Galgorm, Northern Ireland – AUGUST 10: Leona Maguire of Ireland during a press conference prior to the ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics at Galgorm Castle and Massereene Golf Clubs on August 10, 2022 in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)
The marks the second edition of the ISPS Handa World Invitational, co-sanctioned by the LPGA, DP World Tour and LET. Last year Leona Maguire was unable to participate due a schedule conflict with the Tokyo Olympics.
With no Irish players on the LPGA, growing up, Maguire said she followed Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley at Irish Opens and Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in later years. Having an LPGA event in Northern Ireland for young people to come out in person is significant, she said, noting that she had posters on her wall as a kid of famous athletes she’d met.
“It’s big to have a home event,” said Maguire. “I think you see with the Lionesses winning last week at Wembley, 89,000 people were there watching that, and that’s going to inspire a generation of young girls.
“I think when you see it on TV it’s one thing. When you see it in person it brings it to another level, whether it’s getting a picture or an autograph or a golf ball or whatever it is.”
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