Carla Tejedo (Castellón, 2001) speaks to Ten Golf from her home in Louisiana, as the Valencian, who has just finished her Psychology degree, has decided to live there for now.
Carla graduated just three months ago from LSU, a university where, incidentally, her sister Rocío has just landed: “For me, it’s a source of pride that my sister wanted to follow in my footsteps and has come here. We don’t live together, but we do a lot of things together.”
The older of the Tejedo sisters has decided to stay there because she enjoys the atmosphere, is close to her younger sister and, above all, because she has free access to use the university facilities to train alongside Ingrid Lindblad, former number one amateur and now a pro.
The decision to stay in the United States has a clear goal: Carla wants to give herself the opportunity to make the leap to professionalism. In fact, she already lives and acts like a pro, it’s a formal step she has yet to take: “Making the leap now or in a few months doesn’t change anything for me and, let’s not kid ourselves, it takes a bit of pressure off me to continue seeing myself as an amateur.”
The step that Carla now sees so clearly, just a few months ago was not so clear. The Spaniard wanted to do it, but was not convinced: “I didn’t want to make the leap just for the sake of it, I’ve seen many players who take the step simply because it’s what’s expected at that time. I wanted to be convinced that I wanted to take the step and in March I still wasn’t clear. Now I am, I have no doubts golf is my passion and I want to fight to dedicate myself to it at the highest level. It’s been a process, but now I see it clearer than ever.” A turning point were the university finals in which, by the way, Carla finished within the top ten of the year: “When I finished I felt a very big void, is that it?, has the journey come to an end?. Something inside me rebelled.”
This inner journey has a before and after: “In January I had many doubts about my future and the Federation put me in contact with coach Sergio de Céspedes to see if he could help me with my game. During those Christmas days we worked on a lot of things and, from those weeks on, little by little everything has been clicking inside me, and in my game”. The Valencian who described herself as a draw player and now “I’m a total fade player who feels much more comfortable with the irons and in which I also think I’ve improved a lot with the putter”. Almost nothing.
The results are in sight, top 15 in the University Regionals, top 10 in the University Final, sixth in the European Individual Championship and, just two weeks ago, Carla passed the first phase of the LPGA Tour School. With this she would already have a category, not very wide, in the Epson Tour. There are two more tests ahead. The next one, in just over a month. If Carla passes this second phase she will have no choice but to make the leap to professional. To play the final phase you can’t be an amateur. She is convinced she can achieve it: “The way I played the first stage I think I have the level to reach the final phase. Also, just by getting there I would have almost full status on the Epson next season”, she assures.
There’s just one small step left, a big one, but just one. If she doesn’t make it, the Spaniard would try through the Ladies European Tour School: “but if I’m honest, right now I don’t even consider it. I train and focus to pass this second phase at all costs”.
The university stage ends and it’s also time to take stock. Not much remains of that 18-year-old girl who, without knowing much about life, landed to try to live the American dream. “It has been the best decision of my life, both on and off the golf course I have grown a lot. This experience helps you to mature a lot. Suddenly all your family is very far away and you have to fend for yourself. I recommend it 100% to anyone who can”.
As far as golf is concerned, Carla also has a clear idea of how she has evolved: “I am very passionate, I give my all in every shot, I think I have a lot of grit and in these years I think my attitude has changed a lot. Before I got much angrier, now I accept that error is part of the game and that you have to live with it and try to minimise it as much as possible. Although sometimes I don’t believe it, but there could always be a worse shot than the one I’ve given. I think I now put things into perspective much more”, says Carla philosophically.
Looking back on this university and amateur period, the Spaniard has two moments etched in her retina: “The first was when I won the Conference title with the university. That week my parents were here watching me play and it was super special. I put it above the individual title I achieved that same year”. But there is another moment that Carla will never forget. The ANWA of 2023: “I didn’t play well and didn’t make the cut, but walking around Augusta with my parents and playing the practice round there was like a recognition of all the work that I, my team and my family were doing. It was unique”.
As far as this side of the Atlantic is concerned, Carla is clear that she will never forget the European Team Championship a year ago. “It’s curious my memory is not of any particular shot but of the moment we knew we were champions and we all started running like crazy, we looked at each other and threw ourselves on top of each other without finishing believing that we had finally achieved it. It was unique”.
Talking about the Spanish players, Carla is literally drooling. Along with Blanca Fernández, they are the ‘elders’ of this generation and are amazed at what’s coming up behind: Cata, Julia, Paula, Andrea, Anna Cañadó, Rocio and the ones I’m forgetting… it’s impressive how fast they’re growing and maturing. The world better get ready because these girls are very good”.
“In fact, the upcoming generation is so good that I thought I could be left out of the team this year. It’s true that then the results started coming and I calmed down a bit, because the reality is that I was really looking forward to closing this stage with them playing”. It was a relief when Mar Ruiz de la Torre called me and confirmed that I was on the team. I was very nervous”, says the Castellón native with grace.
It’s time to put Carla in a small predicament and have her choose the player from these generations who she sees with the most projection. She jumps like a spring: “My sister, my sister, she’s going to be very good, but it’s true that beyond her, Julia López is a scandal how well she plays, how hard she hits and how straight her ball flies. It impresses every time we play together”.
In just over a month and a half, Carla will play the second phase of the school and will continue to take one more step to fight for her dream, to be a professional in this blessed sport. Don’t take your eyes off her.
