Maddison Hinson-Tolchard has major ambitions.

The Perth-raised golfer, 23, had her first taste of the sport’s pinnacle of competition as an amateur when she earned a start in the 2023 Women’s US Open at iconic Pebble Beach.

Now a professional, and having just completed her rookie season on the Ladies European Tour, the former collegiate golf star with Oklahoma State University has set her sights on playing more majors in 2026.

Ranked No.1212 in the world this time last year, Hinson-Tolchard has soared to No.279 after an encouraging finish to her season in Europe that included two top-10 finishes.

“I came 32nd in the order of merit last year which gets me into pretty much every tournament except for the majors, I have to qualify my way in,” Hinson-Tilchard said this week while back in Perth to play the Webex Player Series Perth at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.

“LPGA is the end goal, I want to be in the LPGA competing out there, but majors are going to be a goal for this year. I’m going to try and qualify for The Open and we’ve got opportunities to try and get into the Evian later in the year.”

Hinson-Tolchard’s major debut at the US Open, considered golf toughest test, was in her own words “brutal”.

Weather conditions and set-up at the famous links course meant even the world’s best players battled, highlighted by on six players being under par for their second round.

While she missed the cut, Hinson-Tolchard said it was an “unreal experience” and something she wanted to experience again.

“I got to play behind some of the feature groups that week which was really cool because there were big crowds and everything and Pebble Beach is such an iconic venue,” she said.

“The set up was brutal, it’s a different test of golf and I’d love to be out there competing in the majors again.”

Hinson-Tolchard finished fourth in the 2023 NCAA Division One Women’s Golf Championship before turning pro.

She said while she initially struggled early in her professional career, she now felt she had the experience to make a lot of improvement in her second season on the LET.

“It’s a big change,” she said of moving from college competition to professional golf.

“I think college sets you up to make the transition because you are playing tournaments ever second week but obviously you have your teammates when you are in college and when you turn professional you are kind of going out on your own. It is a little bit lonely but the LET is a great community and I’ve so many great new friends.

“The beginning of the year started off a little bit rough but I learnt a lot and I had a couple of good finishes mid to late in the season that really helped with status this year.

“Just leaning the courses that I can go back to this year is going to be great. The European courses, depending where we go, they can be a lot tighter off the tee that suits my game because I’m quite straight off the tee.

“It’s been great learning a lot of the courses in Europe because I hadn’t played much in Europe before going on to the LET.”

Hinson-Tolchard, a former Penrhos College student and Gosnells Golf Club product, relishes her rare time at home in Perth and even has boyfriend and Perth Thundersticks hockey player Brodee Foster on the bag for her this week.

“I get to sleep in my own bed and have home cooked meals with mum and dad,” she said.

“I’ve got my boyfriend caddying this week and it’s just nice having the family connection.

“He came and caddied for me midway through last year for four weeks and we work really well as a team. He takes it really seriously and he plays hockey for a living so he’s got that athlete mentality. He does his homework and makes sure he’s got all the numbers down properly but we try not to take things too seriously.”