Young Dane Pedersen throws her weight, keeps slender lead

GURGAON: There are those who persevere on the greens in the hope of a better tomorrow. Like in life, gestation periods can vary in golf.

Emily Kristine Pedersen’s growth has been based on facts than expectation. A spark was all it took to get her hooked to golf, and that came when the father gifted the 10-year-old with the membership of a club on the outskirts of Copenhagen.

Like any youngster, Emily went through the grind of learning, but when it mattered she did not have to look skywards for deliverance. “I stuck to it (golf) and stayed motivated as I got better and the results kept coming in,” said the 19-year-old.

Hugely decorated as an amateur, Emily won several times in Europe in the last few years, which prompted her to turn pro this season.

Very early on, perhaps even before she could grasp the intricacies of the sport, Emily had envisioned a role for herself. At 13, she would have been oblivious to the rigours of professional golf, but was firm on playing the Ladies European Tour.

In fact, conjecture has little role to play in her scheme of things. Her caddy at the Hero Women’s Indian Open goes by the surname Curry, so asked if he would be her lucky charm in the land of curry this week, the rookie brushed it off with a smile. “He’s been with me before (in Europe).”

Despite staying the leader on Saturday, her round summed up the mood at the DLF Golf and Country Club. Her one-shot lead intact, the strongly-built Dane, who loves to pump weights and work on the core, was put off by the over-par round of 73. Compared to the opening day, the pin positions were relatively easier, but Emily felt they were still tough.

Though she hit a lot of good shots, courtesy the driving and better iron play, missing as many as six putts rankled. Given the mayhem all around, again just a handful of under-par cards were submitted on the day, Emily seemed apprehensive to place a finger on the number to shoot on the final day.