ISPS Handa World Invitational players to watch

Leona Maguire will compete in front of Irish fans at an LPGA event for the first time since becoming the first Irishwoman to win on tour last February at the LPGA Drive On Championship. The president of Ireland called her after the historic moment.

The 27-year-old Maguire is the highest-ranked player in the field at the ISPS Handa World Invitational after moving up to No. 17 following her T-4 finish at the AIG Women’s British Open, the best major finish of her career.

The ISPS Handa World Invitational is a co-sanctioned event between the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour and LPGA. There will be 132 men and 132 women competing in two separate 72-hole stroke play tournaments (one for men and one for women) at the Galgorm Castle and Massereene Golf Club in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. For the first two rounds, all players will play one round on each course.

The total purse of $3 million will be split evenly between the men and women at $1.5 million each.

Here are six LPGA players to watch this week in Northern Ireland:

Leona Maguire

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.”

Lucy Li

Lucy Li plays her tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the…