Golf: Endearing support behind Pauline Roussin’s Aramco Team Series Singapore triumph

SINGAPORE – Without a regular caddie heading into the Aramco Team Series Singapore event, Pauline Roussin opted to go with familiar faces.

She had her mother Marielle on the bag for Thursday’s opening round before her boyfriend Bruce Lowe – who usually caddies for Thai LPGA Tour player Wichanee Meechai, took over duties for the next two days at Laguna National.

Lowe’s presence proved to be the inspiration needed for Roussin, 22, as she fired a final-round eight-under 64 for a commanding win on Saturday.

Roussin, a former amateur world No. 1, said: “I was really having fun talking about TV shows and just having a good time with my boyfriend on the bag.

“Usually he doesn’t caddie for me but I thought it would be fun to have him around this week. He made me laugh a lot which really settled my nerves.”

The world No. 92 Frenchwoman finished the three-day competition at 15-under 201, four clear of American world No. 14 Danielle Kang (68). New Zealand’s top-ranked Lydia Ko (66) was a further stroke back at the US$1 million (S$1.35 million) Ladies European Tour (LET) event.

Roussin had begun the morning tied for the lead at seven under with Kang and South African Nicole Garcia, who later fell back with a 75 to finish joint-11th on 212.

Roussin, Kang and Ko were then locked in a tense battle. They were tied at eight under when Ko – who was two flights ahead of her rivals – made the turn at the Masters Course.

Roussin started with six straight pars before a birdie on the 7th hole. After another par on No. 8, she caught fire, rolling in seven birdies over the next eight holes to disappear from her challengers. She needed just 13 putts for that stunning inward nine of 30.

She said: “Honestly, I wasn’t really realising that I was making that many birdies. It was just happening and my putter was really hot. I just had to be patient and wait for them to drop.”

On Kang and Ko, she noted: “I knew they were there. I know what they’re capable of because I’ve been playing around them for the last year (on the LPGA Tour).

“But I just talked with my boyfriend and we both knew we could just stay in our bubble. Just to play my game and not even pay attention to what people think.”

This was Roussin’s second win on the LET after her first in 2021. She has yet to make a similar breakthrough on the US-based LPGA where in 2022, she had two top-10s and seven missed cuts.

She said: “I think (beating Kang and Ko) is proof that hard work pays off at some point... I used my time as good as I could and now this win gives me a good dynamic for the rest of the season.

“It tells a lot about the mindset I want to keep on the course. It’s about having fun and not letting the game affect my mood. It’s not like two years ago where I would constantly compare myself to the other pros.

“Now it’s been a year and a half that I’ve turned pro and I’ve realised where I can be when I’m on top of my game. It feels good that I came away with a win.”

Singapore’s Koh Sock Hwee signed for a 77 and was joint-55th at 10-over 226.