Rebecca Hudson last year in Tenerife

(Wednesday 23rd September 2009) -- England’s Rebecca Hudson defends the Tenerife Ladies Open this week at Golf Costa Adeje, the photogenic sea-side course where she won last year.

“It’s actually the first title I’ve ever defended,” said Hudson, a three-time individual title winner on the LET. "It’s my first one and I’m looking forward to it. It’s lovely to be back in Tenerife."

Currently ranked 30th on the Henderson Money List with her best finish of 2009 a tie for eighth at the ABN AMRO Ladies Open in the Netherlands, Hudson added: “I’m pretty disappointed with my year so far. I seem to be playing well but scoring quite badly so my chances at the moment I wouldn’t put high but I’ve played the last two days and it’s nice to be somewhere where I’ve won and have got some good feelings. Hopefully I can take that out on Thursday.

“When I missed the cut last week in France I drove home and had a lesson off my pro, Steve Cooper in Gainsborough. It was worth it because he got me extending through the ball, a bit wider swing and generally more timing and a better strike of the ball.

“After I got told that I was a really good putter I seemed to putt really badly. I think it was one of the worst things anyone has ever said to me because then people expect and you expect and it never happens. I started putting poorly so then tried to hit the ball closer and the closer you try to hit the golf ball to the pin, the wider it goes. When you go wide, you chip and don’t hole the putt. It was a bad circle that kept getting worse. I’ve worked hard and hopefully this week I’ll forget everything that’s gone on and have good feelings and work from where I am.”

This year’s tournament marks the eighth staging of the tournament and the third visit to Golf Costa Adeje, where Frenchwoman Ludivine Kreutz won in 2005.

Former champions in the field include Hudson (2008), Riikka Hakkarainen (2006 at Abama Golf), Kreutz (2005) and Elisabeth Esterl (2003 at Golf Las Americas).

England’s Laura Davies is making her debut appearance in Tenerife and is joined her Solheim Cup team mates Tania Elosegui from Spain and Wales’ Becky Brewerton, twice a runner-up here.