Interview with Kim Métraux —

Kim Métraux is back at the place of her greatest success

The big highlight of this golf season so far has been the Olympic tournament in Tokyo. You reached 54th place. What are your feelings about the Olympics?

Kim Métraux: The Olympic Games have been an incredible experience from the first into the last moment I’ve been over there. It’s definitely something I want to be part of again. Being an Olympian and wearing the Olympic Rings on my shirt for Switzerland, this whole experience has been phantastic. On the sports side, I didn’t have my best week, but I still played some good golf. The field was the strongest I have ever been in. Rank 54 may not look that good, but I’m still quite happy about how I performed.

At the Olympic Games, you made a dream shot. You sank the ball from a distance of 155 metres. How much do you still remember that moment?

Kim Métraux: I can still remember almost everything about this shot - incredible few minutes of emotions. I thougt it might be very close and I will have a chance for another birdie when I hit the ball and it went so close to the flag. And then (laughs), just heard my dad and the volunteers shouting and clapping. Then I realised that the ball was in. For a few minutes I felt extremely light and seeing my score improve from plus 3 to plus 1 gave me an extra boost.

Now it's on to the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open in Switzerland. What memories do you have of the premiere a year ago when you finished third in the final round?

Kim Métraux: It was one of the best weeks on tour last year. It was very special, because I have never been able to play at home on tour. I really enjoyed these days and I’m really looking forward to do it again. Also being leader after the first round, that has never happened to be before and was something very special and exciting. And I had the privilege of starting the second round as the leader. Since it was on Friday, there have been the crowds and all the emotions, that I never had to deal with in the past. That was really cool. This was topped on in the final round on Saturday with the massive crowds and all the Swiss fans. I’ve never played in front of such a big crowd and I really enjoyed it. The crowd had supported me at every strok, that’s giving you energy to make some more birdies and fight until the very last putt. On hole 18, I remember, my first putt was way to hard and then I had a four to five meter putt to stay in third place. I fought for every shot to be at the top and I was really excited that I holed for par and finished third. My best result on the LET – in Switzerland, that is something really special.

How important do you think a tournament at LET level is for the Swiss golf scene?

Kim Métraux: I think it’s great to see, all these people coming to the course to watch and support us. Also the girls from «Golf for Girls» where here and watching, take autographs – that’s something really inspiring the next generations. When children see the tournament and with it the best players in Switzerland, but also in Europe and beyond, it is very important for our sport. Such moments are very inspiring for these children and it helps us to inspire a new generation about golf. One day, maybe these kids will be able to celebrate success on the tour themselves.