The Amundi German Masters will occur at the Golf & Country Club Seddiner See from Thursday, 16 May, to Sunday. The LET returns to its home continent and opens the anticipated stage, featuring six Czech professionals, led by Kristýna Napoleaová, the defending champion of last year’s German Masters.
The upcoming five-month Ladies European Tour on the European continent will be interrupted only by the Solheim Cup in September, followed by the twelve selected Europeans to the USA. The Amundi German Masters venue, the Seddiner See Golf & Country Club southwest of Berlin, now has 132 players from 35 countries heading to compete for a €300,000 subsidy over 72 holes with a cut after the second round for the top 60 and all ties.
Klára Davidson Spilková, Sára Kousková, Tereza Melecká, Tereza Koželuhová, Jana Melichová and last year’s defending champion Kristýna Napoleaová are all eagerly preparing for this weekend’s final. Each of them is bringing their unique game and strategies to the tournament, creating an atmosphere of thrilling competition. The defending champion, Kristýna Napoleaová, shared her feelings before the tournament, “It’s an interesting feeling, of course, I’ve never been in a position to defend the title, but I don’t come here with special expectations. Last year I came here with a clear head, I was expecting the end of the season and then the victory came like a bolt from the blue. This season is a bit the opposite, I missed the first six cuts, I think I played pretty well in South Africa, but then again Korea was like it was… I definitely didn’t come here broken, I just want to enjoy it. The court doesn’t seem to be so hard, the balls won’t be so hard to catch. I’m sorry that my caddie Honza Brumlich won’t be with me, but I’ve arranged with Eva Kozeluhova that if I advance to the weekend, she’ll come to caddie for me. So I’m making it a goal for ‘Eve’ to come and I’m looking forward to it,” she revealed.
On the other hand, Tereza Koželuhová is preparing for her debut in Europe’s top professional competition this year. She’s been training hard, honing her skills and strategies to face the challenges of the tournament. “I’m really looking forward to it, the course is in beautiful condition, the weather seems to be in our favour and my game is looking good too. It’s a tournament for me after a long time, so I’m not going into it with the highest expectations… I’ll play stroke by stroke and try to get through to the weekend, and then we’ll see. I’m really looking forward to it,” she shared, reflecting her determination and excitement for the upcoming event.
Tereza Melecká, another Czech, goes back to her previous tournament, “I was really looking forward to Korea, it was a bit of a cherry on top because I didn’t count on this tournament at all and I got the invitation five days before I left. Overall, I rate it very positively because the conditions were difficult and the course was difficult. That’s why I’m glad that despite a below average first round I managed to make the cut and take 15th place. Moving on to the next tournament in Germany was very fast and difficult. On Monday morning I flew out of Seoul heading home, by Tuesday morning I was on my way to Berlin by car and played nine practice holes that day. After a hard week and a seven-hour time delay, I was not strong enough for more. I’m glad I made it to the tournament because it’s really close to home, and I’ve played it twice already. It’s great that there are six Czech women here, and I’m looking forward to seeing them and spending some time together,” she expressed, highlighting the bond and support among the Czech golfers.
Sára Kousková, the highest-ranked Czech player in the Order of Merit rankings, has had a two-week break from the tournament. We have several tournaments, so flying to Asia and back would be physically demanding. So, instead of the financially lucrative event in Seoul, we chose to train on our home field in Nebrenice. I am convinced that it was the right move. I feel that I have had a good training and some mental rest. I needed it, but I had already lacked a bit of the drive from the beginning of the year at the tournaments in South Africa. Now I’m optimistic and looking forward to the first tournament in Europe this year.” So, after her practice at PGA National Oaks, Kouskova will now have a sharp start on the Seddiner See course. “First of all, it’s great to have a tournament we can attend. The resort is a nice and quiet place in the middle of nature, where there is often a breeze. It’s my third time here, and I think the course is in the best condition this year. Due to the earlier date, the greens and fairways are not as hard as in previous years; everything is so much more lively and green. A nice bonus is that we are living right on the course again; it’s a ten-minute walk to the tee box, so it’s easier to plan everything. I believe that everything will be reflected in the quality of our play, and we will go to the next tournament in France satisfied – both in terms of play and results,” believes in the success of Kousková.
Jana Melichová arrived in Germany this weekend to play a few practice rounds before the start of the tournament. Despite her familiarity with the course from previous years, she aims to prepare thoroughly to face all the challenges the South Course offers. “I’m glad I took two weeks off and skipped the tournament in Korea. The start of the season was intense, and I can see in the players here in Germany what the jump from South Africa to Korea and straight back to Europe does to them. The break was also important for me because of the intense European tournament schedule that the German Masters opens up,” concludes Melich.
Our players will take to the 5902m long course for the first round of the Amundi German Masters on Thursday with a par 72, in the following order and times:
Kristýna Napoleaová at 8:37 from hole No. 1, Klara Davidson Spilková at 9:10 from hole No. 1, Tereza Melecka at 9:54 from hole No. 10, followed by Tereza Koželuhová at 10:05 also from hole No. 10, Jana Melichová at 13:28 from hole No. 1 and lastly Sara Kousková at 13:39 from hole No. 10.
The entire Amundi German Masters 2024 will be broadcast live on O2 TV Sport from Thursday to Sunday: Thursday and Friday from 11:00 to 14:00 and the weekend from 12:00 to 15:00.
Watch the results of the LET Amundi German Masters here.
Author: Tomáš Přikryl (www.cgf.cz)