Lauren Walsh has already triumphed in one aspect even before the game starts. She is the professional touring player affiliated with the Fairmont resort at Carton House, where the O’Meara course will host the KPMG Women’s Irish Open this week. Being a local from Kildare, Lauren is expected to draw a larger crowd than any of her competitors.
Who shall be part of the enthusiastic group cheering for her? “It’d be my parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, as well as numerous members from my golf club, Castlewarden. They’ve backed me for countless years. Several of my former teachers will be there too, along with my neighbours. To joke a bit, the entire Kildare population will be rooting for me,” said Walsh, who is currently a novice in the Ladies European Tour. Already, she’s making her mark with four top-10 finishes and was a whisker away from winning, securing third place in the Swiss Open and the Aramco-London. Leona Maguire was the victor in that tournament.
Entering the professional scene has only confirmed the flowing stream of talent sprouting from the Golf Ireland pathway, a road paved splendidly by Maguire. She has shown that Ireland is not a solitary participant anymore, with five of its professionals taking part in the tournament.
Lauren Walsh and Leona Maguire are well-positioned to spearhead the home challenge in Women’s Irish Open. Previously, Walsh’s journey to the LET took place post her graduation from Wake Forest, involving playing in the Curtis Cup. Like the best in the game, her ultimate ambition is to join Maguire in the LPGA Tour in the United States.
But for now, her entire focus is on the upcoming KPMG Irish Open in her homeland, where she has high hopes for her performance.
Walsh, a 23-year-old golfing professional with two key strengths: a long drive and a strong resolve, began the year with her eyes set firmly on victory. She made her mark as an amateur, demonstrating her skills at Wake Forest and during the Curtis Cups. Turning professional, she found herself in familiar territory, coming up against past college competitors. Walsh felt confident that she would be one of the contenders.
Adapting to the new world of professional golf and its travel schedules across various countries took some time, but Walsh remained sure that she would certainly have opportunities to shine if she played her game. Currently ranked 14th on the LET’s order of merit, she is set to participate in the tournament with the intent to recover from previous misses at the Scottish and AIG Women’s Opens. This resilience exemplifies the robust mental constitution she has displayed throughout the season.
Walsh carries an inherent combative spirit, as validated by her parents. Continually nurturing this characteristic, she stands out as a bold player, always ready for a challenging match. Her college coaches would vouch for her under high-pressure conditions. She particularly enjoys recovering from setbacks and being prepared for the unexpected challenges of the golf course.
Among the five professionals from Ireland, Walsh is joined by Anna Foster and Annabel Wilson, who are marking their transition to the professional scene after successful amateur and collegiate careers. They will be playing alongside Olivia Mehaffey and the renowned Maguire.
Maguire and Georgia Hall, recognized winners of multiple LPGA Tours, are the tournaments’ unquestionable stars. Both are gearing up for their final event before their attempt at a ‘four-peat’ for Europe in the Solheim Cup. For Maguire, it would be her third time, and for Hall, her fifth. Nevertheless, their focus remains undeterred towards the imminent tournament’s trophy.
“Although Hall claims to have begun the season on a sluggish note, she now claims to be in peak form, particularly with her long game. “I’ve played some excellent golf, keeping my play predominantly on the fairways,” she informs. “Winning here is an important achievement I’ve set my sights on. I’ve not won a lot on the LET [indeed, just two victories with the most recent being the 2022 Saudi International], and accomplishing another win would mean a great deal to me. Hopefully, I’ll remain competitive for the final nine holes on Sunday.”
Hall’s ability to hit long should be favourably supported by the five par-5s on the O’Meara course, an advantage Anne van Dam may also enjoy. Maguire, while not achieving the furthest distances, maintains still an impressive teeing range. After two weeks of unpleasant weather in Scotland, she anticipates returning her dependable 9-wood to her golf bag. As a Cavan golfer, she aims to expand her accomplishments, which already include two LPGA Tour titles and one LET win in the Aramco-London.
According to Maguire’s assessment of the upcoming week: “The challenges we will face this week will be distinct from those we faced in Scotland over the past two weeks. We will need to adjust to the ball being more in the air and not deviating 50 yards, bringing the ball closer to the hole and similar strategies. I believe the golf course is quite fair, with some challenging holes and others that offer excellent birdie prospects.”
Maguire, is a forerunner in Irish women’s golf and the face of the tournament, will pursue her ambition for victory on the course.
Lowdown
Prize money: €400,000 with €60,000 going to the winner.
Location: Maynooth, Co Kildare.
The golf course: The O’Meara course at Carton House, Fairmont measures 6,485 yards and has a par of 73 – the brainchild of Mark O’Meara, a two-time Major champion. The lengthy hitters are expected to benefit from the five par-5s in the plan, including two in the last four holes. However, the hallmark spectacle is the 16th hole, a par-3 that players must conduct entirely over water from the tee to the green.
The Solheim Cup stars, Leona Maguire and Georgia Hall, take centre stage — both participating in the upcoming defence of the championship trophy against USA in Virginia. Among the total 132 competitors, seven have triumphed in the LET this season.
Georgia Hall commented on Leona Maguire’s prospects of becoming a major champion, stating, “Leona’s potential to become a Major champion is unquestionable. She is one of the mentally strongest players out there. Her short game is one of the finest I’ve seen, particularly her chipping skills. I wouldn’t be taken aback if she won a Major within the next three years. Everyone’s game has its highs and lows, but if it’s her week, there’s no reason she can’t triumph.”
In terms of Irish representation, a record 13 Irish players – five professionals and eight amateurs – provide quantitative proof of women’s golf’s continual growth. The list includes the main act, Maguire, as well as Olivia Mehaffey, Annabel Wilson, Anna Foster, Kate Dillon, Emma Fleming, Róisín Scanlon, Lauren Walsh, Aideen Walsh, Kate Lanigan, Anna Abom, Olivia Costello and Canice Screene.
In betting, it’s unsurprising to find the two spotlighted stars dominating. Hall leads with a 4-1 odds, while Maguire’s odds stand at a tempting 7-1. Van Dam, boasting an impressive drive, is at 20-1, possibly seeking amends after her narrow defeat last year. Walsh stands at 33-1, while Gabriella Cowley at 40-1 serves as an intriguing each-way bet.
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