Born in Trieste in northern Italy but now residing in Palm Springs, California, took up golf at the age of nine at Golf Club Trieste under the coaching of Ezio Pavan. In 1998 she won the European Ladies Amateur Championship. Turned professional on 22 October 1999 and played initially on the Ladies European Tour. In her rookie season in 2000 she was leading rookie on the LET Order of Merit. Qualified for the LPGA Tour in 2002 and best finish to date is a tied for second at the 2004 ShopRite LPGA Classic, matching two runner-up finishes on the LET. After the conclusion of the 2013 Women’s British Open, she was handed a captain’s pick for the 2013 Solheim Cup, which Europe won on U.S. soil for the first time. Has had top-tens in four of the five women’s major championships.