Ladies of the Links: Featured Player — Carlota Ciganda
Feb 23rd 2021
Born on June 1, 1990 in Pamplona, Spain, Carlota Ciganda started her golf journey at the age of five and credits her father as her primary influence. As an amateur, Ciganda was the Spanish National age group champion from 2000 to 2006. She was a member of the 2004 European Junior Ryder Cup Team and won the European Championship the same year. In 2005, Ciganda was part of the European Junior Solheim Cup Team and participated in a professional event at the 2005 Tenerife Ladies Open at the age of 14.
In 2006, Ciganda was a member of the 2006 Spain World Amateur Team and the European Junior Ryder Cup Team. Not only did Ciganda win the 2007 British Amateur Championship, she finished eighth at the 2007 Open De Espana Femenino, a professional event.
In 2008, Ciganda finished second as a member of the Epirito Santo Trophy team and third in the Tenerife Ladies Open. She attended Arizona State University beginning in the fall of 2008, majoring in Business Administration. While at Arizona state, Ciganda helped the Sun Devils win the NCAA Championship as a freshman. She won the Pac-10 Championship in 2009 and 2010, becoming the first player in conference history to accomplish that feat.
Ciganda turned professional in May 2011 and finished second in her first event at the Tenerife Ladies Match Play. She spent her entire season on the Ladies European Tour Access Series, earning her first victory at the Murica Ladies Open. At the end of 2011, Ciganda earned playing privileges on the LPGA Tour for 2012 after finishing tied for 34th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. She also secured full playing status on the Ladies European Tour for 2012.
Ciganda was named Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year on the Ladies European Tour. In 19 events, she won twice and had another ten top-ten finishes. She made the cut in all three LPGA Tour events in 2012 a tie for 17th at the RICOH Women’s British Open.
The following season, Ciganda had her career-best second at the North Texas LPGA Shootout and went 3-0 in her first Solheim Cup appearance. In 2014, Ciganda once again finished as high as second in an LPGA event, this time at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. As a member of Team Spain, she won the inaugural International Crown.
At the 2015 Lorena Ochoa Invitational, Ciganda shot a career-low 63 in the final round, once again finishing second. She competed in her second Solheim Cup the same season and surpassed the $1 million mark in LPGA career earnings. Ciganda broke through the following season with wins at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship and CitiBanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She also finished tied for 39th at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2017, Ciganda made 22 cuts in 24 events with seven top-ten finishes and hit another career milestone by surpassing $3 million in earnings on the LPGA Tour. In addition, Ciganda made her third consecutive Solheim Cup team. The following season was Ciganda’s best in terms of earnings and top-ten finishes. With career-best finishes at the Ricoh Women’s British Open and U.S. Women’s Open, Ciganda surpassed $4 million in career earnings.
A model of consistency, Ciganda made 22 cuts in 23 events in 2019, earning just under $1 million. She won the inaugural season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge and the $1 million top prize. She posted three top ten finishes in major championships and competed in another Solheim Cup.
Last season, Ciganda finished in the top ten on four occasions in 12 events. Her best finish was a tie for third at the KMPG Women’s PGA Championship. With 40 career top-ten finishes and just under $6 million in career earnings, Ciganda is the 15th ranked player in the world.