Kyriacou eyes another win in Europe

A tie for seventh at the Women's British Open has Australian golf star Steph Kyriacou feeling good heading in to this week's European Tour event in Spain.

STEPHANIE KYRIACOU.
STEPHANIE KYRIACOU. Picture: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images for TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup

Australian golf star Steph Kyriacou believes she is ready to compete for more titles after settling into life in the US and performing strongly in the biggest events in women's golf.

Sydney-born Kyriacou climaxes a month-long return to Europe with a trip to Spain this week for the Ladies European Tour's Aramco Team Series Sotogrande.

It has been a fruitful return to the continent for the Cypriot-Australian, who followed a 31st place in the Amundi Evian Championship with a tie for seventh at the Women's British Open at Muirfield, her highest ever major finish.

After earning her LPGA card at the tail-end of 2021, the 21-year-old upped sticks across the Atlantic, leaving behind a Ladies European Tour (LET) schedule she had started to feel "at home" on.

And while she admits her early months in the United States proved testing, a new coach and new mindset has her now geared-up to chase her own golfing American Dream.

"I think playing in Europe the first couple years of my career has made it easier for me to move to the States," said Kyriacou, part of a star-studded field including the Korda sisters, Anna Nordqvist and a wealth of Solheim Cup stars and major champions competing in Sotogrande this week.

"But it's still like moving to new school: you don't really know anyone, you're just kind of flopping away. But I'm fine now. I feel like I've settled in and I'm playing some good golf.

"I didn't have a coach at the start of the year so that probably wasn't helpful. Now I have a good coach and everything feels like it's kind of on the up, trending upwards."

In-form Kyriacou, a two-time LET winner, is excited to a return to the individual and team Aramco Team Series format where a field of more than 100 players will battle it out both as individuals and in teams for a share of $1 million prize money.

"I'm actually pretty excited to play in the Aramco Team Series again," said the 2021 Big Green Egg champion.

"Spain is going to be beautiful - I loved the course last year. I haven't played in the Aramco Team Series in so long and I kind of miss its team format.

"The format makes it also a bit stress free: it's an event that's obviously great if you win but still fun if you don't, so I'm really excited to play."