Suzann Pettersen aims to start bridging the chasm to record-breaking world No.1 Yani Tseng when the US LPGA Tour season begins at the Women’s Australian Open on Thursday.
Long a world No.2, the talented Norwegian is tiring of that role after living in a dominant player’s shadow since joining the tour in 2003.
First there was Swede Annika Sorenstam, then Mexican Lorena Ochoa. Taiwan’s Tseng is the current, and arguably toughest, nemesis.
Pettersen believes she can overhaul Tseng – who won 12 times last year and became the youngest player to win five majors at age 22 – but she accepts it might take more than a season to do so.
The campaign begins again in earnest in the co-sanctioned Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, where Tseng and Pettersen head a stellar field also including world No.4 Christie Kerr (USA), No.7 Jiyai Shin (South Korea), No.9 Stacy Lewis (USA), No.10 Brittany Lincicome (USA) and Australia’s former world No.1 and four-time champion Karrie Webb.
“It’s always been a dream of mine,” Pettersen said. “And I definitely think my game is there.
“Obviously Yani’s got a great head start over all of us and it’s probably going to take more than a season to catch up with her.
“She seems to be playing great in majors as well so that doesn’t help the rest of us.”
Pettersen said she tried to ignore Tseng’s approach which detracted from the work she put into her own progress.
“I look at my game and what I can do better to get the most out of it every day,” she said.
“But she’s a great No.1, she’s very aggressive, very fearless and obviously has a lot of confidence at the moment.
“But I’ve beaten her before so I know you can do it.”
She has been boosted by two consecutive years of winning form.
“I look back at 2011 as a pretty good year,” Pettersen said. “I had three wins, there was a lot of consistent golf but I wasn’t really in contention for the majors, which was a bit painful.
“That’s one thing I would like to do, try to prepare better in the weeks before the majors so I can go in less stressed about how the game is feeling.”
Petterson watched last year’s Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne with interest, noting the number of balls which sped across the glassy greens.
“I may play a bit more conservatively. You have to take what the course gives you each day. I know it can swap around very easily and change drastically from morning to afternoon.”
Also in the field this week are new Australian Ladies Masters champion Christel Boeljon of The Netherlands and 14-year-old New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko, who recently became the youngest winner of a pro event with victory in the NSW Open.
