Blomqvist bracing for parental pressure

Dubai : Minea Blomqvist is excited about the future and the excitement has nothing to do with playing golf. In fact, if anything, it is something that will keep the Finn from the course for at least another six months.

Blomqvist and her caddie boyfriend Roope Kakko are expecting their first child in early April and the 24-year-old golfer, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, is now all focus on bracing herself for the challenges of parenthood.

"The baby is due in the first week of April and we just can't wait to welcome it. Getting back to golf is going to be tough after that, but this is so important for both of us," said Blomqvist, who shot an even-par-72 in her final round at the Dubai Ladies Masters to finish with a three-under-285 total.

With the bump on her stomach getting bigger and bigger, Blomqvist says she had to go through a testing few months on the course.

"It was a bit tough really, but not all that bad because my stomach still hasn't gotten that big, so I'm still quite comfortable playing golf. It's a good experience to be pregnant and still playing your sport, as only a few women have done that in the past. I'm quite careful now that I have a child inside of me and I don't take as many chances. Sometimes there is a little difficulty in trying to find the line on a putt because I sit down and the stomach does get in the way, but otherwise it's not so bad," said the 2008 Finnair Masters champion.

Blomqvist said she was happy with her performance in Dubai, which was also her last competitive outing before she gives birth.

"It went quite well for me. I have really enjoyed my time on the golf course and here in Dubai this week. I think I played quite consistently and feel these four rounds were one of the more consistent rounds of my career.

"I'm really happy to be here with my fiancé Roope, who is caddying for me this week. He's been great support on and off the course and he's become that extra bit careful now that I'm pregnant.

"It is a bit tiring because of the weight, but it's worth it and I haven't taken any chances. I'm definitely not the first pregnant woman to compete, but yeah I'm careful about what I do and have made a few adjustments to the way I play and having Roope around definitely helps a lot."

Blomqvist says she won't rush her comeback. "I'll take about five to six weeks off after the birth and then see what I need to do. That's the plan for now, but who knows what will happen. I'll just have to wait and see."

Kakko is proud of the way his fiancee has handled herself over the last few months. "I think she's done very well. Of course it is not easy to walk so much when you're pregnant, but she's great. I think three-under after four days here was not so bad," Kakko said.

"I have been working harder to give her the right yardage and where working out the lines was concerned, because she can't sit for very long, but I've told her to enjoy herself during this last round because with the season ending, she's not going to be playing for at least six months."