Paul Kimmage: We have no idea how hard professional sport is for those who toil inside the ropes
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Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Georgia Hall says she feels ‘very lucky' to have fiancé Paul Dunne as caddie for Women's Open
It might even have been a relief to the organisers of this Women's Open that, as shadows lengthened, Lottie Woad did not blast her way towards the front of the queue. Woad may well be the name on everyone's lips but, on day two, she will barely feature on anybody's screens. Perhaps it is sign of this Major's rapid growth that everyone wants more. Nonetheless, fans will find it unsatisfactory that, with daily television coverage only beginning at midday, Woad – plus Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko – will play the vast majority of her second round minus the eyeballs of anyone not in attendance at Royal Porthcawl, as they tee off at 8.09am. This is now a recurring theme after Leona Maguire took to social media to point out her hole in one at the recent Evian Championship was not caught on camera. Maguire finished even par for the day after an up-and-down round with four birdies and four bogeys. She is tied 51st, but is only five shots off the lead of Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda in a bunched leaderboard, and her 72 was matched by fellow Irishwoman Lauren Walsh. Meanwhile, Anna Foster struggled to a four-over-par 76. READ MORE Leona Maguire of Ireland looks on on the second green during the first round at Royal Porthcawl. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Georgia Hall is one under. The former champion has her fiancé Paul Dunne on the bag. A decade ago, Dunne led the Open Championship at St Andrews before injury and loss of form took hold. 'That's more a question for him I think,' said Hall when asked if Dunne will return to competitive golf. 'Obviously right now he's not playing and he's just kind of supporting me which I am very grateful for. He's a very good player. He doesn't give himself enough credit. Obviously I'm not complaining, I feel very lucky to have him with me.' Sky Sports, who screen the Women's Open in the UK, have a partnership with the R&A which they understandably will not compromise by criticising this tournament's officials. Insiders at the broadcaster insist they would be keen on extended live hours from next year. For that to happen, the R&A would need to bestow significant funds on European Tour Productions, who provide a world feed for television companies to use. At Porthcawl, that coverage only begins at 12 o'clock. The R&A did increase the prize fund for 2025 by $250,000 and player facilities are a notable upgrade on the vast majority of women's golf events; but what of seeing it to be it? The men's Open coverage at Royal Portrush recently began at 6:30am on Thursday and Friday. The coverage should at least include Maguire, who is out at 12.43pm. In the toughest of Thursday's conditions, Woad signed for a level par 72. The highlight of the 21-year-old's day at work was a converted birdie putt from off the green at the 6th. Another birdie, at the last, ensured she sits five from the lead. 'It was okay, a bit mixed,' Woad said. 'It was one of those rounds that could definitely have got away with me so I am happy with the way I hung in there.' Mimi Rhodes has won three times already on this year's Ladies European Tour, a matter that has been somewhat lost in fevered excitement over Woad. Rhodes served the latest notice of her ability with a 69. Rhodes can be added to the Friday morning blackout list, alas. Ko's title defence began with a one over par 73. The New Zealander was harmed by a birdie-free back nine of 38. Korda's 70 felt notable. The world No 1 tied second in this event last year. Wales's Darcey Harry and the Australian Minjee Lee were among those to match Korda's score. The Japanese otherwise dominate the early leaderboard. Okayama and Takeda posted matching 67s to head the field. Miyu Yamashita is one adrift, with the three under group including Shiho Kuwaki, Mao Saigo and Chisato Iwai. All of those players hail from Japan. - Guardian
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Putting holds the key for Leona Maguire and Séamus Power in season-ending run
They say happiness is a long walk with a putter, but even a short walk would be good news for Séamus Power and Leona Maguire as they face important tests this week. For Maguire, the AIG Women's Open represents her final chance to win a Major title this year and while England's Lottie Woad is the favourite at Royal Porthcawl, the Co Cavan star has shown signs recently that she's got the game to tough it out.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Leona Maguire leads three-strong Irish contingent at AIG Women's Open
Leona Maguire brings some very strong form into the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl, as the 30-year-old Cavan golfer heads a three-strong Irish contingent in the season's final Major, with Kildare's Lauren Walsh and Dubliner Anna Foster also seeking one of the sport's top prizes. The R&A has increased the prize money for the event to a record €8.46 million ($9.75 million), more than doubling the purse since 2019 when the R&A and title sponsors AIG began their partnership of the championship. This is the 49th year of the championship which has yet to produce an Irish winner, although Maguire – competing in the event for a ninth time – was leading amateur in 2016 and contended strongly at Muirfield in 2022 before ultimately finishing fourth behind South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai. Maguire's form has seen an upturn of late, with top-10s in both the KPMG Women's PGA and the Amundi Evian Championship, and she again has veteran caddie Phil 'Wobbly' Morbey on her bag after a strong start to their new partnership at last week's Scottish Open. READ MORE Walsh, currently 15th on the LET order of merit, missed the cut at St Andrews last year but has five top-10s so far this season, while LET rookie Foster, who has veteran caddie Brian Byrne on her bag, earned her place in the field with an impressive performance in final qualifying at the nearby Pyle & Kenfig earlier this week. The spotlight, though, is very much on emerging star Lottie Woad , who won the KPMG Irish Open as an amateur earlier this month and won the ISPS Handa Scottish Open on her professional debut last week. Lottie Woad after winning the 2025 Women's Scottish Open at the Dundonald Links, Irvine. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA Nelly Korda , the world number one, isn't used to being overshadowed. Neither is Lydia Ko , the Olympic gold medallist. Yet, they are on this occasion, with Woad's name on everyone's lips. Even Korda's, it would seem: 'Absolutely amazing,' said the American of Woad's impact. 'I was very impressed with her composure, her process. I think, when it comes to her shot routine, especially under pressure and in the heat of the moment. 'Sometimes people seem to fidget and kind of doubt themselves, but she stuck to it, she stuck to her process every single time, and I think one of the main things that I noticed is how mature she is for her age and how comfortable she was in the heat of the moment.' For her part, Ko remarked of Woad: 'I don't know a lot about her game personally, but the little that I've seen, she seems super impressive and has that kind of cool, calm, collected demeanour, and that's, I think, pretty important as a player. She's kind of come out with a bang, and I'm sure she's going to keep continuing to play well.' Woad had Dermot Byrne on her bag in Scotland but will have her coach Luke Bone on duty this week on the Welsh coast. Of being installed as championship favourite in just her second appearance as a professional, Woad said: 'I don't know how they do it, but I feel like I'm playing well, so I guess I was going to be one of the favourites. Obviously, everyone's so good, so I feel like anyone can win really.' Ireland's Lauren Walsh and Anna Foster during a practice round ahead of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl. Photograph:Lowdown Purse: €8.46 million (€1.26 million to the winner) Where: Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. The course: Royal Porthcawl – par 72, 6,748 yards – is a classic links originally designed by Ramsay Hunter which opened for play in 1898 and was then modified by legendary course architect Harry Colt. In more recent years, Martin Ebert – the R&A's go-to man for upgrades – made changes so it will provide a tough championship examination. The par-4 16th – played from an elevated tee to a heavily bunkered fairway – effectively starts a difficult run for home. The field: For what is the fifth and final Major of the LPGA Tour season, the AIG Women's Open has attracted a stellar entry headed by world number one Nelly Korda, with Lydia Ko defending the title. So far this season three of the four Majors have been won by first-time champions: Mao Saigo (The Chevron), Mai Stark (the US Women's Open) and Grace Kim (the Evian), with only Minjee Lee's success in the KPMG Women's PGA – her third Major win – going to a multiple champion. Quote-Unquote: 'We've kind of spoken of the game plan and learned from what he was challenged with [at Royal Portrush]. It's kind of stay out of those pot fairway bunkers and just play as safe as possible, really try to hit as many fairways, that's kind of the goal for this week.' – Royal Porthcawl home hope Darcey Harry on having her boyfriend, DP World Tour player Jacob Skov Olesen, on her bag this week having featured at The Open at Royal Portrush. Irish in the field: It's a further indication of the ongoing evolution of Irish women professionals that there are three players competing in the Major. Lauren Walsh is in a group with Dongeun Lee and Anna Huang (teeing off at 6.41am); Leona Maguire is grouped with Andrea Lee and Amy Yang (7.58am), and Anna Foster is in a three-ball with Amelia Garvey and Emma Spitz (3.11pm). Weather eye: There is a chance of heavy rain Thursday morning with wind gusts of up to 25mph, meaning tricky conditions for the early starters. Strong winds are likely to continue on Friday with gusts of 25-30mph, although conditions should be dry. Sunshine expected throughout the weekend, with some scattered showers possible on Sunday. Betting: Lottie Woad's blitzkrieg start to her professional career in winning the Scottish Open, having already won the KPMG Women's Irish Open as an amateur earlier this month, has seen the English golfer installed as 6-1 favourite ahead of world number one Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul who are both rated 9-1 shots. Better value, though, can be found further down the market with Lydia Ko at 33-1. Leona Maguire has shown good form of late and is also an each-way look at 55-1. In terms of long shots, Amelia Garvey is available at 200-1 plus and is worth a look. On TV: Live on Sky Sports Golf from 12pm.
