Nobody is happier than Olivia Mehaffey that she’s one of 13 Irish women teeing it up in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House Fairmont today.
Leona Maguire — a major winner in waiting according to Georgia Hall — leads the home charge with Kildare’s Lauren Walsh aiming to put the cherry atop a brilliant rookie season by claiming her first win in her native county.
Anna Foster and Annabel Wilson are making their professional debuts while it’s a massive week too for the eight Irish amateurs in the field, from 16-year-old Roscommon talent Olivia Costello to 32-year-old Ennis school teacher Aideen Walsh.
But for former world amateur number five Mehaffey (26) it’s a new beginning of sorts as she returns to the fairways after a two and a half month break.
“I just felt I needed a little break mentally and to work on my game as well,” said the Tandragee woman, who was a big amateur star at Arizona State University but found the professional game a major challenge following the passing of her father late in 2021 and spoken openly about her struggle with anxiety.
She’s so focused on her mental health she’s unaware she’s 142nd in the LET ranking after making just four cuts this year and says she hasn’t thought yet about what she must do to keep her card.
“I haven’t looked at anything; I try not to,” she said. “I think it’s top 70, but honestly, I’m just trying to get myself in a better place. I’ve been struggling with anxiety and stuff like that, so I’ll see what happens at the end of the season, how many more I’ll play and whatever.”
Expectations are the challenge but Mehaffey sees the bigger picture.
“People just look at your scores and they don’t have full contact with you and that’s really something I’ve learned to deal with,” she said. “I’m many other things, not just a golfer, and I’ve got so many other good things in my life. I’ve got a really good family, and I want to make sure I’m okay. So that’s my priority, myself as a person, ahead of an athlete.
“It’s something I’ve learned over the last few years when my results haven’t been what I would have liked. I think it’s hard when you have such a good amateur career, everyone else’s expectations are very high for you as well as yourself.
“You’re doing all the right things, and you’re putting the work in, and sometimes the results aren’t there. But I guess that’s part of the professional sports journey. You never know when it’s going to be your time and you just keep working and see what happens.”
In contrast, Carton House’s touring professional Walsh (23) is flying high at 14h in the rankings and third in the Rookie of the Year race after six top 10 finishes secured her first pro start in a major at St Andrews last week.
Family, friends and former teachers will be out supporting Walsh, who like Mehaffey, was a US collegiate star.
“I set out the start of the year that one of my big goals was to win,” said Walsh, whose mental strength is her superpower. “I have always had a fighting personality and I think my parents can attest to that from the time I was very little.”
Winning would be “a dream come true” for Walsh and for Maguire, who is seen as a future Major champion for Solheim Cup teammate Hall.
“I think Leona’s definitely got the game to become a major champion, for sure,” Hall said. “Definitely, her mentality is second to none. She’s one of the strongest players, mentally, out there.”
Selected tee times:
1st tee:
9:00 V Gimmy (GER), F Parker (ENG), Kate Dillon (a);
13:12 A Dimmock (ENG), K Rudgeley (AUS), Roisin Scanlon (a);
13:36 Lauren Walsh, A Van Dam (NED), K Davidson Spilkova (CZE);
13:48 Leona Maguire, K Sim (NOR), T Cheenglab (THA);
14:00 R Davies (ENG), M Folke (SWE), Kate Lanigan (a);
15:00 M Stavnar (NOR), A-C Mora (FRA), Canice Screene (a).
10th tee:
8:12 D Dagar (IND), Olivia Mehaffey, Annabel Wilson;
8:36 A Taylor (ENG), C Tamburlini (SUI), Anna Foster;
9:00 LM Humphreys (ENG), S Kouskova (CZE), Emma Fleming (a);
13:48 T Chan (HKG), T Martin (ENG), Aideen Walsh (a);
14:24 A Walsh (AUS), T Xiaolin (CHN), Anna Abom (a);
15:00 F Johnson (ENG), T Koivisto (FIN), Olivia Costello (a).