FORMER ulster champion Gemma Hegarty hasn't swung a golf club in competition for over two years but the Donegal woman makes a return to the big time this weekend.
She is back in the Royal Portrush panel for the club's defence of the Ladies' Irish Senior Cup.
Royal Portrush is aiming for a 27th success in the blue riband competition and going for three-in-a-row as they open their 2014 campaign at Balmoral over the weekend. Newly-married Hegarty missed out on the silver jubilee success in 2011 and also victory last year.
"To be honest, I don't know if I am ready as I only started to play again a month ago," she said.
"Royal Portrush asked me back so I'm giving it go. It would have been lovely to be part of the club's 25th win but, apart from that, I didn't really miss not playing. Still, I'm glad to be back and we'll see how it goes."
Hegarty returns to the Royal Portrush panel in place of Maura Diamond who is now living in Scotland. The rest of last year's team - Helen Jones, Lucy Simpson, Victoria Bradshaw, Niamh Quigg and Hannah Henderson - are all available to non-playing captain Melanie Mitchell.
The defending champions will play Dunmurry in the preliminary round on Sunday morning with the winners to face Bangor in the afternoon.
While Royal Portrush go in as favourites, the crop of superb young players that is around the province could lead to a few shocks. Lurgan, for instance, must fancy their chances of upsetting some of the more established teams with Niamh McSherry and Niamh Ward in tow.