Albane Valenzuela called putting her “nemesis” in recent months. Well, that changed in a mighty way in Thailand, where she needed only 19 putts in a career-low 9-under 63 on Sunday. The Swiss player’s solo second to Patty Tavatanakit at Honda LPGA Thailand marked her career-best finish on tour.
Last month at the LPGA Drive On in Bradenton, Florida, the 26-year-old Valenzuela had 10 three-putts, calling her speed “totally off.”
On Sunday at Siam Country Club, Valenzuela went on a dizzying streak with the putter after holing out for eagle on the par-4 fifth.
“From No. 7 onwards I only had one-putts,” said Valenzuela. “For all the people that told me I could not putt, there you go.”
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Amy Yang was the last player to record 19 putts in a round on the first day of the 2022 Amundi Evian Championship. Only one player has registered 18 putts in a round since 1980, and that was Minea Blomqvist at the 2008 Fields Open in Hawaii at Ko Olina Golf Club. Valenzuela is the seventh player to record 19 putts since 1980.
The late Joan Joyce holds the LPGA record for fewest putts in a round, needing only 17 at the 1982 Lady Michelob.
Valenzuela, a former Stanford player and two-time Olympian, said the week in Thailand was huge for her confidence, proving to herself that she has that competitive fire in her heart.
“I think I’ve never enjoyed playing a Sunday as much as I did today,” she said, “just because of how calm I was. I told my dad, I finally got out of my way and I really understood a lot about myself today.”
Her solo second earned her $158,182 in prize money.