Woosie gives Olivia his backing ahead of a frenetic fortnight for young star

Could Olivia Mehaffey's next fortnight on the course be any more important? Probably not.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jul 2016, 10:20 BST
Updated 19th Jul 2016, 11:40 BST
Scarvas Olivia Mehaffey will be keen to make a splash over the next two weeks as she takes on the best of amateur and professional golf. Pic: INPHO/Lorraine OSullivanScarvas Olivia Mehaffey will be keen to make a splash over the next two weeks as she takes on the best of amateur and professional golf. Pic: INPHO/Lorraine OSullivan
Scarvas Olivia Mehaffey will be keen to make a splash over the next two weeks as she takes on the best of amateur and professional golf. Pic: INPHO/Lorraine OSullivan

The Scarva teenager is fast becoming one of golf’s most exciting talents.

Just last week, 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam tweeted a video of Olivia’s swing.

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He even said it was ‘brill’ and complimented her coach on a ‘great job.’

And next week, Olivia will be putting that swing to use in the biggest tournament in women’s golf as she tees it up at the RICOH Women’s British Open at Woburn.

Before that is the highlight of the individual amateur calendar, only slightly below the Open on Olivia’s priority list.

That is the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Hooks Golf Club, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) and finishing up on Saturday.

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Among the previous winners of that event are fellow Northern Irish talent Lisa Maguire and five time Solheim Cup player Maria Hjorth.

This week, Olivia will be aiming to add her name to the list.

“To win here would be massive,” she told the Leader.

“It’s the biggest amateur event of the year so I’d love to come out on top.”

Who would bet against her? Olivia has already won the Irish Open Strokeplay and the Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay this season whilst finishing runner up in the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open.

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She also starred for Team GB&I in the Curtis Cup and has played her way up to number six in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Not only has she a good chance of success in Sweden then, but she has every reason to believe she will be right at home on the biggest stage at Woburn.

“I’m so excited for the open now,” she said.

“I have just prepared how I normally do so far, I got some good work in with my coach when I was home and got a lot of practice in. My game feels good and I’m excited to get going this week in Sweden.

“I just treated everything how I normally go about it, I feel like my preparation has always been good.”

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It’s more than just her preparation that is attracting interest from some of the top names in world golf. Made in Scarva, the secret of Olivia Mehaffey is getting out.

FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF OLIVIA’S TILT AT THE RICOH WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN, SEE NEXT WEEK’S LEADER SPORT

Related topics:Masters