogey on five and then made three good birdies on the last three holes.

She admitted that she took inspiration from being back at the scene of one of the biggest highlights of her career last September, when she played a key role in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory, going undefeated with a memorable 6 and 5 win over Paula Creamer in the opening singles.

Matthew tied for sixth at the Ladies Irish Open at the same venue in 2011 and she commented: “It’s playing a little longer than it did in the Irish Open but probably similar to how it did in The Solheim, because it was wetter later in the year then. It’s similar to how it played then.”

While Matthew is an eight-time tournament champion, Lindberg is targeting her first victory as a professional. The Swedish 26-year-old knocked in six birdies and two bogeys to sign for a four under par 68 after playing in cooler, but calmer conditions in the morning.

Lindberg said: “I was very steady and didn’t miss many fairways. I think I missed number one and then hit every fairway. My irons were good. I gave myself chances with short birdie putts and my putting was good too.”

England’s Felicity Johnson posted a 69 to sit two shots off the pace. The 25-year-old two-time tournament winner, who claimed her most recent victory at the 2011 Lacoste Ladies Open de France, was in an upbeat mood and said: “It was pretty boring out there today. Four birdies and a bogey, which on a day like today, I’m pretty pleased with. It was tough out there because the wind was kind of from a consistent place but it was difficult to judge sometimes.”

A group of five players are a stroke further back on two under including the four-time Irish Open champion and Solheim Cup player Sophie Gustafson.

She is joined by fellow Swede Caroline Westrup, England’s Elizabeth Bennett, Australian Rachel Bailey and Anja Monke of Germany.

Scotland’s Carly Booth and English amateur Charley Hull ended a stroke further back on one under par, with the defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway in a group on 72.

Pettersen, another of Europe’s stars at Killeen Castle in September, said: “I kept looking for my team mates out there. They weren’t there. It was a bit weird when I finished on nine and to walk from there to the tenth because a year ago it was just packed and everyone was there cheering you on, giving you a high five.”

Of the four other Solheim Cup players in the field, English pair Laura Davies and Karen Stupples both opened with rounds of 74, while Melissa Reid retired after eight holes due to personal reasons.

Danielle McVeigh was the best of the Irish competitors on 76, while Tara Delaney had a 77. Rebecca Codd and Leona Maguire ended in a group on 80.

Lisa Maguire withdrew citing an injury.

Ladies Irish Open - Leaderboard

Profile - Pernilla Lindberg

In 2011, posted six top-10s on the LET including a career best finish of outright 2nd at the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China, where she ended seven strokes behind the World No.1 Yani Tseng. Tied for 4th at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, tied for 6th at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France and Hero Women's Indian Open; tied for 7th at the Sicilian Ladies Italian Open and tied for 8th at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open. On the LPGA, Finished tied for 29th at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup and the CN Canadian Women's Open; tied for 32nd at the Kia Classic.

In 2010, her rookie season on the LET, played in eight events and recorded two top-10 finishes with a career-best tie for 2ndat the Pegasus New Zealand Women's Open hosted by Christchurch, where she shot a career low 63 (-9) containing 10 birdies and one bogey in the final round. Also tied for 5th at the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open and tied for 12th at the AIB Ladies Irish Open.

Finished 45th on the Henderson Money List with season’s earnings of €48,463.71. 

On the LPGA, finished tied for 33rd at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic; tied for 37th at the CN Canadian Women's Open and tied for 40th at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

In 2009, Lindberg recorded five top-10 finishes on the Duramed FUTURES Tour.

AMATEUR

Lindberg, the winner of the 2008 Amateur World Championship, played her collegiate golf at Oklahoma State University, where she won three times. She was named a First-Team All-American in 2007 and 2009, and was the 2007 NCAA West Regional champion, and in 2006, she was named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year. A member of the Swedish National Team that won the European Ladies Team Championship in 2006 and 2008. Lindberg has one top-10 finish on the Ladies European Tour (LET): a tie for 10th at the 2008 Scandinavian TPC Hosted by Annika.

PERSONAL

Lindberg started playing golf at the age of four and her hobbies include alpine skiing and working out. 

Factfile

DOB: July 13th. 1986

Place of Birth: Bollnas, Sweden

Nationality: Sweden

Residence: Sweden

Interests Alpine Skiing, working out

Date turned Pro: May 2009

Exemption Status Top 80 from Exempt Rankings

Represents Sweden

Ladies Irish Open Gets Underway

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen will begin her defence of the Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland at Killeen Castle on Friday.

The tournament is sure to rekindle some fond memories from last year’s Irish Open, but also of Europe’s dramatic Solheim Cup victory over the United States at the same venue in September, in which Pettersen played a key role.

Only 11 months ago, Pettersen earned her second Irish title after blitzing the field with rounds of 71, 63 and 64 for a total of 198, 18 under par.

A little over a month later she made her sixth appearance in The Solheim Cup and helped steer the European Team to victory by making birdie on the last three holes to earn a one-hole victory in her singles match against Michelle Wie.

“It feels like I’ve been here a lot the last year: first the Irish, now the Solheim and then the Irish again all within 12 months. It obviously feels great coming back to this place,” said Pettersen, the World No.6.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to get to see it so quickly again because the memories are so great but I want to defend my title.”

She prepared by relaxing at London 2012. “I watched tennis all day yesterday. It was fantastic. I was with Dow Chemicals, my partner and we had fantastic hospitality, the best seats ever, I mean, it was just a blast.

“I watched Roger Federer, Djokovic, Hewitt, Andy Murray and then we walked around and watched a little bit of everyone playing on different courts. We watched beach volley the night before which was a great atmosphere.”

Inspired by watching the Olympics, Pettersen hopes to compete when golf returns to the Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

“It can’t come around soon enough, it feels like. The first time it’s going to be back is for the Youth Olympics in 2014 in China I think, so that’s the first time you’re going to see golf in the pre-Olympics, trials and so on. It will be fun. It’s back where it belongs.”

The 31-year-old Norwegian is joined by half of Europe’s winning team members in the field for the Ladies Irish Open, which is taking place at Killeen Castle for the third successive year.

They include Swede Sophie Gustafson, the four-time Irish Open champion who last won in 2010 at Killeen Castle and Britons Laura Davies, Melissa Reid, Catriona Matthew and Karen Stupples as part of a star-studded field of 126 competitors.

Pettersen will play with Gustafson and Irish amateur Leona Maguire for the first two days, starting the first round at 8.30am.

Maguire, 17, from Cavan, will be hoping to improve on her tie for 33rd in the 2011 tournament and said: “It’s nice to get a good group. It makes it even more special playing with them. They are both fantastic players and hopefully I can learn something from playing with them. It’s always a great event every year, it’s one of the highlights of the year to be able to play with the best pros in Europe and it’s such a fantastic venue so it’s a great experience.”

Her twin sister Lisa will play on the other side of the draw at 1pm with Reid, who tied for third last year and Scotland’s Carly Booth.

Ireland’s top player, Rebecca Codd, will be accompanied by Ashleigh Simon and Felicity Johnson in a group starting from the first at 1pm.

Codd, from Carlow, said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to practice down here [at Killeen Castle] over the past three or four years so I know the course well. I have been hitting the ball reasonably well. I have had a couple of weeks off so hopefully the work I have put in will show up this week.”

Fellow Irish professionals Danielle McVeigh and Tara Delaney will be looking to make the most of their opportunity to shine in front of the home galleries and earn a share of the €350,000 purse. 

“I know I have the game but we’ll just see what happens on the day. Every day is different. I can’t say I have certain expectations. We’ll just see what happens,” said McVeigh.

Delaney added: “I’m grateful for the opportunity and the invite to play this week. I don’t have my full card and I was keeping my fingers crossed that I would get the opportunity to play in it. I have worked pretty hard so it’s just going out there and enjoying it and let it happen hopefully.”

After recent heavy rainfall, the course is playing longer than in previous years, with less run on the fairways and thicker, more punishing rough.

Evergreen Sophie at Killeen Castle

Some things may lose their lustre over time, but for Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, competing each week on the LPGA Tour is as exciting as ever.

While the 14-year veteran and five-time LPGA tournament winner isn’t exactly fond of traveling after all these years, the thrill of the competition and camaraderie among Tour players still revs her engines.

“Traveling is getting a bit old, especially since we fly pretty much everywhere nowadays,” said Gustafson, who has more than $6.1 million in career earnings. “There is nowhere really we can drive from tournament to tournament. Airports I can do without, even though they feel like a second home.

“It’s the competition I love. It can be a bet over a beer with my brother or a putt to win Solheim, it’s all fun. It’s just a different kind of pressure.”

Gustafson was technically an LPGA rookie in 1998, but had her first full season on Tour in 1999. A force for years on the Ladies European Tour before joining the LPGA, she won her first LPGA event in 2000 and added another win later that year.

Through the years, Gustafson has won three more times, competed in eight Solheim Cups for Team Europe and racked up 56 top-10 finishes. She finds it amazing that next year will already be her 15th on Tour.

“It’s hard to believe,” Gustafson said. “I just flew to Evian, and I realized it’s my 17th Evian in a row. That’s almost harder to believe. But you know what, when time flies, it’s a sign that you are having fun, and fun I’ve had.”

Gustafson is as motivated as ever in 2012. Despite making 11 of 15 cuts and recording four top-20 finishes, she is not satisfied with her level of play this season.

“To be honest with you, I’m very disappointed with my 2012 season,” said Gustafson, who is 55th in the Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings. “I feel I’ve played pretty solid, but haven’t managed to get anything going. I’m hoping the second part (of the season) will be a little more flow too. My goal for the rest of the season is to get back into the top 30 in the Rolex World Rankings.”

The 5-foot-10 Swede proved she was still a force to be reckoned with at last year’s Solheim Cup in Ireland, posting a 4-0-0 record to help the Europeans take back the Cup with a 15-13 victory. The win was a great thrill for the affable European, who enjoyed the experience immensely.

“It was special,” she said. “I’ve always had a fantastic relationship with Ireland and the Irish people. I was so excited to be able to play Solheim in Ireland. It was like I had a second gear all week. Nothing was going to take what I so desperately wanted from me.”

She is once again in position to play on Team Europe at the 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo., and Gustafson will relish the opportunity to compete in one of golf’s preeminent events.

“Solheim is special, not just to me, but to everyone who ever plays or has played in it,” said Gustafson, who has a 13-12-6 career Solheim Cup record. “It’s about pride, passion and playing for your continent. It doesn’t get much better then that.

“We know we have an uphill climb in Parker next year, but I feel it’s our time. It will most likely be my last on foreign soil, and believe me, I’ll give everything and then some to finally hoist that cup on U.S. soil.”

As far as the rest of Gustafson’s career goes, she doesn’t have specifics in mind about how long she’d like to keep playing or what she’d like to accomplish. She is just enjoying being a member of the Tour.

“I’ll keep playing until I don’t think it’s fun anymore or until my body gives up,” she said. “I’ve been very fortunate not to have had any serious injuries. Hopefully, that can continue and I can finish my career on my terms. I’m thinking I’ll still play a couple of years on the LET after my LPGA days are over.”

And when it comes to Gustafson’s passions off the course, it’s all about music.

“I love listening to music,” she said. “I love hearing new music and trying to figure out what the song is all about. Bruce (Springsteen) has always been my favourite.

“I saw him (recently) in Oslo, and I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face for days. It’s quite remarkable to see someone like that, who shows such passion for what he does, especially after doing it for over 40 years. I call it pure passion. If he didn’t have it, it wouldn’t work to kickstart 75,000 people and get everyone’s attention for over three hours. I admire that greatly.”

Courtesy: LPGA

SEAT Offer Hole in One Prize

SEAT Ireland will offer the prize of a brand new SEAT Leon to any of the competitors who can sink the elusive hole-in-one at the Ladies Irish Open, which is being held at Killeen Castle, Co.Meath this week. 

Not only will SEAT be offering this incredible prize, but they will also be running a test drive programme from the event itself, offering any of the 30,000 expected visitors the opportunity to drive one of six models, including the new Ibiza and the all-new SEAT Mii. This will be the first time that the Irish public will get a chance to drive the all-new Mii, coinciding with its Irish launch that week. 

The SEAT Mii is a stylish new city-car which boasts outstanding safety features and the innovative new SEAT Touch system, an in-car navigation, phone and multimedia interface, which will be free on the car for a limited period. 

Other cars available on the day will include the recently-launched SEAT Ibiza and the Leon. There will also be displays of the SEAT Alhambra and Ibiza ST. 

Commenting on the announcement of SEAT Ireland as official car sponsor for the event, Elizabeth O’Gorman, Marketing Manager for SEAT Ireland said “We are delighted to be involved in what promises to be a great event over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Not only does it mean that visitors to the competition can get to drive some of our latest offerings, but there is of course the added lure of a brand new SEAT Leon to one of the competitors, should they be lucky or skillful enough to be able to land a hole-in-one!”

Profile - Caroline Westrup - Ladies Irish Open

Nickname: Carro and Line

Born: February 11 1986 in Kristianstad, Sweden

Represents: Kristianstads GK

Residence: Tallahassee Florida

Status: Turned professional summer of 2009

Education: Florida State University (Graduated with a degree in Sport Management and minor in communication fall 2009.) GPA 3, 68

Family: Father Charlie, mother Helene, sister Emelie

Favorite food: Raclette & sushi

Favorite movie: Mamma Mia

Favorite music: Hip Hop & R&B

Favorite golf course: Kristianstad, Gray Hawk, Seminoles

Best round: 66/ -7 New Port CC, Wales (British girls 2003)

Hobbies: Sports, friends & family, shopping, travel, cooking

About

Started to play golf when I was about 8 years old. In the beginning, it was obviously just for fun, but soon went to become much more determined. When I was 16, I moved away from my parents to go to a golf high school and I think it was during this time I realized that golf was something I could see myself doing for the rest for my life. Ever since my goal and dream has been to become a professional golfer and play against the best players in the world on the LPGA tour.

Therefore, after high school I moved across the ocean to Florida and enrolled at Florida State University to fulfill my dreams. I felt I was not ready to turn professional right away and my main goal at FSU was to improve my golf game, but also to graduate and get an education.

My four years at Florida State were successful and I learned a lot about myself as a person but also as a golf player. Florida State was not just about golf and education, but about getting ready for my professional career. Therefore, I got involved in many different things on campus, for example student government, boosters and SAAC. They all involved meetings and prepared me for the business and social side. I also got a lot of networking and got to know people I would have never met otherwise. Addition, to this I did an internship with sports information for two years as well. Now I feel ready for the “real” life and would not have choice any other school, because it prepared me for everything not just golf and school.

I have had a lot of success when it comes to the golf game:

Played for the national team since 2001

Four time All –American and All- ACC

Three Gold medals and three silver medals at the European Championship

First place at the World Amateur Championship 2006

Five individual college victories

Number one at the college ranking 2006/2007

Second place at the European Tour in Finland 2005

Played the Jr. Solheim Cup 2003 (beat the United States)

With these results, I am going to have a good chance on achieving my dreams and be successful. I am a very positive, outgoing, independent, goal oriented and stubborn person, who works hard for what I want. 

My main goal has always been to become, as good as I can be. With hard work and determination, I know time will show the results and I will become one of the best players in the world.


www.carolinewestrup.com

Ladies Irish Open Winner - Sophie Gustafson

Sophie Gustafson was born on 27 December 1973, and is a Swedish professional golfer  based on the LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. 

She has four LPGA and 22 international wins in her career. She is a two time LET Order of Merit winner and has represented Europe in the Solheim Cup in each match since 1998. 

Sophie Gustafson turned professional in 1992 whilst studying marketing, economics and law at Aranasskolan & Komvux University in Sweden. In the next three years she played 12 Telia Tour and four Ladies European Tour tournaments. 

On the Telia tour she had six top ten finishes. Her best finish on the LET was a 22nd at her home tournament in Sweden. Gustafson was a member of Europe's Solheim Cup team in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007. 

Hobbies include motorbikes and music. Purchased a “Triumph Tiger” motorbike in 2004. 

Credits Seve Ballesteros and Solheim Cup team mate Laura Davies as the individuals most influencing her career. 

In 2011, gave a sit-down interview for The Golf Channel during The Solheim Cup for the first time despite a stuttering problem and then in January 2012, named the recipient of the Golf Writers’ Association of America (GWAA) Ben Hogan Award for remaining active in golf despite a physical handicap or serious illness. 

TOUR VICTORIES

2011 European Nations Cup (team event partnering Anna Nordqvist), 

2010 Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup (team event partnering Anna Nordqvist), 2010 AIB Ladies Irish Open. 

2007 De Vere Ladies Scottish Open, 2006 Siemens Austrian Ladies Open. 

2003 Ladies Irish Open, BT Open, HP Open. 

2002 Biarritz Ladies Classic. 

2001 AAMI Australian Open, 2011 Waterford Crystal Irish Open

2000 Ladies Italian Open, 2000 Waterford Crystal Ladies Irish Open, 2000 Weetabix Women’s British Open, 

1998 Donegal Irish Ladies Open, 1998 Marrakech Palmeraie Open, 

1996 Deese Ladies Swiss Open. 

OTHER VICTORIES

1996 Rörstrand Open, 1997 Thailand Open, 1998 Telia Final, 1998 Princess Lalla Meryem Cup. 2000 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, TSN World Cup Golf (partnering Carin Koch), 2001 Subaru Memorial of Naples. 2003 Samsung World Championship. 2003 Catalonia World Matchplay Championship. 2009 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

SOLHEIM CUP

1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011