Georgia Oboh, Nigeria’s international lady professional golfer is confident that her recent improved stellar performance is a harbinger of better things to happen in her career in no distant time; this was demonstrated at the Gant Ladies Open in Finland after her first cut at the Czech Ladies Open and the most spectacular Santander Golf Tour Zaragoza, Spain.
Oboh based in Manchester UK and a US World Teen champion spoke with SOKOnnect looking at her pick from the Gant tournament and going forward. Excerpt.
What skills are you lacking that should be acquired and employed in your game to be in the top 10 to compete for titles?
At the start of my season, I was going through some swing changes, equipment upgrades along with getting back into competitive rhythm due to lack of tournaments pre season courtesy of COVID 19.
To win or get close to winning you must combine your whole game together to score low and consistently over three or four rounds of golf per tournament. My game is in a much better place now than it was a few months ago, with more consistency and better scoring so I expect to be contention and hopefully with a win soon by God’s grace.
You play good golf on Nigeria soil, why do you struggle most times on the European golf courses even as you learnt the game in Manchester Golf Academy?
Despite learning to play golf in England, I did not play much golf at the amateur level in Europe, instead I play most of my amateur golf in the United States. Joining the Ladies European Tour (LET), I had to learn how to play well on European courses which are more strategic and at times tougher to score on.
You qualified as a professional going to three years now, are you still nursing some frights by the calibre of star players you meet at tournaments; what’s the experience like so far?
I have had the great opportunity to play with some of the best players in the world and learn from them. At this point, I have in some ways become a veteran on tour (in my third season on tour), I’ve already set a standard for myself as a player. Now I just need to have my breakthrough, to showcase all the hard work I put in behind the scenes.
Which is your best tournament so far as a professional?
So far as a professional, winning the Cote d Ivoire Open (2018) in my first event as a professional golfer. Nothing can really beat a win!
Are you in competition with any established player(s) as a professional that seems to be your obstacle; otherwise, what’s your target going forward?
In professional golf, on a tournament by tournament basis I’m competing against 100+ players from all over the world. My next target in golf going forward would be a win on the Ladies European Tour before the end of the 2021 season by the grace of God.
Finally, what is your biggest challenge at the moment in your professional calling?
My biggest challenge would be sponsorship; as a professional golfer, I’m running a business on the golf course which means I have invested capital with running costs. The presence of COVID 19 worldwide has also made it more expensive to travel and compete as a professional golfer, but God has been faithful and I have been able to continue to compete in these times of uncertainty.
Thanks so much for your time!
