“The time has come to make the leap. Next week I will turn professional”. In an interview with Ten Golf, the world’s number two amateur, Helen Briem has confirmed that her amateur stage is coming to an end: “for some time now I have been thinking about it a lot and I considered doing it before, but I wanted to play one last tournament with my teammates”.
Said and done. In Madrid, at the European Women’s Team Championship, the German who is still 18 years old faces her last waltz. In fact, at the time of writing these lines, Germany is precisely facing Spain in the quarterfinals of the European Championship. The Armada will try to make these her last hours as a professional: “I am very excited to say goodbye in such a tournament, the tournament is very beautiful and I like Spain a lot, hopefully we can win”.
Despite her 18 years, the German is beginning to be a globally recognized figure and one of the great promises of world golf. Her performances endorse her, especially after the feats she has achieved in recent weeks. She won on her debut in the LET Access Series (the second division of the European women’s circuit). Not content with that, she also won the next two events. Three professional tournaments, three victories. An unprecedented milestone. She comfortably leads the LETAS order of merit.
In addition to the victories already mentioned, her amateur career has a good handful of triumphs. Her victory in the R&A Girls Amateur Championship stands out, but she has also been part of the teams that won both the Ryder Cup Junior and the Ping Solheim Cup Junior last year. Remember that she is not yet 19 years old. Her thorn is not having been the World Number One.
Helen is aware of the expectations that are being created around her and the extra pressure that may generate. The still number two deflects: “I come to any tournament with the intention of winning and this week our main objective is to win, but for example, this week Spain has more pressure, they play at home and defend the title. We will try to take advantage of it”. The young player knows how to play her cards.
When she looks back, she only has words of immense joy and pride: “It has been an incredible time, I have grown a lot personally and in terms of golf. As for my level of play, I am a player who hits very long, but in these last two years I have improved a lot in my short game and that has given me a good push in my way of playing. Also, by improving my short game, I have taken a lot of pressure off the long game. I don’t need to hit it so hard. I’m happy”.
Helen Briem, keep track of this player. You never know how she will face her next stages, but there is champion material, that’s for sure.
