A few months ago, Carlota Ciganda stated in an interview upon receiving the AS Sports Award that she has the firm belief that she can win a major in 2024. The 33-year-old Navarrese golfer is determined to make history and become the first Spaniard to lift one of the great titles in golf. “Hopefully I can achieve it. Why not? I have been competing at the highest level for many years, I have placed third in majors in the last two years. The opportunities are there. You need to play well, but I think it is possible,” he added with trust.
Carlota Ciganda, results
The road to this long-awaited goal, along with other exciting challenges presented this season, begins this Thursday with the start of the LPGA Drive On Championship, the first event of the year for Ciganda.
After a busy Christmas vacation, during which she was able to disconnect, Carlota returns to the Bradenton Country Club in Florida, United States, to begin her participation in the North American circuit. One of her goals is to win again on the LPGA Tour, where she has not won since 2016. Last year, she admitted that going winless was an unfulfilled wish that she hopes to remedy this season.
Precisely because she did not win in 2023, she could not be present last week at the Tournament of Champions, the first event of the year in the LPGA, which was won by Lydia Ko. During that time, the Navarrese golfer took the opportunity to prepare with Jorge Parada , director of training at Liberty National Golf Club, and Álvaro Prada, his caddie with whom they are facing their third year together.
While winning is a tempting goal, Ciganda’s main focus is getting into rhythm for what really matters in 2024: the usual five majors, the first of which is the Chevron Championship, scheduled for April 18-21. In addition, this year there are the Paris Olympic Games (from August 7 to 10) and a new edition of the Solheim Cup (from September 13 to 15), which is held for the second consecutive year to alternate with the Ryder Cup. All of these events represent extremely exciting challenges for Carlota Ciganda.
The Spanish golfer especially highlights the week of the Olympic Games as a unique opportunity to represent Spain and, with her historic performance at Finca Cortesín, she is practically certain that she will be a fundamental piece on the European team at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club of Virginia.
This week in Florida, Carlota will not be alone as a Spanish representative. Azahara Muñoz, after showing signs of great performance in 2023, will also compete in the LPGA Drive On Championship. The Malaga native will begin her first round at 7:11 p.m. Spanish time on Thursday, while Carlota will do so a few minutes earlier, at 7:00 p.m. The presence of many of the great figures of the North American circuit is expected, such as Linn Grant, Celine Boutier, Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu or Lexi Thompson, among others. It is an unbeatable start to a year that promises to be full of emotions like few others remember in the world of golf.
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