The ISPS Handa World Invitational has always been an innovative event.
It features two separate 72-hole stroke play tournaments for men and women with two separate prize funds of USD $1,500,000 played over two courses.
Now in its third year, the format is well established and while still unusual, the novelty value for many of the players has no doubt worn off. This year however, the decision to include a links course, Castlerock GC as one of the two venues alongside Galgorm Castle is definitely causing some head-scratching.
"I don't think I've ever played a tournament where we're playing links and parkland back-to-back days. You've got to be able to switch from one mindset to the other pretty quickly,” said Jordanstown born Stephanie Meadow who won this event in 2019 before it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA, LET and DP World Tour.
“I wouldn't say Castlerock is playing as bouncy as I've ever seen a links course play, but it's obviously way more firm than it is here [at Galgorm]. And links, obviously the wind and conditions come way more into play than what they would here [Galgorm]."
For the first two rounds, all players will play one round at Galgorm and one round at Castlerock Golf Club. The men and women will play in separate alternating groups on both courses.
In rounds three and four, the men and women will again play in separate alternating groups in score order (within the separate tournaments) at Galgorm only.
This week there are two cuts with the first being to the top 60 professionals and ties after 36 holes, and another cut to the top 35 players and ties after 54 holes.
“I think it's nice when you have to be a little bit more creative and use your imagination a little bit, and it's not just stand up and hit it wherever you want,” said Leona Maguire, the highest-ranked player in the field (14th).
“I think links in particular, with the winds, there's some shots that you can hit four different clubs and there's not really a right or a wrong club. It's whatever you think at that moment in time.
“Whereas at Galgorm it's more target golf and you're just going to hit it straight at the pin. An adjustment in mindset, but I think that's the fun of it. That's the beauty of links golf. We played Castlerock pretty calm yesterday in one wind, and then on Thursday and Friday it could be completely different.
“It can be you hit driver wedge one day and it could be driver three-wood the next day, so it kind of depends and you have to sort of judge it when you get there and take each one as it comes.”
Leona gets underway today at Castlerock at 8.14 am while Stephanie tees off at 12.52 pm at Galgorm.
