World-renowned golfer Scottie Scheffler continued to reign in the PGA Tour, clinching the top spot in the FedEx Cup, and adding a massive $25 million to his earnings from the Tour Championship held at Atlanta’s East Lake. Meanwhile, Irish golfers Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy also secured substantial winnings. Making his first appearance, Lowry shot a final round 68, tying with three-time FedEx Cup champion McIlroy, who scored 66, both of them at 16-under-par 271. This resulted in each of the Irish golfers earning a cool $1,608,333, marking Lowry’s highest-ever finishing position in the US.
Attention will soon turn towards the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down next week, in addition to several other events on the DP World Tour, McIlroy noted. He admitted, though, that looking ahead to 2025, he might need to reconsider his playing schedule. He stated that the current season had been challenging for him and that he was considering incorporating more breaks into his schedule to avoid similar issues in future.
In his upcoming schedule, McIlroy plans to partake in a series of events across Europe. These include the Irish Open, followed by the BMW PGA at Wentworth and then the Alfred Dunhill Links. His primary aim is to accumulate Ryder Cup qualification points early, to lessen the likelihood of needing a selection wildcard.
Lastly, Great Britain and Ireland celebrated a significant victory over the United States 10½-9½, at the 43rd edition of the Curtis Cup held in Sunningdale, England. The Irish contingent was well represented by Sara Byrne, Áine Donegan, and Beth Coulter. Captain Catriona Matthew led her triumphant team to their first win against the Americans since the 2016 game at Dún Laoghaire. She commended her exceptional team for their persistence throughout each day and session.
After graduating from the University of Miami earlier this year, Byrne remained an amateur to participate in the Curtis Cup, where she was the only player who remained undefeated. She received valuable guidance from Leona Maguire, a luminary of the Solheim Cup, about transitioning into the professional scene which Byrne plans to do in short order. Maguire suggested that Byrne ensure she surrounds herself with positive influences, given the impressive form she has displayed in her game. Although Byrne is still a relative unknown to Maguire, her performance during her college years and strong support in Miami stand her in good stead for the transition.
Byrne, now 23, plans to become a professional player this week, starting with her participation in the Rose Ladies Open on the LET Access Tour. The reigning champion of this tournament is Swiss player Chiara Tamburlini, who topped the LET merit order in her debut year.
Maguire herself will be taking a much-needed break after an intense four-week run that began with the Olympics and concluded with a tied-15th position at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House Fairmont in Maynooth. This tournament witnessed England’s Annabel Dimmock beat French player Pauline Roussin Bouchard in the second play-off hole, securing a second LET title.
While reports remain unverified, the expectation is that next year’s tournament schedule will see adjustments, including a probable move to the week before the Evian (a Major) that takes place in June. It’s also expected the tournament will return to the Carton House, which saw an impressive turnout of approximately 40,000 spectators.
“You can evidently notice the evolution over recent years. It’s increasingly extending its boundaries. At present, Irish sport is thriving exceptionally well. The sight of 13 women on the pitch this week was truly impressive, and it’s not just limited to golf, but all sports,” commented Maguire. “The women’s football team and athletics are glowing examples of this current excitement around women’s sports in our nation, which is simply marvellous. Understandably, there’s much more to achieve, but we’re certainly progressing on the right path, and that’s immensely heartening to see.”