Sara Byrne has clocked up more miles than most in her rookie season as a professional as she balances life on America’s Epson Tour and Ladies European Tour.
Byrne earned full status on both circuits over the winter and played the bulk of her early season golf on the Epson Tour to try and boost her LPGA card hopes as the LET offers no direct route to joining Leona Maguire and co.
The Douglas native has had a mixed season on both sides of the Atlantic, registering three top-20 finishes in all and she admits she has probably had to do more learning than others in her maiden pro campaign.
“A bit up and down it’s definitely a rookie year,” said Byrne ahead of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. “Playing on two tours is not the easiest thing so I’ve been learning the logistics of that but loving every second of it. It’s tough, it’s definitely not glamorous, but it’s tour life so it’s fun.
“It’s crazy to think like even last year I was yet to turn pro how do I get my status and Q-schools coming up but to be standing here with status on tours in Europe and America is crazy to think about but I am really looking forward to playing on home soil.”
The Dromoland Castle star was just about to do a golf clinic for young women and girls on the immaculate Carton House driving range before speaking to Irish Golfer. Byrne would have been a regular outside the ropes in her childhood watching Curtis Cups and Solheim Cups so she knows the pedestal she will be on to children coming to the O’Meara course this week.
“Growing up playing golf I was able to watch Solheim Cups and stuff like that so I think it’s definitely a thing to bring golf along for girls and boys and I think this week is always a major week for that so it’s really nice to give back and be someone the little boys and girls can look up to.”
Byrne missed last year’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open as she was otherwise engaged in Sunningdale, playing a starring role for Great Britain and Ireland as they won the Curtis Cup.
She is one of seven Irish professionals teeing it up this week as part of a record sixteen home hopefuls overall and she is wary of not putting too much pressure on herself.
“I want to enjoy the whole experience and coming away with an Irish winner would be a dream for the whole week. Weeks like this come across once a year so you have to enjoy it, it’s the best tournament on the European Tour for me, it’s run like a major championship. The way the range and tents are set up we don’t get that week in week out, we are trying to make the most of it and enjoying the week for what it is.”
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