The high achiever and the local heroine. We are, of course, talking about Chiara Tamburlini from eastern Switzerland and Elena Moosmann from Zug. In the following short interview, both give a personal insight into their expectations and thoughts on the upcoming home tournament.
Question 1: Chiara Tamburlini, you are returning to Holzhäusern for your ‘home tournament’ in Switzerland as the winner of the 2024 Order of Merit and the title of ‘Rookie of the Year’. Before you, only Laura Davies (1985), Carlota Ciganda (2012), Esther Henseleit (2019), Jeeno Thitikul (2021), Linn Grant (2022) and Trichat Cheenglab (2023) have managed to win both titles in the same season. What are your thoughts on your extraordinary achievements, or do you perhaps not let it get to you?
Answer: It's a very special feeling to have won both awards in one season. I'm proud of what I've achieved, and it gives me a lot of confidence for everything that lies ahead. At the same time, I try to keep both feet on the ground. Every year is a new beginning, with new challenges and goals. I want to keep developing, work on my game and not rest on my past successes. But of course, when I look back, I feel very grateful.
Question 2: Everything is ready for the 6th VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open in Holzhäusern. You play tournaments around the world almost every week. What does it mean to you to compete in your own country in front of your home fans, and what are your goals for the most important Swiss golf tournament for professional women?
Answer: The VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open is one of the emotional highlights of the season for me. Playing in front of a home crowd, with Swiss flags in the audience, with family and friends at the edge of the fairway – it's just indescribably wonderful. Last year, the support in Holzhäusern was overwhelming, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Of course, you dream of winning your home tournament – that would be something very special. My primary goal is to enjoy the week, play my best golf and let the atmosphere carry me along. Everything else will fall into place.
Question 3: Some players always carry a certain soft toy in their bag. Others swear by a certain colour of clothing for the final round or have their own personal ritual. What is essential for you to feel ready to perform at your best?
Answer: I don't really have a ritual. What helps me is good preparation, my usual routine – and I usually listen to music on headphones to get into the right frame of mind. Maybe that's my ‘ritual’: staying calm, focusing and just feeling comfortable. But who knows – maybe I'll get a mascot one day.
Question 1: Elena Moosmann, you've been playing professionally since 2023. How do you view the time since your transition and what is different from what you imagined before making the move to the professionals?
Answer: The nice thing was that I knew exactly which tournaments I could play in right from the start. The LET Access was an ideal start, with the clear goal of playing at the top – which I managed to do. In 2024, I was then able to secure a full tour card. I feel very comfortable on the LET: the players are friendly, we spend a lot of time together on and off the course, and real friendships have developed. I really like this mix of sport, competition and community. The pressure to play at the top is no greater than in amateur golf, but the level of play is significantly higher. Any player can win – and just two or three bad shots can mean missing the cut. That's an experience I still need to process and, at the same time, bring more relaxation back into my game.
Question 2: Unlike many of your colleagues, your path to becoming a professional did not lead you through a US college. You completed your school-leaving certificate and then attended the elite sports military academy in Magglingen. What was the decisive factor in your decision to take a different path?
Answer: I was able to celebrate great successes very early on – at the age of 14 I was already in the national team, at 16 I competed in the Youth Olympics and I won several Swiss championship titles in different age groups. After graduating from high school, I felt ready to take the step into the professional camp. The opportunity to further my career through the military is something unique in Switzerland. You are only selected for the elite sports RS on the basis of your sporting achievements – I definitely wanted to take advantage of that. I am proud to have chosen this path and to represent my country in the process.
Question 3: Now your ‘home tournament’ is coming up. What thoughts and feelings do you bring with you to the start of the Zugersee Course in Holzhäusern, and what are you particularly looking forward to?
Answer: Playing at my home course, the Golfpark Holzhäusern, home of the GC Ennetsee, is always a highlight. As I travel a lot, it's very special to have a LET tournament at home. I'm most looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces – friends, family and supporters there. Even though the season hasn't been going perfectly so far, I can feel how many people are behind me. That means a lot to me. My goal is to make the cut – and to take the energy and support from home with me. In the remaining tournaments this season, I want to finish in the top 70 to secure my full tour card for the 2026 LET season again.
