The KPMG Women’s Irish Open didn’t deliver the home winner the crowd were hoping for at the start of the week but in England’s Annabel Dimmock, whose mother Louise hails from Youghal in Cork, there was at least a part Irish winner.
Dimmock has an incredible story, in just her eighth tournament back since recovering from a career-threatening thumb injury where she had a bone removed, she claimed her second LET title, beating Frenchwoman Pauline Roussin-Bouchard on the second playoff hole, the third playoff in a row at the Irish Open.
Dimmock won the 2019 Jabra Ladies Open and coincidentally beat Bouchard, who was an amateur at the time and she repeated the feat against the 24-year-old who shot a course record equalling 65 to set the clubhouse target on nineteen-under at Carton House Fairmont.
Dimmock, who shot two course records this week carded a final round of 70 that included a two-putt birdie on the 17th to ensure her place in the playoff. She did miss a ten foot putt to win the tournament on the 18th.
Ursula Wikstrom had a putt on 18 to join the playoff but her birdie putt from 12-feet came up short and her 21-year wait for a maiden tour title will go on for another week at least.
Both players made steady pars on the first playoff hole with Dimmock missing a 15-footer to win the tournament but the initiative was handed to her when Bouchard turned over a 3-wood just a fraction too much.
The 18th fairway slopes from right to left and her shot bounded along the slopes and finished in the long fescue, she could only hack out short of the green.
Dimmock’s wedge into the green was safe, leaving herself 25-feet but Bouchard’s 50-yard pitch skidded through the green and Dimmock left her birdie putt stone dead with Bouchard unable to chip in.
From a career threatening injury, Dimmock has been battling her way back and quickly overcame the disappointment of missing out on a place in last week’s AIG Women’s Open to take the title here.
“I’m a bit shell-shocked at the minute, I’m not gonna lie. I’m standing here and I think I’m in a dream. I’m just over the moon right now,” smiled Dimmock who was teary-eyed as she hugged her father Chris on the 18th green.
“Today was actually quite tough. I was struggling to get the ball in the hole really. I got off to a good start and then I struggled a little bit. It didn’t feel quite as good. After shooting seven under, eight under, it felt like I was having a chop. But I wasn’t.
“Ursula was chasing me, who was in the group today. I think it was 15 I looked over at the board – I didn’t really all day – and I saw Pauline was doing well, knowing she was a great player. I actually played in the last round with her when I won in Jabra which I’ve just been told is five years ago. That’s incredible. I’m sorry, I’m just mumbling now, I’ve no idea what I’m saying. (laughs)”
The 27-year-old is a very outgoing and authentic character. Dressed in an Adidas jacket which would have gone down well at Electric Picnic, she certainly looked the part but beneath her snazzy clothing was a stomach rife with butterflies.
“I have had, like, a rut in my stomach all day long and I said to my dad ‘I don’t know if I am hungry, nervous, I don’t know what it is’ and I felt nervous all day long to be quite honest. In the playoff, I still felt just as nervous because it is there, I’m nearly there, and I have lost in a playoff before and it is horrible horrible feeling and you are trying not to push too much.
“You don’t really now what to do in a playoff. Shall I go for the birdie? Should I not? Pauline hit it a touch left, thought just play it safe to the middle of the green and I got up there and I thought oh my god I have got such a long putt here, this isn’t an easy putt. I hit a good putt and playing safe paid off. I felt nervous all day, I am not going to lie.”
Dimmock’s struggle with injury has been well documented, literally, there is a production from the LET on her journey back.
The documentary didn’t have a happy ending when it was released on Friday but Dimmock has made sure her story is a happy one.
“This is briilliant to do it in Ireland. This feels really good. I am not going to lie. The fans out there, the people watching, have been amazing to me this week, and it was what I needed.
“I haven’t had an easy couple of weeks. I felt like I have been playing well for a while.
“The documentary came out a couple of days ago. The second day, when I shot seven under, actually,
“It was a bit sad, the documentary, and I don’t want it to be a sad story.
“I worked really hard to get myself back, and I am proud of myself. You know, it’s not just me, it’s a lot of people, my team, there’s Alfie. all my friends at home, my family, there’s a lot that goesin to get me back fit. There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. It’s not been easy for him. It’s not been easy for my family and everyone around me. But we’ve made it back. We’re good.”
Leona Maguire finished in a share of 15th place on ten-under after a round of 68 while Edmonstown star Anna Abom (18) will return to school on Monday morning to begin her leaving cert year with some silverware after she claimed the low amateur prize.