Chiara Tamburlini is in contention at the AIG Women’s British Open, but don’t be fooled into thinking the Swiss player has an affinity for links golf. It’s just the opposite.
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And yet, Tamburlini has played so well in the first two rounds that her displeasure might become a thing of the past. Tamburlini shot a three-under 69 Friday at Royal Porthcawl and later in the second round was tied for third at four under, seven shots behind leader Miyu Yamashita.
The 25-year-old who played her college golf at Ole Miss had an eventful day with three birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.
“I don’t want to say love-hate relationship because it’s more of a hate relationship with links golf really my entire career,” Tamburlini said. “The last year, I had a good prep camp for Scottish and British with my coach and felt like I was actually starting to kind of get the game of it more, how to hit the shots on links, but kind of couldn’t put together a score [missing the cut in her Women’s Open debut]. Did the same training camp again this year with my coach just for a couple days and felt like I had a good week at Scottish [tied for 50th] and obviously playing good now.
“I think I’m just kind of learning to see a few different shots and give up a bit on my normal yardages and these kinds of things. It’s more about seeing and feeling it than a number, really. I think that’s been the big difference.”
By the end of the weekend, it could be a love-love relationship, who knows.
Tamburlini’s caddie for the week, Verners Tess, has helped her navigate links courses as well. He used to be on Irishwoman Leona Maguire’s bag.
“It’s been good. He’s quite used to lot about links golf being from Ireland,” Tamburlini said. “There was a couple lies where he was like, ‘No, it looks all right, but be careful because it’s thicker than what it looks.’ And a couple of chips as well. He’s been pretty good at helping me read some of the lies where maybe I would have gone with the wrong one. I feel like we’re working really well together, making good decisions. That’s been nice.”
Tamburlini played well at the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills, tying for 14th, but then missed the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Evian Championship. At the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open Tamburlini finished 22 shots back of winner Lottie Woad.
Tamburlini grew up playing junior golf in Europe, then helped Ole Miss win the NCAA Championship in 2021. She turned professional in 2023, and last year was the Ladies European Tour (LET) rookie of the year, thanks to three wins.
This week, she has her sister and mom in her gallery.
“It’s so nice. I love it when they’re here,” Tamburlini said. “They’re both just so positive always and keep going with a smile. It’s so nice having a familiar face here rooting for you. Also, off the course it’s been great to have them here.”
Tamburlini and her family will surely have a nice dinner together to prep for moving day. She’ll be in one of the final groups for the third round. There are many tour winners on the leaderboard that she’ll have to end off to win.
“I’m just so excited. I think it’s incredible to play in front of big crowds,” Tamburlini said. “Hopefully it will be that [Saturday]. There’s been a lot of people out here [Thursday] and today. I love to play in front of big crowds.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
