Tamburlini returns to Sunrise
Swiss star leans on memory bank and mindset as she starts title defence in Taiwan
Dubai, UAE - Chiara Tamburlini knows exactly what this week can do for a season. Twelve months ago at Sunrise Golf and Country Club she won by four, her third Ladies European Tour title in a stellar rookie year. Now the 25-year-old is back as defending champion, intent on striking the same chord despite a lighter practice load and a heavy sky.
“It’s really cool to be back here,” she said. “I have so many great memories from last year – it was my third LET win, and I had such a good run leading into this event. This was also where I clinched the Order of Merit, which made it extra special. I played some really good golf here last year, and I think I was in a good state. That’s what I want to lock into a bit more this week.”
She is candid about the challenge. A wrist issue has curtailed her work between the ropes, and the forecast promises wind and persistent rain that will stretch Sunrise’s yardage and patience in equal measure. “Maybe with this weather I can give it a bit of a rest,” she said. “Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing a lot of mental work, and I think that’s going to be really important – especially since we might not get to hit many balls before the tournament starts. But it’s the same for everyone. Hopefully the course holds up okay with all this rain, and we’ll see how things play out.”
If there is strain in defending, Tamburlini refuses to let it suffocate the joy. “Defending is always a little bit stressful as you have higher expectations,” she said. “I think I’m going to take the positives from last year, but at the same time stay in the moment. My goal is to just enjoy it.”
Her growing comfort in Asia helps. This is her third trip to Taiwan, the most recent in February for the Foxconn TLPGA Players Championship, where she missed the cut and turned the weekend into a city break. “Everyone here is just so friendly,” she said. “I unfortunately didn’t make the cut for the tournament in February, so I had a weekend off to explore Taipei and visited Taipei 101, which was really cool. I always have some really good food here too. We found a great sushi place last year – I know that’s not typical local food but it was good. They have a really nice menu onsite as well which is great.”
She also embraces how the golf itself shifts with the timezone. “They’re very different,” she said of Asian courses compared with Europe. “We’re very fortunate that we can travel to a lot of places in the world, and everywhere we go, the golf courses are slightly different. The grass is different, the culture, but I think that’s what makes it quite fun. It keeps it exciting, keeps it different every time, and I think that’s why I love it so much.”
The weather, though, will have its say. “Hopefully the rain stops soon,” she said. “Obviously the weather plays such a big part for us as it’s an outdoor sport. It can be easy to get a little bit frustrated because we’re all here to play. But the weather is what it is and we can’t affect it. It’s going to be really important this week to have a good attitude.”
There is a new constant on her bag in Rory Henderson, a partnership she wants to make permanent after a spell of relying on local help. “The goal is definitely to make it a more permanent set up,” she said. “I feel like it’s kind of common knowledge that I’ve struggled to find a caddie and I’ve always been doing a lot with local caddies, but I feel really positive about Rory. He’s committed for the long term, which I really appreciate – we both want to improve together, this year and next, with the goal of eventually moving over to the US.”
“It’s been great having a familiar face out there,” she added. “Results haven’t been amazing lately, but I feel like the partnership is working really well.”
Her road map is clear. Already into LPGA Q School via the Rolex Rankings, Tamburlini wants to finish strong on the LET, then pivot to the American test with momentum. “My aim is to stay inside the top 10 on the Order of Merit,” she said. “I haven’t won this year, and I’m only playing this week and the Aramco China Championship before heading to the US to prepare for Q School.”
First, Sunrise. First, the weather and the weight of expectation. “It’s going to be a big challenge,” she said. “I think it’s supposed to be really windy as well, and obviously the golf course is going to be wet, so it’s going to play a lot longer as well, which is going to be different.”
Tamburlini begins her defence at 11.30am local time alongside Singapore’s Shannon Tan and Thailand’s Patcharajutar Kongkraphan. For a champion who knows how to win here and a week likely to demand resilience more than range time, the brief is simple enough. Look back for belief, stay present for every swing, and let Sunrise’s fond memories guide the way. Follow the action on @LETGolf on Instagram and X and on Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #2025WistronLadiesOpen.