WOMEN PROFILES

Raquel Carriedo

After a frustrating run of second-place finishes, 30-year-old Raquel Carriedo, from Zaragoza, finally broke through in 2001 for her first Ladies European Tour trumph, in distant Taiwan, then reeled off two more to make Spanish history: she became the first Spanish golfer to top the women’s European order of merit (having already, in 2001, become the first Spaniard to play in the Solheim Cup). Not since Severiano Ballesteros in 1991 had a Spaniard been the leading golfer in Europe.

Paula Marti

For a time during the 2001 season it seemed as though Paula Marti, 21, from Barcelona, might secure Ladies European Tour rookie of the year honours. In the end, she just missed out, but along the way she won twice and finished sixth in the order of merit.

Marina Arruti

A friend and practice partner of José María Olazabal in San Sebastian, and younger sister of another tour winner, Amaia (1993 Italian Open), Marina Arruti, 31, collected her first title in 1999, the Austrian Open. She was on target to make it two in the final event of the 2001 season, the Biarritz Classic before losing in a play-off, though the effort elevated her to ninth in the order of merit.