As Martina Navratilova once said: the word “woman” is a statement of fact; “lady” is a matter of opinion. We’re about to find out if that’s true.
If the 2025 Ladies Championship was anything to go by, this will be one of the funnest events of the festival.
Who could forget last year’s final table? Lydia Cugudda and her lucky French fry — which she had kept with her for the entire two-day tournament — found herself heads up against Michelle Skinner.
Skinner emerged victorious after a good-natured but fiercely fought contest, remaining a picture of calm focus throughout. The same could not be said of James Hartigan, who spent most of his time on the rail, looking like he was about to pass out from the stress of it all. It was a moment that instantly passed into Irish Open history.
Let’s hope for more of the same over the next 48 hours.
