October 2, 2018 – At the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open a couple of weeks ago we saw her debuting with a new golf bag. It’s a pretty pink staff bag from Honma’s Tour World Team with her name embossed on it, similar to the ones we’ve seen this year equipping a few privileged world-class golfers on the LPGA Tour.

Honma Golf Europe has chosen Leticia Ras-Anderica, a 24-year-old German player trained in Spain and settled in Andorra, to be Ambassador of the Japanese golf brand in the Ladies European Tour. The Terramar Golf Club of Sitges, Barcelona (Spain), was the scene for her premier as ambassador, where she showed good consistent play with three rounds under par, finishing in 41st place. Her best results include three Top-10, finishing fourth in the Ladies European Thailand Championship 2017, eighth in the Sanya Ladies Open 2016 and ninth in the ActewAGLW Camberra Classic 2018.

Of course, her new and luxurious Honma golf clubs reflect the charm and beauty that Leticia radiates on the golf course, where she demonstrates her constant fight to pass the cut and keep climbing, both on the golf course and in the social networks, where in few seasons she has become one of the most popular golfers with more than 15,000 followers on Instagram.

MYGOLFWAY: You’ve been playing golf since you were seven years old. How did you start?

LETICIA RAS-ANDERICA: My parents already played and I always went to the golf course with them. Then they put me in an academy… Really, I started thanks to them, in the La Sella Golf Resort, in Alicante (Spain). I grew up there, and I learned with José Manuel Carriles who taught me how to play since I was very young.

MGW: When did you decide you wanted to be a professional player?

LR-A: It was when I got a scholarship to the University of Miami in the United States, where I was able to play and study easily. Then I was pretty clear that I wanted to become professional, which I did in September 2015.

MGW: Are you satisfied with what you have achieved up to now? How far do you want to go? What are your goals?

LR-A: Yes, the truth is yes. My best result was last year in the LET, when I finished fourth in Thailand. That week I played very well and I hold that in my memory. This year I have been playing the LPGA in the States and it hasn’t gone as well as I hoped, but I’ll try to get the card again, and see how it goes. So, my aim is to continue playing in the United States and do well.

MGW: Apart from competition, you look like a golfer who seeks to be fashionable, with premium products, etc. With more than 15,000 followers and growing on Instagram, how do you focus your presence on social networks? 

LR-A: Yes, I am very careful about what I post; I make sure that everything is related to golf in some way, mixing touches of style, beauty, sport… and that it is pleasing to lots of fans in the golf world. I always upload photos to keep my fans interested in following me in what I do.

I always like to be up there because I think that social networks are a way to get known, especially through Instagram, and of course they’re also a way to get sponsors.

In the golf world, I think there aren’t that many girls in the social networks, and I’m there to try to standout. Marketing is very important for us and, yes, I think that in the golf world it’s very good to promote oneself in this way.

MGW: But you have a lot to contribute, given the multi-faceted nature of your interest in arts, sports, nutrition … with an interesting vision for the people of your generation. 

LR-A: Yes, I consider myself a multifaceted person. Apart from golf I also have a lot of hobbies. I’m interested in photography; I studied Fine Arts at the University, so painting and art history are also part of my interests… Before I used to play tennis, but now golf occupies all my time. For fitness I’ve been training with Emilio, (she says pointing at the man who is her caddy today, who’s watching our interview). We started working a few months ago and he has me training hard.

MGW: The most recent news is your appointment as Honma Golf Ambassador. We haven’t seen any other player in the Ladies European Tour with this beautiful staff golf bag. How do you feel? 

LR-A: Truly it’s an honour to represent the brand. I have always liked their clubs. Since I was young I’ve had many sets of Honma golf clubs, and now representing the brand makes me feel very proud.

MGW: In the LPGA Tour there are players at the top of the ranking who play with Honma. Have you come across any of them? 

LR-A: Well, yes, especially all the Korean and Japanese who plays Honma. For example So Yeon Ryu or Shan Shan Fen, who has been No.1, and are all excellent players. Yes, I have been asked about it and they’ve said that it is a good decision, and they think it’s perfect.

MGW: Surely they did you a fitting to play Honma custom golf clubs. What clubs have gone into your bag? What differences have you noticed from your previous clubs? 

LR-A: That’s right, they did me a fitting and the clubs have been made in Japan especially for me. Not many brands do that. I have the Tour World TW737 range with driver, fairway woods, utility and irons, the Tour World TW-W3 wedges and a Beres putter.

Before I played Epon, they are also very good clubs, but with Honma I have much more accuracy, and they also allow me to hit the ball a little harder. On fairways and greens they help me a lot. I’ve also been using a Rioma driver, and now with the Honma Tour World I’ve gained 15 more metres of carry, and the ball also rolls a little more. So in the end there is a lot of difference.

MGW: So it’s clear that you’ll be more competitive now with Honma than before. What is your favourite club? 

LR-A: Yes, of course. I love these Honma fairway woods and the hybrid. The shots come out very powerful and the flight of the ball is very penetrating, as they make the ball fly much more.

Good luck in your goal to get the American card again this year. We hope to see you again in the LPGA, and there after. We’re following you in Instagram: @leticiarasgolf.

What’s in Leticia Ras-Anderica’s club bag?

• Driver: Honma TW737 460 (10,5º, shaft Vizard EXC 55 Regular)
• Fairway woods: Honma TW737 #3 y #5 (shaft Vizard EXA 65 S-Regular)
• Utility: Honma TW737 (22º, shaft Vizard IN65)
• Irons: Honma TW737 P (#5 al 11, shaft Vizard IN75 Stiff)
• Wedges: Honma TW-W3 (53º y 58º, shaft DG AMT S200)
• Putter: Honma Beres PP-202 (34”)
• Golf bag: Honma Staff CB-1801 Pink