Top field taking shape for KPMG Women’s Irish Open
A star-studded field is heading to Carton House for the KPMG Women’s Irish Open from August 29 to September 1.
The top Ladies European Tour players will be looking to dethrone Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby, who captured the title in dramatic playoff at Dromoland Castle last year.
Leona Maguire will return to Ireland for her national open after a top-20 finish last year.
The 29-year-old world No 26 will be hoping to add the KPMG Women’s Irish Open title to her two LPGA Tour victories.
She will be joined in the field by her Solheim cup teammate, Georgia Hall, who captured the 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open.
A win at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open would give Hall her fifth career title to add to her two LPGA Tour titles and two LET victories.
The 32nd Rolex world ranked golfer will also bring a wealth of experience to the event, having played in four Solheim Cups.
Lauren Walsh will also fly the flag for Ireland as she tees up in her first KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
As the new touring professional for Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, she will look to use this to her advantage as she strives for her first professional win coming off the back of a recent top-5 finish at the Jabra Ladies Open and a top-10 at the Amundi German Masters.
Walsh said: “I'm really excited to be competing on home turf. I'm so excited to see all the Irish crowds out there. A win on home turf would be the stuff of dreams. It would mean a lot and it would be very special.”
Germany’s Olivia Cowan will be hoping to keep her fine form heading into the event as she looks to capture her second LET title.
The world No 98 has shown consistency throughout her career, posting 34 top-10 finishes on the LET and a maiden LET victory at the 2022 Hero Women’s Indian Open.
Northern Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey will be hoping to get her first LET victory on Irish soil having had two top-10 finishes on tour.
The 26-year-old has shown she can go low on the LET having posted a low round of 64 and she hopes home advantage will pay off.
“I'm very fortunate to have done a lot of practice down at Carton House,” she said. “We had a world amateur team championship there which was really nice, and I've played the course quite a few times, so I’ll definitely get down a few more times before the event.
“It will be really nice to have the home support. There were great crowds at Dromoland Castle. I know we will have the same this year.”
The Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova and England’s Annabel Dimmock will also tee it up in Co Kildare.
Tickets are available via www.kpmgwomensirishopen.ie.
You can also follow the tournament via social media by following @womensirishopen on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook.
