Five LET players to keep an eye on in 2019

The 2019 Ladies European Tour season kicks off in Abu Dhabi this week with the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.

The likes of Charley Hull and Laura Davies tee up in the Middle East for the first time this year. But these won’t be the only names making the golf news in 2019.

Joe Hughes notes five players to keep an eye on this season…

Olivia Cowan

The 22-year-old German ace played 12 events on the LET last season and finished 7th in the Order of Merit. Since turning pro in 2016, Cowan has shown that she has what it takes to compete at the highest level, and this is reflected by her four top-10 finishes on the LET last year.

Cowan began the year occupying the 11th position in the current Solheim Cup points standings. If she can build on her solid 2018 season, and perhaps pick up a win or two, she has a huge chance of automatically booking her place on Team Europe.

We’re backing her to make a big move up the world rankings over the coming months and it would be great to see her seal her place at Gleneagles.

Julia Engstrom

Can the 2018 LET Rookie of the Year push on this year? We certainly think so.

After turning pro in 2017, Engstrom made a huge impact on tour last season, finishing 17th in the Order of Merit.

She secured a top-5 finish at the Lalla Meryem Cup in April, emphasising that she has the game to compete with the tour’s best.

This year’s Solheim Cup is likely to be a little too soon for the World No. 318, but after her appearances in the 2016 Junior Ryder Cup and the Junior Solheim Cup the year after, her time will undoubtedly come.

For now, let’s enjoy what should be a cracking year for one of the best up-and-coming golfers on the LET.

Aditi Ashok

A three-time winner on the LET who won twice in her first year on tour, Ashok became the youngest winner of a Q School for an international tour when securing her card ahead of the 2016 season.

Despite only playing six events on the LET, she was able to finish 24th in the Order of Merit and led the tour in the average vs. par statistics on par 4s. It helped her on her way to three top-10s last season.

Ashok is beginning her campaign at the Fatima Mubarak Ladies’ Open where she will be looking to defend the title that she fantastically won at the end of 2017. This could be the best season yet for the 20-year-old prospect.

Celine Boutier

Like many of the best golfers these days, Boutier splits her time between playing on the LET and LPGA Tour.

The 25-year-old only teed it up in seven LET events last season but did manage to pick up a victory at the Ladies Classic Bonville in February. And although she plays many more events on the other side of the Atlantic, the Frechwoman clearly takes well to playing in Europe as she also claimed a title on her debut LET season.

When Boutier plays, expect her to contend.

Jenny Haglund

Yet another Swedish golfer who is just packed full of talent. The 25-year-old achieved her maiden victory on the LET in 2018 and we’re sure that won’t be the last time she comes out on top.

A win on the Symetra Tour shortly after her triumph in Europe solidifies the notion that Haglund knows how to get it done.

Although she started the year outside the top 200 on the rankings, we believe that she could make some serious progress throughout the course of the season.

Want more? Read my top 5 LPGA Tour players to watch this year.