Caroline Sturdza’s 2026 season got off to the perfect start in April when she clinched the LET Access Series (LETAS) opening event in Morocco at the Madaëf Golfs Ladies Open.
At this week’s September 16-18 Lavaux Ladies Open, the Geneva native returns to a course she knows inside out as she bids to win for the second time this year at Golf de Lavaux.
“It is definitely special,” she said. “I’ve played this course so many times as a junior, and now as a professional, it’s definitely really special and something that means a lot.
“It’s a course that I feel like it could be my home course at this point. I’ve played it so many times and I feel really comfortable. There’s been a couple changes I saw in the course, some tree removals, which is cool. I’m excited to go play.
“I try not to ` focus on the results itself, but more about the learnings that I get from the results. Whether it’s good or bad, I always try to learn something from every week. So, that’s always the goal for me.”
Playing her first full season as a professional, Sturdza is currently ranked eighth in the LETAS Order of Merit (OOM). With six events to play, the top seven players on the OOM at the end of the year will earn their LET cards for the 2027 season.
“I think I’ve definitely learned so much about myself and obviously in my game as well,” she said. “It’s been a learning curve. It’s not based on the result, but more the awareness and how much of an understanding you get from your results and how you can move on from that.
“Add all those little lessons and at the end of the year, create something really strong for the following year. What I’ve learnt is that being a professional golfer is not only golf. There’s so much more to it, especially when you’re traveling alone by yourself. The recovery, the practice… everything, pretty much. It’s a lot to handle.”
In Morocco, Sturdza had a premonition before the week began. “That was a huge moment for me and one that I will never forget because it’s the first one,” she said. “I came in so ready and I had a feeling inside.
“I just felt really, really ready mentally and physically. My game was really good. I just went out there and focused on myself my processes, my behaviours, making sure that I’m on track with what I’m trying to do.
“That was my focus that week and it went well. I try to keep that same focus, although it shifts from week to week.”
Before turning professional, the Swiss golfer graduated from Stanford University where she majored in science, technology and society. “It’s a mix of data science and AI,” she said. “It’s a growing major every day because the technology keeps growing and developing.
“It was a dream come true. It went by really quickly. I enjoyed most of my time there. It was a really good experience with great teammates and a good coach. We got to play so many nice places and courses.”
While Sturdza has always had her mind set on turning professional, she came close to entering the corporate world.
“I definitely was hesitating for half a second because I got an internship at KKR, which is a private equity firm,” she said. “My last quarter at Stanford was such a good experience and it was so different than what I was used to. I wanted to see the other professional life that maybe one day I will have, a more corporate job, maybe, we’ll see. But I still prefer to be outside and play golf and have fun.
“I’ve always wanted to turn professional. I use golf to learn about myself and be a good person. It was always one of my goals as a kid. I try to push myself as far as I can in the lessons that you can get from golf.”
About her future goals, Sturdza added: “I hope to be on the LET and be able to have a good season, try to play Q-School in the US for the LPGA and go step by step from now.”
Sturdza will begin Round 1 of the Lavaux Ladies Open from the 10th tee at 1.45pm (local time) alongside France’s Lucie Malchirand and Austria’s Isabella Holpfer.
Keep up with all the action on the LETAS on our socials – @LETAccess on Instagram and X and LET Access Series on Facebook.
