KPMG Women's Irish Open Preview

It's been a thrilling summer so far on the Ladies European Tour (LET) as it has passed through Amsterdam, Evian-les-Bains, Tenerife, Hulencourt, Prague and Hamburg. Mimi Rhodes won her third title at the Dutch Ladies Open. Sara Kouskova won back-to-back events at the Jabra Ladies Open and Tenerife Womens Open. Darcey Harry wom in her rookie season at Hulencourt Women's Open. Cas Alexander shoot a -10 62 with a chip in Eagle at 18 to win the Czech Ladies Open and last week at The Green Monster, it was Shannon Tan who had the mental strength to tame the Monster to win her second title at Amundi German Masters.

The Tournament

Although a few of the top LET stars are missing this week ahead of next week's fourth Major at Evian Championship (Tan, Kouskova, Spitz and Cas Alexander) we do have a strong field as Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Leona Maguire, 2026 European Solheim Cup Captain Anna Nordqvist, Madelene Sagström and 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur Champion Lottie Woad all make the trip to Maynooth. It is around a 40 minute drive away from the centre of Dublin. Other LPGA players arriving include Fati Fernandez Cano, Olivia Cowan and Sarah Kemp.

The 2024 Champion Annabel Dimmock won't defend her title due to her recent pregnancy announcement and 2023 Champion Smilla Tarning Sønderby will technically be the defending champion after not being able to defend last year due to injury.

This year will see a record number of Irish players participating at KPMG Women's Irish Open with 16 players set to tee it up at Carton House (seven professionals and nine amateurs.) Ireland's sweetheart is Leona Maguire the pick of the bunch. Lauren Walsh is having a consistent season this year with three top tens in her last nine events while Anna Foster comes off the back of a fourth placed finish at Amundi German Masters. Sara Byrne and Annabel Wilson have been playing on LET. The 2024 Curtis Cup winner Aine Donegan should get a good follow alongside Beth Coulter.

The O'Meara Parkland Course at Carton House Fairmont plays host for the second time after a thrilling finish last year which saw a record setting 37,000 spectators over the week. They watched Annabel Dimmock complete the comeback of the ages after a lengthy injury lay off defeating Pauline Roussin Bouchard in a playoff. The O'Meara course was designed by former Major champion Mark O'Meara with the help of European Golf Design and Tim Lobb. They created a visual gem which runs through the River Rye with the stunning Palladian Manor House in sight.

This tournament usually delivers the goods whether at Carton House or Dromoland Castle. Last year saw Dimmock win in emotional scenes while in 2023 Smilla Tarning Søenderby was nine shots behind the leader on the Sunday to then shoot a -10 62 to get into the playoff with Lisa Pettersson and Anne Van Dam at Dromoland Castle. She played the shot of her life to make Eagle to win her maiden title. In 2022, Klara Davidson Spilkova made history by becoming the first Czechia player to win twice on tour defeating Nicole Broch Estrup and Ursula Wikström in a playoff. The last three tournaments since it's been back on the schedule have seen playoff drama.

The Weather

Just looking into the forecast at Carton House, it looks like it will be sunny spells with some rain during Thursday and Friday which should give the players the chance to make some good scoring with it being a par-73 before the wind gusts are up for Saturday and Sunday. The winds should make for a very interesting finale.

KPMG Women's Irish Open History

2024 - Annabel Dimmock (-19) by P/O to Pauline Roussin Bouchard at Carton House

2023 - Smilla Tarning Søenderby (-16) by P/O to Lisa Pettersson & Anne Van Dam at Dromoland Castle

2022 - Klara Davidson Spilkova (-14) by P/O to Nicole Broch Estrup & Ursula Wikström at Dromoland Castle

2013 - 2021 No Tournament Played

2012 - Catriona Matthew (-7) by 1 to Suzann Pettersen at Killeen Castle

2011 - Suzann Pettersen (2) (-18) by 6 to Azahara Muňoz at Killeen Castle

2024 KPMG Women's Irish Open Top 20 & Ties

1) Annabel Dimmock (-19)*

2) Pauline Roussin Bouchard (-19)

3) Ursula Wikström (-18)

4) Chiara Tamburlini (-17)

5) Trichat Cheenglab, Kirsten Rudgeley, Alessandra Fanali & Tiffany Chan (-14)

9) Linnea Johansson (-13)

10) Lily May Humphreys & Katja Pogacar (-12)

12) Nastasia Nadaud, Celine Herbin & Lydia Hall (-11)

15) Leona Maguire, Georgia Hall, Anne Van Dam & Linda Wessberg (-10)

19) Caroline Hedwall, Luna Sobron Galmes & Laura Beveridge (-9)

Overall Form of Top 20 in the Market

Charley Hull - 12/12/32/40/MC/28/11/4

Lottie Woad - 31st USWO/MC Chevron (Lack of data due to Amateur)

Leona Maguire - 18/19/MC/MC/MC/MC/67/37

Chiara Tamburlini - MC/20/14/5/2/MC/6/6

Madelene Sagström - MC/14/MC/19/MC/MC/37/1

Perrine Delacour - 4/44/MC/9/4/64/37/1

Mimi Rhodes - MC/20/32/1/40/1/1/MC

Bronte Law - 10/7/MC/MC/56/40/3/21

Georgia Hall - MC/36/47/MC/MC/28/MC/MC

Luna Sobron - 14/2/10/30/14/4/40/31

Diksha Dagar - 8/46/23/14/39/9/52/9/8

Hannah Screen - 19/9/8/10/12/MC/MC/43

Ale Fanali - 13/8/14/MC/60/11/28/2

Nastasia Nadaud - 39/2/30/17/25/12/42/11

Darcey Harry - 4/1/49/MC/22/11/14/6

Cara Gainer - 7/40/3/17/20/MC/19/2

Anna Nordqvist - MC/36/31/56/41/36/59

Lee Anne Pace - 4/76/26/4/31/10

Amelia Garvey - 3/40/3/8/25/MC/26/20

Stats (In the Field)

Total Birdies Top 20

2) Diksha Dagar

4) Luna Sobron Galmes

5) Lauren Walsh

6) Annabell Fuller

10) Nastasia Nadaud

11) Avani Prashanth

12) Brianna Navarossa

13) Kajsa Arwefjäll

14) Dorthea Forbrigd

15) Momoka Kobori, Cara Gainer & Blanca Fernandez

18) Ale Fanali

19) Smilla Tarning Søenderby & Ginnie Ding

21) Patricia Isabel Schmidt & Aunchasa Utama

23) Laura Fuenfstueck

25) Alice Hewson & Mimi Rhodes

Greens in Regulation Percentage Top 20

5) Cara Gainer

6) Ale Fanali

9) Mimi Rhodes

10) Chiara Tamburlini

12) Luna Sobron Galmes

14) Amelia Garvey

17) Lauren Walsh

18) Emily Penttila

20) Maria Hernandez

21) Amaia Latorre

23) Nastasia Nadaud

25) Perrine Delacour

26) Darcey Harry

27) Avani Prashanth

28) Blanca Fernandez

29) Bronte Law & Lee Anne Pace

32) Brianna Navarossa

35) Noora Komulainen

37) Annabell Fuller

The Shortlist

The following 10 players were all shortlisted for this week's KPMG Women's Irish Open:

Perrine Delacour

Leona Maguire

Luna Sobron Galmes

Cara Gainer

Amelia Garvey

Klara Davidson Spilkova

Kirsten Rudgeley

Anna Foster

Ursula Wikström

Smilla Tarning Søenderby

The Picks

Luna Sobron Galmes 25/1 (6pl, SpreadEx)

Current Form:

• 14th Amundi German Masters

• 2nd Czech Ladies Open

• 10th Hulencourt Women's Open

• 30th Tenerife Womens Open

• 14th Jabra Ladies Open

• 4th Dutch Ladies Open

• 40th Aramco Korea Championship

• 31st South African Women's Open

Stats:

• 20th Stroke Average/4th Birdies/9th Par 5 Scoring/12th Greens in Regulation/16th Total Par (-16) for 2025 season

• 6th, 4th, 3rd, 12th & 2nd in last 5 starts for Greens in Regulation

• 1st on Approach at Hulencourt Women's Open

• 15th, 33rd, 4th & 7th in last 4 for Tee to Green.

It was a toss up between Perrine Delacour who takes coming back to playing on the LET like a duck to water and Luna Sobron Galmes. I've opted for the latter who is playing some of the most consistent golf of her career with five Top 15's in her last six starts including second two weeks ago at Royal Beroun for Czech Ladies Open. The 2014 European Ladies Amateur Champion and 3x LETAS title winner is trending beautifully and ranks well in most metrics this season being second in the field for most birdies and fourth in the field for greens in regulation.

A respectable 19th here at Carton House puts another tick towards a maiden victory in the imminent future for the 31-year-old Spanish woman. With Sara Kouskova, Darcey Harry and Cass Alexander all winning maiden titles in this summer period why not LSG. Should go well.

Cara Gainer 33/1 (5pl, Bet365)

Current Form

• 7th Hulencourt Women's Open

• 40th Tenerife Womens Open

• 3rd Jabra Ladies Open

• 17th Aramco Korea Championship

• 20th South African Women's Open

• MC Joburg Ladies Open

• 19th Ford NSW Open

• 2nd Australian Women's Classic

Stats

• 4th Stroke Average/15th Birdies/15th Par 5's/5th Greens in Regulation/6th for Total Par (-35) for 2025 season.

• 13th, 44th, 8th, 14th & 13th in last 5 for Off the Tee

• 11th, 15th, 15th, 12th & 17th in last 5 for Approach

• 29th at Hulencourt Women's Open for Putting (Gaining, no pun intended)

Next is this year's Lalla Meryem Cup winner Cara Gainer someone who we were on earlier in the year at the Australian Women's Classic where we were left broken hearted after Manon De Roey's stunner in 18 prevented us with the win there.

Cara, who for me is still supremely under the radar, comes into this with six top 20's in her last eight starts including a third at the Jabra Ladies Open and seventh at Hulencourt Women's Open on her last outing.

She's -35 for this year's tournaments, ranks best in the field on LET for greens in regulation and a gentle reminder, she's currently third on LET Order of Merit. Think that 33/1 on someone of Gainer's standing at the minute is great value.

Amelia Garvey 40/1 (5pl, Bet365)

Current Form:

• 3rd Amundi German Masters

• 40th Czech Ladies Open

• 3rd Hulencourt Women's Open

• 8th Tenerife Womens Open

• 25th Dutch Ladies Open

• MC Aramco Korea Championship

• 26th Reliance Matrix Championship (Epson)

• 20th South African Women's Open

Stats:

• 14th Stroke Average/14th Total Par (-16)/27th Birdies/14th Greens in Regulation/26th Scrambling for 2025 season.

• 1st & 2nd for Driving Distance at Czech Ladies Open & Hulencourt Women's Open

• 1st last week for Greens in Regulation

• 2nd & 4th for Approach at Hulencourt & Tenerife

• 33rd, 51st, 50th & 40th in last 4 for Putting Average (Gaining in each)

After being so close last week at 40/1 at The Green Monster where she was in the top ten all week to finish third in the end, it's another sensational week for the Kiwi powerhouse and her cousin, coach and caddy Jamie Tipper. Garvey has overseen a brilliant European Swing so far on LET with two third's, an 8th, a 25th and a 40th.

One of the longest hitters on tour by a mile (literally) that has been her biggest strength but everything else has been pretty solid this year with being 14th for both stroke average and 14th for greens in regulation this year. Garvs is also gaining each week recently with the putter and if she keeps that up it's only going to be a matter of time before she wins.

A 4x U.S. Open participant, 2x Epson Tour runner-up with five top 25's already in her rookie season on LET. The dream team duo of Garvs and Tipper coming to a winners enclosure near you very very soon.

Kirsten Rudgeley 80/1 (5pl, Bet365)

Current Form:

• 9th Czech Ladies Open

• MC Hulencourt Women's Open

• MC Tenerife Womens Open

• MC Jabra Ladies Open

• MC Dutch Ladies Open

• 55th Aramco Korea Championship

• 2nd Ford NSW Open

• 31st Australian Women's Classic

Stats:

• 23rd Par 3's/4th Driving Accuracy/21st Scrambling/88th Birdies/77th Greens in Regulation

• 5th Driving Accuracy, 18th Greens in Regulation & 15th Putting Average last event at Czech Ladies Open

Now before you say I know by Kirsten Rudgeley's high standards this has been a pretty poor year so far after a promising second back home at Ford NSW Open. It seems like she went off the boil resulting in four missed cuts in a row from Dutch Ladies Open to Hulencourt Women's Open before finding something in Czechia, finishing ninth.

One of the few players on tour with every single shot in their arsenal and will be able to use that to her advantage, I feel over the weekend if she makes it through. Always fancy Rudgeley to go well on British and Irish soil due to her upbringing in Perth.

Expect the former Helen Holm Amateur winner to relish the conditions and build on a better display in Czechia. Fifith last year at Carton House and fourth at Dromoland tells you why you should be thinking about the Perth ace.

Smilla Tarning Søenderby 110/1 (5pl. Bet365)

Current Form:

• MC Amundi German Masters

• 17th Hulencourt Women's Open

• 29th Tenerife Womens Open

• 54th Jabra Ladies Open

• MC Dutch Ladies Open

• 11th South African Women's Open

• 21st Joburg Ladies Open

• 36th Ford NSW Open

• 10th Australian Women's Classic

Stats:

• 32nd Stroke Average/34th Total Par/19th Birdies/10th Average Putts Per GIR for 2025 season

• 8th, 48th & 20th in 3 of last 4 for Off the Tee

• 17th for Greens in Regulation at Hulencourt

• 34th & 36th in 2 of last 3 for Approach

• 21st, 21st & 22nd in 3 of last 4 for Putting Average

While there was a couple of interesting options 100/1+ with Anna Foster considered after an impressive fourth at German Masters last week and Ursula Wikström having a loving for Ireland but I'm going to chance again 2023 KPMG Women's Irish Open champion Smilla Tarning Søenderby. She is slowly getting back to her best again I feel after going through a tough spell after that mind blowing 62 that contributed to her winning at Dromoland Castle in 2023.

The long hitting Dane has only missed three cuts in 11 starts, albeit last week at German Masters was disappointing, but Green Eagle is a head scratcher for most players. Smilla will probably admit herself that she can be a little 'erratic' at times but that is just her game an all or nothing style which I like about her. She has got one of the smoothest swings on the Tour and is a joy to watch when in the mood.

The defending champion (technically is with Dimmock missing) never got to defend her title last year after injury disrupted her year. Smilla admitted to me in Tenerife that she is really looking forward to the opportunity of going back to Ireland which will forever hold a special place in her heart after the shot of a lifetime changed her life forever!

Hugely talented, one of the nicest people and one of my favourite players on tour. Super Smilla!

Thanks for reading, big few weeks coming up for the Women's game with Evian, Scottish and AIG Women's Open to come up!