What do Babe Zaharias, Shirley Spork, Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome, and Emily Pedersen have in common? Each one of these ladies has competed with the men in a professional tournament. Which one is unlike the other? That would be Pedersen, who is the only in the bunch to have won against the men.
The 24-year old joins only Lydia Hall (2012 Welsh National PGA Championship), and Suzy Whaley (2002 Connecticut PGA Section Championship) to have defeated men in a professional event.
With the LPGA and Symetra Tour still not competing since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Pedersen along with eight other women joined the men in the 82-player field this weekend at the Romo Golf Links in the Bravo Tours Open on the Danish ECCO Tour. The event marked the return of golf in Denmark.
Pedersen was impressive in an opening round of six-under par 66. Shooting par in the middle of the event, Pedersen finished strong with a round of 67 for an 11-under par total to earn the victory over Oliver Suhr, Rasmus Hojgaar and other notable European Tour players. Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who had a career-best second place finish on the LPGA Tour last year, finished tied for third.
Pedersen was a standout amateur, winning as far back as 2010. She won five events in 2013 including the International European Ladies Amateur Championship. She followed it up with a title at the 2014 British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship.
Turning professional in 2015, Pedersen had two second-place finishes before shooting even par at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, winning by a shot over Cheyenne Woods, Becky Morgan, and Malene Jorgensen. Pedersen’s efforts earned her Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year. Although Pedersen has undoubtedly struggled in majors, missing the cut seven times in 13 events, there’s no question winning this week against the men boosted Pedersen’s confidence. This could be a springboard for bigger things to come. Expect Emily Pedersen to become more of a household name in the golf world in the near future.
