This week the Ladies European Tour (LET) is in Deauville for the 33rd edition of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
Staged at the Diane Barrière course at Golf Barrière for the second consecutive year, 108 players will be vying for the trophy in the 24th event of the 2023 LET season.
Before the event gets under way in Normandy, here are a few storylines to look out for…
THE NO.1 IS IN TOWN
Fresh off being part of Suzann Pettersen’s European arsenal which retained the Solheim Cup in Spain, Celine Boutier returns to France this week as she looks to extend her lead at the top of the Race to Costa del Sol standings.
The World No 5 has an excellent record in the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, winning her home event in 2021, finishing second in 2019, and recording a sixth place finish last year as IInes Laklalech claimed victory.
With two wins under her belt this season at The Amundi Evian Championship and Women’s Scottish Open, Boutier currently leads the Race to Costa del Sol by 238 points but can extend her advantage with the next seven players in the standings all absent in France.
WINNERS APLENTY
While Boutier’s Race opponents won’t be teeing up in Deauville, the 24th event of the season will see an abundance of 2023 champions vying to add more silverware to their cabinet.
Joining the French Solheim star at Golf Barrière are seven more winners from this season: Germany’s Alexandra Försterling, Spanish players Nuria Iturrioz and Carmen Alonso, Czechia’s Kristyna Napoleaova, Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby, Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson, Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt, and England’s Lily May Humphreys.
Itturioz will be in high spirits after enjoying the Solheim Cup from the sidelines at her home club Finca Cortesin last week. She tees off at 8:26 alongside Cara Gainer and Försterling, who will also be feeling confident after winning the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open two weeks ago.
ALONSO RETURNS
Another Spaniard looking to enter the mix this week is Carmen Alonso, the winner of this year’s Ladies Open by Pickala Rock Resort.
The 39-year-old had been out injured with back and hips issues following the AIG Women’s Open, but after six weeks off the one-time LET winner returns this week looking to make up for lost time in the Race to Costa del Sol standings (Alonso currently sits 20th).
“I am happy to come back at Lacoste Ladies Open de France,” she said on Instagram. “Thanks Juan Dusmet and the physio for all the…
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