New pro Olivia Mehaffey happy to feel the heat at home ahead of World Invitational

“The weather is unbelievable, I never thought I’d be saying ‘I better go into the studio to get out of the sun for a minute’. It’s crazy.”

Olivia will make her first start as a professional in the ISPS Handa World Invitational this week.

The Banbridge born golfer will be the focus of attention in the absence of Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow who are representing Ireland in the Olympic Games.

“I am really excited for next week and I know there is going to be some pressure,” she added.

“Hopefully there will be plenty of familiar faces out watching but you know, I love that.

“I’ve played Curtis Cups at home (Dun Laoghaire GC, 2016) and I’ve played National Championships in Arizona. I’ve faced so many things and I love that challenge.

“I want to have a great week. I want to enjoy it and I want to take it all in.

“At the end of the day, I have been a professional for three months and I’m just trying to get as much experience now as I can.”

A total of 288 players (144 men, 144 women) will arrive at Galgorm and Massereene for tournament week (July 28 – August 1) to compete in two separate 72-hole stroke play events at the same time, at the same venues.

The ISPS HANDA World Invitational stands out as the only tri-sanctioned event in the northern hemisphere where players from the three tours come together in an innovative and inclusive mixed event with equal prize money up for grabs.

With so many players competing from the men’s and women’s game, there is genuine depth in the field; Ryder Cup players, multiple tour winners plus former Irish Open champions.

Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell, a winner on the European Tour at the Scandanavian Mixed in June will be in action alongside Cormac Sharvin, Tom McKibbin and in form Irish man Niall Kearney.

The women’s field was recently finalised with further star names confirmed including former Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall and Solheim Cup team mate Charley Hull. In all the field boasts no less than six Major wins, 31 LPGA wins, 13 LET wins and nine Solheim Cup players.

Olivia won’t be one of the favourites this week but she is content with the state of her game after spending the best part of nine weeks on the road playing in mini-tour events.

“I almost just dived into the deep end and played a lot of golf,” she added.

“I think I have learned a lot from it. I look back and I’m glad I did it but getting home has given me the chance to get a wee break.

“My goal is to get some status on tour through Q-School but I had that window to play and I wanted to try and stay competitive while getting comfortable as a professional.”

She will, however, have to get to grips with Galgorm Castle, a course she admits to never having played.

“I played Massereene a lot as a junior, so I’m hoping it will come back to me when I get there but sure that’s what Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are for – plenty of practice,” she said.

*Tickets for the ISPS Handa World Invitational can be purchased through the tournament’s official ticketing platform Eventbrite.