CALIFORNIA, 30 Mar 2016 (HK Golfer News Wire) - The Norwegian star is among the leading contenders at the ANA Inspiration, the first Major of the season in women’s golf, at Rancho Mirage in California.
Hong Kong-based Roberts has been at her side all week, continuing the coaching role he began at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore in early March.
“It’s been great having Iain here as I work on my game and I’ve certainly felt the benefit of his input this week,” said Pettersen. “I’m feeling good heading into this tournament and I’m looking forward to the next four days.”
Pettersen finished tied ninth at the HSBC Women’s Champions and narrowly missed a top-10 finish in last week’s Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California. Her last victory came in the Manulife LPGA Classic last June.
Roberts believes his star pupil is working her way back to the form that brought her two Majors – the 2007 LPGA Championship and 2013 Evian Championship – and a career-high world No.2 ranking.
“Suzann is not only talented, as all players are at this level, but totally dedicated in her work ethic and approach to the game,” he said.
“She’s a joy to work with and we’ve had a productive week. Now the goal is to replicate in the tournament what she’s been doing day in, day out in practice.”
Nineteen of the world’s top 20 are teeing it up in the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage’s Mission Hills Country Club – no relation to the club of the same name in China where Roberts is Group Executive Director.
Roberts is renowned as one of Asia’s premier golf tutors and administrators. Last year he was honoured as a Master Professional by the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, one of only 38 members worldwide to achieve such status.
He first met Pettersen though her regular visits to Mission Hills Haikou in Hainan, China, where she won the World Ladies Championship, a Ladies European Tour event, in 2013.