Men & # 039; s and women & # 039; s events at World Invitational
Charley Hull is the leading player in the field of women at Galgorm Castle and Massereene
A real scoop for tournament golf in Europe takes place at the World Invitational starting Thursday in Northern Ireland, as it includes individual men's and women's events.
English star Charley Hull is in a field for women, including Captain Catriona Matthew of the European Solheim Cup.
The men's event retains the status of the European Challenge Tour that its predecessor had the Northern Ireland Open.
Winners of the European Men's Tour are Australia Richard Green.
Green & # 39; s partner Norwegian star Marianne Skarpnord is in the women's field, while the family element is a week, with £ 207,000 ($ 250,000) prize money for both genders, including the participation of the Northern Ireland Open runner. up, Scott Henry and his wife Kylie.
Skarpnord, who narrowly missed Solhei m Cup selection on Monday, and Green both participated earlier and conquered at the Vic Open in his native Australia, which has the same format as the new Northern Irish event.
"The model worked in Australia and I think it can work here in Northern Ireland," said 48-year-old left-handed Green, whose last win in the European Tour came during the Portugal Masters in 2010.
The women's registration also includes the talented German duo Olivia Cowan and Laura Fuenfstueck, the former Solheim Cup player Linda Wessberg plus home hopes Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire.
Rio Olympian Maguire, the former number one amateur, is accompanied in the field by her twin sister Lisa, who is also tipped for great things in the professional ranks, although they have not had the same impact so far.
Leona has won two wins this year in the second-row Symetra Tour in the US and is on its way to earning its full LPGA play rights for 2020.
Niall Horan at the launch of the World Invitational in May
"It's great to show such a unique week, a first for Europe," said Maguire of this week's event, which in addition to Massalene also opens a gig at Galgorm Castle in Northern Ireland.
Pop star Niall Horan, through his Modest Golf management company that guides the career of a number of young top players, remains the involvement he had with the Northern Ireland Open and played an important role in the decision to turn the tournament into a a men's and women's event.
"The only way to grow the game is through golf for ladies," Horan told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
"Once girls are in, everyone is in."
Hill & # 39; s chance for immediate European Tour promotion
Calum Hill in Scotland was immediately promoted to the European Tour if he wins in Northern Ireland this week
Other European Tour winners joining Green in the men's field are the French duo Gregory Bourdy and Gary Stal, the Ross McGowan of England and the home of Michael Hoey.
Calum Hill will aim for a repeat Galgorm triumph on Sunday after taking advantage of fellow countryman Henry & # 39; s late collapse last year to win the Northern Ireland Open.
Hill has also this week the incentive to know that victory will ensure immediate progress to the European Tour among the three wins in a seasonal rule after his Made in Denmark Challenge victory added to his success in Austria last Saturday last month.
The title sponsor ISPS Handa has been at the forefront of attempts to make golf a truly inclusive sport and therefore Dundalk man Brendan Lawlor is one of & # 39; s world's leading disabled players.
Lawlor, 22, was born with a bone growth disorder leading to shorter limbs, but the four-foot 11-inch County Louth man plays top-level amateur golf in Ireland, in addition to having a long-term ambition to land his country. represent the future Paralympics.
Meanwhile, the amateur entry includes Northern Irish talent Tom McKibbin.
