Player Profile - Suzann Pettersen

This week’s player profile introduces golfing fans to LPGA Matchplay champion, Suzann Pettersen. Born in 1981 in the city of Oslow in Norway, Pettersen was introduced to sports at an early age. Exploring the world of golf as a child, she played her first tournament at the age of six. This astounding early start in the game of golf would set the stage for this talented young golfer’s future success.

By the time Pettersen was in her mid-teens she had already embarked on a successful amateur career. The young athlete won her first Norwegian Amateur Championship in 1996 at the age of fifteen, a title she would retain for five successive years until the year 2000. During this period, Pettersen played several championships outside of her home country winning the British Girls Championship in 1999. In 1997 and 1999 she represented Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup.

Turning professional in 2000, Pettersen rapidly made her mark on the Ladies European Tour while weathering the challenges of professional golf. In her debut year she won the French Open and finished second on the order of merit. It was no surprise when the talented young player won rookie of the year. Following this initial victory, Pettersen won several times in Europe. In 2007 she won the SAS Masters and the following year victory was hers at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open and the Ladies Irish Open.

Meanwhile, Pettersen had qualified to play on the LPGA Tour, based in the United States. She had a string of victories in 2007 that put her on the map in the US as a new force to be reckoned with. On Sunday, Pettersen claimed her seventh victory on the LPGA Tour when she won the Sybase Mathplay Championship in New Jersey. This victory affirms her place at the top of women’s golf.

Golfweather Editorial