Leona Maguire and European Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist will bring the bulk of the Thursday morning gallery along with them after they were paired together for the first two rounds of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
Lahinch amateur Áine Donegan will complete the three-ball at 9am from the tenth tee at the O’Meara Course at Carton House.
Meanwhile, Dromoland Castle star Sara Byrne has been handed a dream draw on Thursday afternoon as she will tee it up with Charley Hull and Georgia Hall at 2pm from the 1st hole.
Byrne spent some time with Hull at last year’s Curtis Cup and she has idolised the Englishwoman.
“She was so cool to be around, Charley is obviously that little bit different in a lot of ways, she’s very cool. I idolise her, I love her, she’s one of my favourite golfers.
“She sat down with us and had lunch with us at the Curtis Cup, she was so cool. It was cool to hear her perspective on how she sees golf I had to put in my pins and stuff and she said “I never do pins, I never did pins in my life” and it’s just a different perspective on how she plays and she’s so confident and just sees the shot she has to hit and hits it.
“She was very cool to be around and I honestly love her. She talked about Solheim and how she handled the pressure.
“Her and Nelly broke the barrier of the traditional gentlemen’s game which is nice. It was going to come eventually but women’s golf has blown up at the moment and those are two very good advocates for it.”
Just before Maguire, Nordqvist and Donegan head out, Anna Foster will tee off alongside three-time Ladies European Tour winner Mimi Rhodes and Cara Gainer.
Local favourite Lauren Walsh gets another special week underway alongside Madelene Sagstrom and Chiara Tamburlini.
You can find the other remaining Irish tee times HERE
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